Obituaries

Esther Arlene Nissley, age 67, of Burr Oak, Michigan passed away Friday February 19, 2010 at her home. She was born October 6, 1942 in Sturgis, Michigan a daughter of the late Edwin and Mary (Hochstedler) Chupp. Mrs. Nissley resided in the Sturgis and Burr Oak area her whole life. On June 12, 1966 she married Glenn Nissley at the …

Raymond L. Leeper, age 77, of Burr Oak, loving husband of Dorothy Leeper, passed away Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010, at Sturgis Hospital. He was born Feb. 28, 1932, in Chicago, a son to the late Charles and Edna (Smock) Leeper. Raymond has been a resident of Burr Oak since 1994, previously living in Chesterton, Ind.,  for 17 years and prior …

Michael David Robertson, age 66, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully, after a courageous battle with ALS, on Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Mike was born on May 27, 1943 in Urbana, IL. The son of Charles and Margaret (Cash) Robertson. Mike was a graduate of Gibson City High School in 1961 and …

Helen M. Tobin, age 87 of Three Rivers, died Wednesday Feb. 17, 2010 at The Birches in Leonidas following a brief illness. She was born in Three Rivers on April 10, 1922 the daughter of Dr. Herman and Mary (Kirk) Tobin. She was a graduate of Three Rivers High School and later from the Borgess School of Nursing. She worked …

Lewis Earl Southwell, age 80, of Three Rivers, passed away on Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at Heartland Health Care. He was born in Austin, MI. on March 24, 1929 the son of John and Grace (Farnsworth) Southwell. Mr. Southwell was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and one brother. He leaves to cherish his memory, his loving family, …

James Lincoln Coombs, age 93, of Three Rivers, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010 at his home. He was born in Three Rivers, MI. on Feb. 12, 1917 the son of Clarence and Bernice (York) Coombs. Mr. Coombs has been a life long resident of this area. He served his country during WWII in the U.S. Army as a …

Wanda Mae Mikesell, age 76, of Three Rivers, passed away on Monday, Feb. 15, 2010 at the Heartland Health Care Center following a lengthy illness. She was born in Kewana, IN. on Feb. 8, 1934 the daughter of Dale and Pluma (Slife) Miller. Wanda has been a resident of this area for over 30 years. She was formerly employed at …

Hazel Helen Hagenbuch, 82, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully on Feb. 14, 2010 at her home, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on Oct. 29, 1927 in Three Rivers, the daughter of Harry and Jessie (Sutherland) Young. Mrs. Hagenbuch has been a life long resident of this area. She was formerly employed by White House Manufacturing, Continental …

Robert S. Fennell, age 81, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Wednesday morning, Feb. 17, 2010, at his home following a hard fought battle with cancer. He was born Feb. 3, 1929, in Sturgis, Mich., a son to the late Frank and Alma (Adams) Fennell. Bob was a lifelong resident of Sturgis. On May 28, 1952, he married Phyllis Coombs in …

William Ralph Bigger, age 77, of Howe, Ind., passed away Monday evening, Feb. 15, 2010, at the Parkview LaGrange Hospital in LaGrange, Ind. He was born Feb. 24, 1932, in Moline, Ill., a son to Floyd and Josephine Bigger. Bill had resided in Olney, Texas for 27 years and returned to the Sturgis and Howe area in 1988. On Aug …