Obituaries

Richard Lee “Dick” Large, 85, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Thursday evening, March 18, 2010, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. He was born June 29, 1924, in Kalamazoo, Mich., a son to the late Clair and Elsie (Noel) Large. Dick was a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1942 and had resided his entire life in …

Audrey Jane Vedmore, age 63, of Three Rivers passed away peacefully surrounded by family early Friday, March 19, 2010 at Bronson Methodist Hospital. She was born in Chicago, IL., on Jan. 20, 1947 the daughter of James and Audrey (Bell) Kimble. Janie has been a long time resident of Three Rivers where she and her husband, Gary Vedmore, raised their …

Joan M. Smith, 87, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Wednesday morning, March 17, 2010, at Thurston Woods Village of Sturgis. She was born Aug. 10, 1922, in Sturgis, Mich., a daughter to the late Fred and Cora (Burmeister) Hubner. Joan was a life long resident of Sturgis and a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1940. On …

Nellie Losik, 95, of Three Rivers, passed away March 15, 2010 at Riverview Manor. She was born May 3, 1914 in Chariton, Iowa. She has resided in Three Rivers since 2004. Prior to that she resided in Independence, Mo. She was preceded in death by her husband, Stanley; son, Stanley Jr.; daughters, Judy Burchard-Nix and Phyllis Katsuno; grandson, Stanley Losik …

Richard Grover Rickett, 81, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday morning, March 17, 2010, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. He was born Sept. 13, 1928, in Sturgis, a son of the late Grover and Norma (Bailey) Rickett. Dick was a lifelong resident of the Sturgis and Burr Oak area. On June 25, 1955, he married Wilma Deal in Quincy. Following …

Muriel B. Pierce, age 73 of Mendon, went home to the Lord on Tuesday March 16, 2010 at the Three Rivers Health Hospice Suite following a long illness. She was born in Manistique on May 12, 1936 the daughter of Howard and Bessie (Brown) Casteel. She was preceded in death by her parents; her first husband, George Dewey; and 2 …

Janice (Jackie) M. Blade, 79, of Three Rivers passed away Monday, March 8, 2010 at Fairview Living Center following a lengthy battle with cancer. Janice was born the daughter of Clairice Kriegbaum Gregory and Donald Sandvig on May 28, 1930. She loved her garden and was an accomplished artist. She was a Chicago Bears fan and loved her family. Janice …

Patsy Jane Lillie, 67, of Three Rivers, died Friday, March 12, 2010 at Kairos Dwelling in Kalamazoo following a brief illness. She was born in New Troy on Aug. 14, 1942 the daughter of Kenneth and Opal (Case) Kempton. She graduated from Cassopolis High School and later from the Glen Oaks Community College School of Nursing. Patsy was a Registered …

Bonnie Jean King, 57, of Three Rivers, died Friday, March 12, 2010 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born in Three Rivers on Aug. 22, 1952 the daughter of Loyd M. and Belva Mae (Rosen) Young, and was a lifetime resident of the Three Rivers area. She was a graduate of Three Rivers School and a homemaker. Bonnie …

William M. Ayers, 58, of Cassopolis, passed away suddenly Friday evening, March 12, 2010 at Borgess Lee Memorial Hospital, Dowagiac. He was born Aug. 9, 1951 in Dowagiac, the son of Donald Max and Sarah J. (Kiggins) Ayers. On June 28, 1978 in Wakelee he married Peggy S. Paulsen who survives. He had lived most of his life in the …