Obituaries

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 …

Virginia Rae Swarts, age 84, of Sturgis, passed away early Sunday morning, March 14, 2010, at Riverview Manor in Three Rivers. She was born March 31, 1925, in Mount Morris, a daughter of the late Ray Cameron and Nora (Shannon) Todd. Virginia had resided in Sturgis since 1950, coming from Michigan State University in East Lansing, where she received her …

Robert Harry Mader, age 78, of Three Rivers, went to be with his Lord on Saturday, March 13, 2010 at the Three Rivers Health Respite Suite surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Three Rivers, MI. on May 31, 1931 the son of Harry and Merrion (Tuttle) Mader. Mr. Mader graduated from Three Rivers High School class of …

Ruth G. Harris, 102, of White Pigeon, died March 13, 2010, at her home following a sudden illness. She was born May 9, 1907, in White Pigeon, the daughter of Elliot Wellington and Charity (Whitting) Beckwith. She lived in White Pigeon all of her life, but spent four years in Pittsburgh, Chicago and Detroit. She was a graduate of White Pigeon …

Marie L. Shook, age 102, of Leo, Ind., and a former longtime Sturgis resident and school teacher, passed away Friday afternoon, March 12, 2010, at the Cedars Nursing Home in Leo, Ind. She was born Jan. 31, 1908 in White Pigeon, a daughter to the late Cleveland and Alta (Weagley) Bixler. She had moved to Leo, Ind., in 2006 to …

Lewis Virgil Bunnell, age 90, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Friday, March 12, 2010, at Sturgis Hospital. He was born Nov. 3, 1919, in Battle Creek, Mich., a son of the late George and Lula (Fisher) Bunnell. Mr. Bunnell had resided in the Sturgis and Burr Oak area his whole life. On June 26, 1937 he married June Pinney in …