Obituaries

Betty Jean Derck, 83, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Wednesday evening, Dec. 9, 2009, at the Sturgis Hospital Emergency Room. She was born May 10, 1926, in Sturgis, Mich., a daughter to the late Fred and Ida C. (Grant) Mandigo. Betty had lived nearly her whole life in the Sturgis and White Pigeon area and graduated from White Pigeon High …

Shirley Ann Wilkinson, age 77, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009. She was born Aug. 18, 1932, in Elkhart, Ind., a daughter to the late Ivan and Helen (Kunkel) Kunce. Shirley graduated from Sturgis High School and has been a resident of the Sturgis area most of her life except for a few years where she resided …

Dr. Charles W. “Chuck” O’Dell Jr., 64, of Battle Creek, died Dec. 10, 2009 at Battle Creek Health System. He was born Nov. 24, 1945, the son of Charles W. and Katherine M. (Bartling) O’Dell in Detroit. Chuck graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1963, the University of Michigan in 1967 and received his medical degree from the University …

Kevin Michael Glass, 19, of Three Rivers, passed away early Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2009 at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, surrounded by his family. He was born in Three Rivers on Jan. 9, 1990 the son of John C. and Connie J. (LePert) Glass. Kevin graduated from Three Rivers High School with the class of 2008. He …

Irene Garton, 77, of Bourbonnais, Ill., passed away at Provena Heritage Village Dec. 7, 2009. She was born Oct. 28, 1932 in Muncie, Ind. the daughter of Joseph R. and Elizabeth Jane (Jackson) Harris. Irene met her soul mate and husband, Frank Garton, in 1950, while still in school, and they were married Jan. 7, 1956 at Muncie Southside Church …

Harold R. Henline, 84, of Three Rivers, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born in Bellevue on Dec. 12, 1924 the son of Ralph and May (Cooley) Henline. His parents preceded him in death along with a brother, Dick Henline. Harold is survived by …

Barbara Jean Zimmerman, 79, of Sturgis, passed away early Tuesday morning, Dec. 8, 2009, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born July 9, 1930, in Columbus, Ohio, a daughter of the late Arthur and Thelma (Benson) Werkhaven. Barb had resided in Sturgis most of her life, coming from Ohio. She graduated from Sturgis High School with the class …

Pat Wheeler, age 90, of Three Rivers, died Dec. 7, 2009, at Riverview Manor in Three Rivers after an extended illness. She was born Nov. 20, 1919, a daughter of Joseph and Bessie Smith in Roanoke, Va. In 1942, she married Melvin Wheeler in North Carolina. He preceded her in death on July 6, 1987. Mrs. Wheeler lived in the …

Thomas John “Tommy” Weatherwax, 48, of Three Rivers, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, at his home. He was born May 11, 1961, a son of John Henry and Annette Marie (Egan) Weatherwax. Tommy had been a lifelong resident of this area. He worked as a carpenter and handyman for many years, serving many in his community. Tommy had …

Connie Lynn Kaniewski, age 61, of Three Rivers, passed away on Monday, Dec. 7, 2009 at her home surrounded by family, following a courageous battle with cancer. She was born on April 2, 1948 in Three Rivers, MI. the daughter of Bob and Marie (Dentler) Wiles. Connie has been a life long resident of this area. She attended West Mendon …