Obituaries

Roberts Peteris Gudrups, 98, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Sunday morning, Dec. 13, 2009, at his home. He was born Aug.3, 1911, in Latvia, a son to the late Ernest and Latte Gudrups. Mr. Gudrups had had resided in Sturgis for the past 51 years coming from Germany where he lived for 15 years. His early life was spent in …

Phillip R. Seybert, 85 of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Saturday morning, Dec. 12, 2009, at his home.  Arrangements will be announced Wednesday by the Hackman Family Funeral Homes – Rosenberg Chapel of Sturgis.

Douglas M. Cady Jr., 76, of Dania Beach, Fla., died Friday, Dec. 11, 2009, at Willow Manor Assisted Living in Dania Beach, Fla., following an extended illness. He was born May 3, 1933 in Sturgis, Mich., a son to Douglas M. and Marguerite (Albright) Cady Sr. He was a Florida resident since 1975, coming from Minneapolis, Minn. Early in life, he …

Rita J. Brandys, age 67, of Wellston, and formerly of Centreville, passed away Saturday, Dec. 12, 2009, at the Three Rivers Area Hospital Emergency Room. Rita was born Sept. 24, 1942, in Colon a daughter to the late Wilfred M. and Patience M. (Sprowl) Wing. Rita grew up in Colon, graduating from Colon High School with the Class of 1960. …

Emily S. Bates, age 96, of Three Rivers, died  Friday, December 11th, 2009 at the Riverview Manor Nursing Home in Three Rivers. She was born in Roanoke, IL on March 27, 1913,  a daughter of  Ludvig “Louis” and Sophie (Roehn) Noe. On August 29, 1943 she married Emery Bates. He preceded her in death December 28, 1987.  Emily worked at …

Gary Bryce Landess, age 74, of Colon, passed away Friday, Dec. 11, 2009, at the Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. Gary was born May 20, 1935, in Chicago, a son to the late Bryce and Vera (Stackhouse) Landess. Gary grew up in Chicago where he graduated from Kelly High School. He had spent most of his adult life …

Dorothy Miller, 95, passed away Dec. 7, 2009, at Lacanto, Fla. She was a White Pigeon resident most of her life. She was a homemaker and enjoyed hunting, fishing and camping. She was born April 19, 1914, in Dowagiac. Dorothy was a 57-year life member of the American Legion Auxiliary, past president of Arthur Gouker Post 427, and the Fourth …

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 …