Obituaries

John E. Boocher, 85, of Burr Oak, and formerly of Orland, Ind., and Bronson, died Jan. 8, 2011, in Burr Oak. He was born Feb. 23, 1924, in Bremen, Ind., a son of Elmer and Helen (Starrett) Boocher. They preceded him in death. On Sept. 23, 1993, he married Bernice E. Tweddly. She survives. He retired in 1989, and was a …

Helen M. Van Aken, 90, of Bronson, died Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. Helen was born December 28, 1920, in Sturgis to George E. and Lillian M. (Badder) Van Vorst. After graduating from High School in Brighton, Ind., class of 1939, she married Walter Van Aken on July 13, 1940, in Sturgis. He preceded her …

Verna S. Geering, age 95, of Three Rivers, passed away, Monday, Jan. 10, 2011, at Heartland Health Care in Three Rivers. Verna was born May 19, 1915, in Rudyard, a daughter of the late John and Rose (Mattson) Puska. On Nov. 7, 1936, she married Vincent C. Geering in Detroit. He preceded her in death on Jan. 17, 1980. Verna …

Vern LaMont Haack, 92, of Sturgis, loving and dedicated husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle, passed away Monday morning, Jan. 10, 2011, at Sterling House in Battle Creek. He was born May 26, 1918, in Sturgis, a son of the late LaMont and Lulu (Davis) Haack. Vern was a lifelong resident of Sturgis and a graduate of Sturgis High …

Douglas Ray Thompson, 57, of Sturgis, and formerly of Sterling, Ill., died at 7:10 a.m. Sunday at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo after an extended illness. Doug was born May 30, 1953, in Elkhart, Ind. He graduated from Elkhart High School in 1971 and Olivet Nazarene College in 1975. He most recently was employed by AT&T. Surviving are his mother, Joan …

Richard “Dick” Quinn, age 89, of Kalamazoo and formerly of Mendon, died Sunday Jan. 9, 2011 at his home. He was born in Delaware County, Iowa on June 23, 1921 the son of Robert F. and Irene G. (Correll) Quinn. Dick attended schools in Iowa and attended the University of Dubuque. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was stationed …

Steven Alan Miller, 54, of Constantine, passed away Friday, Jan. 7, 2011, at  Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born May 23, 1956, a son of Tobias and Shirley (Foos) Miller. Steve graduated from Constantine High School in 1975. He worked for 23 years as a truck driver and materials handler at Arbor Industries in Middlebury, Ind. Steve enjoyed …

Gertrude “Trudi” Sloan, age 88, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born in Washington, DC on Oct. 23, 1922, a daughter of Leon and Genevieve (Stoltzman) Wedding. Trudi graduated from St. Cecelia Acadamy Catholic School in Washington DC and attended the Dunbarton College in Washington. On Sept. 17, 1944, Trudi …

William N. Keck, 66, of Savannah, Ga., was surrounded by his family at his home Friday Jan. 7, 2011, when he died following a short illness. He was born in Indianapolis, Ind., son of William and Aglaia (Pappas) Keck. William had resided on Wilmington Island with his family since 1985. His childhood was spent in Three Rivers and he was …

Evelyn M. Rowe, age 93, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away early Saturday morning, Jan. 8, 2011, at Sturgis Hospital. She was born July 22, 1917, in Chicago, a daughter of the late William C. and Florence E. (Greasby) Mohr. Evelyn had resided in Sturgis since 1968 coming from LaGrange County, Ind. She was first married to Robert Houser. She later …