Obituaries

Loretta Bale, of White Pigeon, Mich., passed away Friday afternoon, Oct. 29, 2010, at Borgess Medical Center after a courageous two and half year battle with lung cancer. She was born in Grand Junction, Mich., on Oct. 19, 1932, to Elmer and Alice Thompson of Fennville, Mich. Loretta graduated from Fennville High School in 1951. She married Ned Bale of …

Edward E. Oakes, Age 72, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday, Oct. 31, 2010, at Sturgis Hospital. He was born Nov. 8, 1937, in Elkhart, Ind., a son to Samuel and Ruth Jane (Cripe) Oakes. Edward was a veteran of the U.S. Army and has been a resident of Sturgis since 1973 previously living in Elkhart, Ind. On Jan. 15, 1972, …

Treva L. Sample, 88, of Riverside Drive, Mottville Township, White Pigeon, died Friday, Oct. 29 2010, at her home following an extended illness. She was born May 9, 1922, in East Gilead, Mich., a daughter to William and Ilah (Hamilton) Graham. She had lived in the White Pigeon and Mottville area most of her life. On July 24, 1950, she married …

Allen Eugene Hines, age 79 of rural Three Rivers, died peacefully Friday Oct. 29, 2010 surrounded by family at his Portage Lake home. He was born in Connersville, IN on Oct. 11, 1931 the son of Frank and Lillian (Coby) Hines. After parochial school, Al joined the U.S. Army and served in Korea, Japan, and Hawaii. He was married to …

Marsha  Lynn (Liggett) Reed, age 56, of Sturgis, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, October 27th, 2010 at her home. She was born in South Bend on April 8, 1954, a daughter of Duwaine and JoAnn (Sheffield) Liggett. Marsha graduated from North Liberty High School in 1972, and from the Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in 1975.  Marsha worked at both …

Allen Reeb, age 46, of Kalamazoo, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, October 28, 2010 at his home. He was born October 2, 1964 in Sturgis, Michigan a son of Robin “Al” and Evelyn (Long) Reeb. Al had resided in Kalamazoo for over 25 years. His early life was lived in Sturgis. He was currently working for Good Will in Kalamazoo. Prior to joining …

Clinton Lee Shafer, 84, of Three Rivers, died Monday, Oct. 25, 2010 at the Palliative Care Unit of the Veterans Administration in Battle Creek. He was born on Dec. 8, 1925 the son of Clinton and Ellen (Brannan) Shafer. He grew up on the family farm west of Three Rivers. He served his country during World War II in the …

Melvin S. Guess, age 81, of Portage, passed into eternal life on Oct. 25, 2010. He was born Dec. 5, 1929, in Kalamazoo, a son of Geo and Lois Guess. On Sept. 2, 1950, he married Christine Shoemake Guess. She preceded him in death Feb. 14, 1997. Mel enjoyed many years of family and fun, whether it be at the …

Norma Jean VanZile, 58, of Three Rivers, passed away on Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2010 at the Rose Arbor Hospice Care Center. She was born in Three Rivers on June 6, 1952 the daughter of Norman and Margene (Savage) Wordelman. Norma was a faithful member of the Three Rivers Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She built a life with her devoted …

Wilmyth Lucille DeMint, 91, formerly of Nottawa, passed away on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010 at Our Lady of Victory Nursing Home in Bourbonnais, Ill. She was born on Nov. 23, 1918 in Marion, Ind., the daughter of Edgar N. and Iona E. McAtee. Mrs. DeMint and her late husband, Rev. Milo DeMint, whom she married in 1940, pastored Churches of …