Obituaries

Robert N. “Bob” Shook, age 89, of Fulton, died peacefully on Saturday Oct. 16, 2010 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.  He was born in Fulton on Dec. 22, 1920 the son of George W. and Carrie (Kline) Shook.  He graduated from Athens High School and continued to work on the family farm prior to World War II.  Bob served …

Ruta Inara Kalnmals, 77, of Three Rivers, formerly of Chicago, passed away on Friday, Oct. 15, 2010 at her home. Funeral Services will be held 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 19 at the Hohner Funeral Home, with Rev. Beruta Puike and Rev. Olgerts Cakars officiating. Interment will be held in Riverside Cemetery, Three Rivers.

Mark Douglas Bickel, 53, found peace and comfort in the hands of the Lord on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2010, following a tragic auto accident. Mark was born July 13, 1957 in Three Rivers, the son of Richard Bickel and Caroll Forreider. Mark graduated from Mishawaka High School. He has been a resident of Pontiac for the last 15 years where …

Alvin LaMarr Bontrager, age 68 years and 10 days, of rural Mendon, died unexpectedly Wednesday Oct. 13, 2010, at St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison, Wis. Alvin was born Oct. 3, 1942, in Three Rivers, a son of Levi and Mary (Yoder) Bontrager. He was a member of the Old Order Amish Church. On Dec. 20, 1962, Alvin married Esther Marie …

JOHN ROBERT RINGLER, age 85, of Sturgis, Michigan passed away early Friday morning October 15, 2010 at his home. He was born May 30, 1925 in Stroh, Indiana a son of the late Harold and Delpha (Reinhart) Ringler. John was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1943. On March 23, 1947 …

Mark Douglas Bickel, age 53, found peace and comfort in the hands of the Lord on Wednesday, October 13, 2010, following a tragic auto accident. Mark was born July 13, 1957 in Three Rivers, Mi., the son of Richard Bickel and Carroll Forreider. Mark graduated from Mishawaka High School. He has been a resident of Pontiac, MI. for the last …

Charlotte Boelens, age 102, of Three Rivers, formerly of Lansing, IL. passed away on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2010 at her home which she maintained unassisted until her passing. She was born on June 24, 1908 in Grand Rapids, MI. the daughter of the late Rev. Frank and Celia (Top) Doezema. Charlotte was also preceded in death by her husband, Dr. …

THOMAS A. FAIRCHILD, age 93, of Sturgis, Michigan passed away Thursday morning October 14, 2010 at his home with his family at his side. He was born August 2, 1917 in Chicago, Illinois a son of the late Albert H. and Catherine (Murphy) Fairchild. Tom resided in Sturgis since 1985 coming from Pennsylvania. On December 31, 1939 he married Dorothy …

JEFFREY ALAN MESSER, age 46, of Sturgis, Michigan passed away early Tuesday morning October 12, 2010 at his home. He was born September 16, 1964 in Sturgis, Michigan a son of Rosco and Joy (Kuhlman) Messer. Jeff was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1983. He enjoyed NASCAR, music, working on …

MELISSA A. (SMITH) NORDBY, age 46, of Mendon, Michigan, passed away unexpectedly early Tuesday morning October 12, 2010 at her home. She was born December 12, 1963 in San Angelo, Texas a daughter of Leonard and Alma (Meade) Smith. Melissa had resided in the Sturgis and Mendon area for the past 13 years coming from Texas. She had been employed …