Obituaries

John Jeremiah Grate, age 91, of Sturgis, passed away Feb. 24, 2010. He was born Oct. 12, 1918, in LaGrange, Ind., a son to the late Albert and Katherine (Frahm) Grate. A more generous man you couldn’t find. We loved him so much. All who knew our dad I am sure would agree. You needed a place to stay, look …

Edward C. McGeachen, 81, formerly of Three Rivers, died peacefully on Feb. 23, 2010 at the NJ Veterans’ Memorial Home in Vineland, N.J. He was employed at Continental Can Company starting at the age of 18 until he was 55 when C.C.C. closed their Millville, N.J. facility. He enjoyed singing, music, animals, going to the Ocean City boardwalk, and yard …

James Charles Liggett, 74, of Three Rivers, died Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2010 at his home. James was born in Kalamazoo on March 23, 1935 the son of Horace and Doris (Stowell) Liggett. He graduated from Comstock High School in 1954, with 14 letters, All-State tackle, captain of state champion football team in 1953, ran track and played baseball. James was …

Elizabeth Craw, age 92 of Sturgis, Michigan passed away Wednesday morning February 24, 2010 at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born May 1, 1917 in Three Rivers, Michigan a daughter of the late Samuel and Mary Jane (Aiekins) Walter. Mrs. Craw had resided in Sturgis for over 50 years coming from Three Rivers. On February 14, 1936 she married …

Henry David “Dave” Collins, age 83 of Three Rivers, died Tuesday Feb. 23, 2010 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born in Detroit on Nov. 2, 1926 the son of Henry David and Viola Ruth (Battishill) Collins. The family moved to Parkville in 1941, where Dave learned mechanical skills in his father’s garage. He dropped out of school …

Raymond Henry, Wagoner, 78, of White Pigeon, died Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo after a short illness. He was born Sept. 14, 1931, in Valentine, Ind., a son of Louis and Estells (Hahn) Wagoner. He had lived in White Pigeon for 53 years, coming from Howe, Ind. On July 29, 1950, he married Doris Lucille Myers in Sturgis. …

Gordon Bond Wedge, 83, of Centreville, peacefully passed away surrounded by his family at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans Feb. 18, 2010. Gordon was born in Allegan on June 5, 1926, the son of Howard Stanley and Marion Field (Bond) Wedge. Gordon married his wife of 63 years Jean Jeannette (Jenks) on Nov. 29, 1946 in Three Rivers. He …

Susan Jean (Hotovy) Lowry, 58, passed away peacefully at her home with family at her side on Feb. 23, 2010, after a long battle with cancer. Susan was born on March 5, 1951 at Three Rivers Hospital. She was the daughter of Mary Elizabeth (Bell), Donnabell (Giacobone), and Carl Hotovy of Three Rivers. She graduated from Three Rivers High School …

Catherine M. Kidd, 95, of Sturgis, passed away early Sunday morning, Feb. 21, 2010, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born July 3, 1914, in Fawn River Township, a daughter of the late Harry A. and Mabel (Blohm) Fisk. Catherine was a lifelong resident of Sturgis. On Dec. 29, 1945, she married John W. “Jack” Kidd at the …

Clairnetta “Kit” Rozelle, 87, of Sturgis, died Saturday, Feb. 20, 2010, at South Bend Memorial Hospital. Mrs. Rozelle moved to Sturgis in 1978 from Fort Wayne, Ind. She was a registered nurse and a homemaker. She was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Sturgis, Alter Society of the church, Sturgis Hospital Auxiliary, Klinger Lake Country Club, and Doyle …