Obituaries

Barbara A. Hackman, age 74, of Sturgis, passed away peacefully Thursday afternoon, Jan. 7, 2010, surrounded by her family at her home. She was born March 31, 1935 in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Joseph D. and Alta L. (Summey) Embler. Barbara was a lifelong resident of Sturgis and graduated from Sturgis High School with the class of 1953. …

Mary Jane Hubbard, age 91 of Schererville, IN and formerly of Three Rivers, died Monday Jan. 4, 2010 at the Community Hospital in Munster, IN. She was born in Fremont, Ohio on April 12, 1918 the daughter of the late William and Hazel (Brown) Conway. Mary grew up in Wyandotte, MI where she graduated from St. Patrick Catholic High School …

Evelyn Shirley Jacobs, age 81, of Three Rivers, went to be with her Lord on Monday, January 4, 2009 at her home surrounded by her family. She was born on June 6, 1928 in Centreville, MI. the daughter of George and Faith (Gardner) Rice. Evelyn has been a lifetime resident of this area. She was very active in her church …

Douglas B. Cane, age 57, of Three Rivers, passed away Saturday morning, Jan. 2, 2010, at his home. Douglas was born Dec. 24, 1952, in Calumet, the son of Douglas M. and Betty H. (Jordan) Cane. He was formerly employed in the trucking business. He was a member of the Three Rivers Eagles Aerie No. 2303. Surviving are his significant …

Clara E. Bontrager, age 94, of Colon passed away Monday morning, Jan. 4, 2010, at her home. Clara was born Jan. 28, 1915, in Marshall County, Ind., a daughter of the late Levi and Katie (Borkholder) Miller. On Oct. 25, 1936, she married Jake D. Bontrager. He preceded her in death Nov. 2, 2004. Clara had lived in St. Joseph …

Sherrie Lynn Brown, age 50, of Nottawa, passed away Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born June 19, 1959, in Sturgis, a daughter to Robert and Della (Marchand) McDaniel. Sherrie had been a resident of Nottawa for the past six months and had previously been a resident of Sturgis most of her life. She …

Bette J. Knox, age 83, of Ann Arbor and formerly of Sturgis, passed away Sunday, Jan. 3, 2010, at the Arbor Hospice Residence in Ann Arbor. She was born Aug. 30, 1926, in Bluffton, Ind., a daughter of the late Glenn and Erma G. (Elzey) Ulmer. Bette had resided in Ann Arbor this past year and prior to that had …

Philip George King or “Flip” a loving son, brother, uncle, great uncle and friend, was born Feb. 23, 1962, in Sturgis, and passed away in Jan. 1, 2010 in St. Joseph. Philip was the “Michael Jackson” of the family. He was exotic, unpredictable, and humorous with a “twist.” He was also very intelligent, talented and good- natured. Philip grew up …

Florence E. Hostetler, age 81, of Elkhart, Ind. died Dec. 31, 2009, at Elkhart General Hospital. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Friday at Walley-Mills-Zimmerman Funeral Home, Elkhart, and from 10-11 a.m. Saturday at California Road Missionary Church, Elkhart. proceeding the 11 a.m. funeral service. Burial will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Colon Lakeside Cemetery in Colon.

Phonethip  Mounsithiraj, age 41, of Centreville, passed away Monday, January 4th, 2010 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born in Vientiene, Laos on October 28, 1968,  a son of  Theuang and DamDouane (Laungrath) Mounsithiraj. In 1980 Phonethip and his family moved to Centreville and he later graduated from Centreville High School in 1987. While in high school he participated in …