Obituaries

Randy J. Meyer, 49, of 7250 N-675 W, Shipshewana, Ind., died Monday, Nov. 30, 2009, after a motor vehicle accident in White Pigeon Township. Visitation is 3-7 p.m. Monday at Farrand Funeral Home in White Pigeon. Funeral services will be a 7 p.m. Monday at Frain Mortuary in Winamac, Ind. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery in Star City, Ind.

Margaret Phyllis Panczyk, age 87, of Three Rivers, went to be with her Lord early Thursday morning surrounded by her family. She was born in Saskatchewan, Canada on June 27, 1922 the daughter of Ervin and Bertha A. (Beam) Welty. Mrs. Panczyk has been a long time member of this area. She was a registered nurse for many years at …

Charles “Charlie” Grabe, age 73, of Sturgis, passed away early Wednesday morning Dec. 2, 2009, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born March 23, 1936, in Sturgis, a son to the late Edward and Lila (Roth) Grabe. Charlie was a lifelong Sturgis resident and lived his entire life on the family farm. On Oct. 26, 1974, he married …

Charles A. Schrader, age 89 of Centreville, Michigan went to be reunited with the love of his life his wife Blackie early Tuesday morning December 1, 2009 at his home. He was born July 18, 1920 in Grass Lake a son to the late Charles and Zella (DeLong) Schrader. Charles had resided nearly his whole life in the Centreville and …

Michael Alan Clark, 54, of Haleiwa, Hawaii, died Nov. 16, 2009, while in American Samoa. Mike was born Feb. 9, 1955, in Three Rivers, Mich., to Alvin R. and Cordelia A. (Miller) Clark. He was a 1973 graduate of Colon High School. On Dec. 29, 2978, he married Kimberly S. McBride in Hawaii. He is survived by his wife, Kimberly; son, …

Raymond W. Saxman, age 69, of Colon, passed away Monday, Nov. 30, 2009, unexpectedly at his home. Ray was born Nov. 16, 1940, in Battle Creek a son of the late Wesley H. and Gertrude C. (Cooley) Saxman. Ray had made his home in the Leonidas and Colon area all his life and at his home on Long Lake since …

C.W. “Mike” Mestelle, age 84, of Sturgis, Michigan passed away Monday afternoon Nov. 30, 2009, at his home, following a short illness. He was born Clarence Woodruff Mestelle the youngest child of seven on July 22, 1925, in Ladysmith, Wis. to the late Paul and Ella (Lohrey) Mestelle. However, he was known to most as “Mike” from a very early …

Genevieve “Genny” Ruth DeJesus-Rivera, 80, of Three Rivers, loving wife and mother, went to be with the Lord on Friday, Nov. 27, 2009 after a short battle with cancer. Genevieve was born in Detroit the daughter of Lorence and Ruth (Hanlon) Johnson. She was employed by National Bank of Detroit, retiring in the early 80’s to pursue traveling. She traveled …

Charles Edward (Chuck) Barnes, age 63, of 5756 Deer View Road, Gretna, Va., and formerly of Centreville, died Saturday, Nov. 28, 2009, at Danville Regional Medical Center. Born Feb. 12, 1946, in Manila, Ark., a son of the late Charley Pankney Barnes and Bertha Leola Bell Carnal Barnes. He was predeceased by three brothers, Tommy Joe Barnes, Charlie Gene Barnes …

Larry L. Hovarter, age 79 of Sturgis, Michigan passed away late Sunday  evening November 29, 2009 at the Fairview Living Centre in Centreville. He was born August 22, 1930 in Colon, Michigan a son to the late  Laurence E. and Velma M. (Woods) Hovarter. Larry had resided in Sturgis since 1964 coming from Reed City. His early  life was spent in …