Obituaries

Pat R. Griems, 71, of Sturgis, passed away early Tuesday morning, Oct. 11, 2011, at Sturgis Hospital. She was born March 23, 1940, in Ellsworth, a daughter of the late George and Daisy (Graham) Martin. Pat had lived most of her life in the Sturgis and Centreville area. For 15 years she had been employed as a secretary for the …

Charles Thomas Henson, 71, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday morning, Oct. 11, 2011, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. The family will receive friends from 10-10:45 a.m. Wednesday at Hackman Family Funeral Homes – Hackman Chapel, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis. Funeral services celebrating the life of Charles Henson will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. …

Lois A. Oaks, 68, of Coldwater, formerly of Three Rivers, passed away unexpectedly at the Laurels of Coldwater on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2011. A memorial service will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 15 at Riverside Church in Three Rivers. Lois was born on Jan. 16, 1943 in Grand Rapids. She had worked as an L.P.N. at a …

Nancy Ruth Rice, age 80, of Glenview, Ill., died Friday, April 22, 2011, in Glenview, following a three-year illness.  She was born Jan. 19, 1931, in Royal Oak, a daughter of Lloyd and Caroline (Wagner) Tasker. Nancy had been a resident of Glenview since 1968, where she was a homemaker who enjoyed fiber arts and gardening.  She was the widow …

Jerry D. “Pat” Vreeland, age 80, of Burr Oak, passed away unexpectedly Monday morning, Oct. 10, 2011, at the Sturgis Hospital emergency room.  He was born March 17, 1931, in Branch County, a son of the late William and Annabelle (Martin) Vreeland.  Pat had resided in Burr Oak for the past 56 years, coming from the Sherwood area.  On Feb. 19, …

Jesse M. Bercaw, age 85, of Burr Oak, passed away Sunday morning, Oct. 9, 2011, at his home.  He was born June 19, 1926, in Bronson, a son of the late Irvin and Etta (Mast) Bercaw.  Jesse had lived his whole life in the Bronson and Burr Oak area and in the home he was currently living in since 1948. …

Arthur J. Tobey, 76, of Burr Oak, and formerly of Tekonsha, passed away Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo.  He was born Oct. 19, 1934, in Battle Creek to Harry and Clelah (Simons) Tobey. On April 10, 1982, he married Marcia Michielsen in Tekonsha. She survives.  Arthur grew up in the Marshall and Tekonsha area. He …

Lillian E. Shepard, 90, of Niles, died Saturday, Oct. 8, 2011 at Riveridge Manor, Niles. She was born April 6, 1921 in Savannah, Tenn. to Thomas and Etta (Phillips) Downing. She married Berl G. Shepard, Sr. on May 14, 1939 in Corinth, Miss. He preceded her in death on April 28, 1990. Lillian was also preceded in death by two …

Ronald C. Melvin, 64, of Three Rivers, went to be with his Lord and Savior peacefully at home on Friday, Oct. 7, 2011. He was born on Jan. 8, 1947 in Dayton, Ohio to Carl W. and Mary V. (Strucensky) Melvin, and was married to Rochelle M. Albright on April 19, 1980 in Niles. Ron was a Three Rivers area …

Robert James “Bob” Faist, 91, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully Oct. 7, 2011 at Heartland Healthcare Center surrounded by his loving family. Robert was born in Calumet City, Ill., the son of George and Florence Opal (Everson) Faist. Robert graduated from Thornton Fractional High School, Calumet City, Ill., later he took several correspondence courses. In 1941 Robert enlisted in …