Obituaries

Robert Warren Schmidt, age 88, of White Pigeon, died Saturday, Dec. 26, 2009, at Thurston Woods in Sturgis where he had resided the past two-and-a-half years. He was born in White Pigeon on Feb. 23, 1921, the son of the late, Herman and Alta (Grimes) Schmidt and was lifetime resident of the White Pigeon area. He was married to Roma …

Robert C. Johnson, age 82, formerly of Sturgis, died Dec. 24, 2009, following an illness. He was a veteran of World War II serving with the U.S. Army Medical Corp., and retired from Penn Central Railroad following 40 years of service. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Betty M. (Decker) Johnson; a son, Robert (Gail) of Spring Grove, Ill.; …

Judith Marie Klein, 10 day old child of Edward and Amanda (Kucel) Kline of Mendon, died Christmas day, 2009, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. In addition to her parents, Judith is survived by a brother, Joshua; paternal grandparents Gary and Sandy Klein; paternal great-grandmother Henrietta Klein, all of Mendon; maternal grandparents, Mark and Darlene Kucel of Sterling Heights; maternal …

Oron E. Sellers, age 78, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Saturday, Dec. 26, 2009, at home surrounded by his loving family. He was born Sept. 27, 1931, in Michigan Center, Mich., a son to the late Fred L. and Muriel (Quimby) Sellers. Oron has been a resident of Sturgis since 1987 moving here from Tekonsha, Mich. On Sept. 9, 1952 …

Johnie P. Jones, 83, of Marcellus, went home to be with the Lord Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009. Johnie was born in Ball Knob, Ark. on Jan. 1, 1926, the son of William “Willy” and Thelma (Todd) Jones. Johnie leaves behind his wife, Dorothy J. (Harrison) Jones, whom he married Aug. 26, 1996 at Russ Forest Park, Marcellus. He is retired …

Judy Ann Rochon, 58, of Niles, passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009 at Heartland Health Care Center after a long illness. She was born on Nov. 23, 1951 in Sturgis the daughter of Floyd and Marnetta (Hooley) Eichorn. Judy has been a life long resident of this area. She was employed at Tyler Manufacturing in Niles for many years …

Florence Elizabeth Flowers, age 90, of Burr Oak, Mich., passed away early Friday morning, Dec. 25, 2009, at her home. She was born Dec. 9, 1919, in Sturgis, Mich., a daughter to the late Elmer and Elsie (Bush) Miller. Mrs. Flowers had resided in the Sturgis and Burr Oak area her entire life. She attended and graduated from Plum School …

Virginia Reed, age 86, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Dec. 23, 2009, at Thurston Woods Village. She was born April 30, 1923, in Richmond, Ind., a daughter to the late Walter F. and Mary Virginia (Kring) Jacobs. Virginia has resided in Sturgis since 1981 and was employed as a secretary for the Messiah Lutheran Church in Constantine for 7seven years …

Robert Leroy O’Brien, age 37, of Colon, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2009, from injuries received in an automobile accident. He was born April 9, 1972, in Kendallville, Ind., a son of Charles T. and Marsha (Porter) O’Brien. Robert had been a resident of the Sturgis area all of his life. He had been employed by the G&B Tree Service …

Laurence L. “Mr. Fieb” Fiebelkorn, age 83, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 22, 2009, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born June 23, 1926, in Burr Oak, a son of the late Frank and Martha (Greenwalt) Fiebelkorn. Mr. Fieb had resided in the Sturgis and Burr Oak area his whole life. On June 30, 1945, he …