Obituaries

Shirley Ann Berry, 70, of Three Rivers, passed away Monday, Nov. 23, 2009 after a nine-year battle with heart disease and cancer. She was born on Feb. 3, 1939 in Allegan, the daughter of Charles and Maxine (Bensley) Walker. She attended and graduated from Vicksburg Community Schools in 1957. She then went on to Western Michigan University, where she received …

Marietta L. Stevens, age 86, of Sturgis, went home to be reunited with her Lord and late husband James on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009 at Sturgis Hospital. She was born Jan. 14, 1923, in Grand Rapids, a daughter to the late Rueben and Mabel (Johnson) Wadsworth. Marietta has been a resident of Sturgis most of her life and on July …

Laura S. Eicher, age 71, of Centreville, passed away Friday, Nov. 20, 2009, at her home after several months of failing health. She was born Sept. 22, 1938, in Yoder Township, Kan., a daughter to the late Samuel R. & Elizabeth (Yoder) Borntrager. On April 2, 1959, she married Amos W. Eicher in Bowling Green, Missouri. Laura was a homemaker …

Clair Maynard Dechow, 84, of Three Rivers, passed away Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009 after an extended illness. Clair was born Sept. 6, 1925 in Northport, one of 10 children of Fred and Maybelle Dechow. He attended schools in the Northport area, where the Dechow brothers were known for their ability on the basketball court. After serving in the U.S. Army, …

William “Bill” Lee Lytle, age 70 of Constantine, passed away Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born in White Pigeon on January 13, 1939, a son of Charles and Velta (Hursh) Lytle. On April 29, 1972 he married Linda Alice Doll. Bill worked in housekeeping at Blodgett Hospital for 26 years, retiring in 1995. …

Glenn A. Dowty, 93, of Brighton and a former longtime Sturgis resident, passed away early Saturday morning, Nov. 21, 2009 at the Providence Park Hospital in Novi. He was born in 1916 in Woodford County, Ill., a son to the late Arthur A. and Myrtle E. (Sullivan) Dowty. On Oct. 6, 1940 he married Alberta M. Parker at the First …

Goldie Alice Hernandez, 71, of Centreville, passed away Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009 at her home. Goldie was born in Allegan on Sept. 1, 1938, a daughter of Merritt and Goldie (Failor) Butler. She graduated from Three Rivers High School. Goldie married Kenneth Watson in 1956, he preceded her in death in 1970. On July 17, 1980 she married Fidencio “Phil” …

Elizabeth Ann “Beth” Kauffold, 44, of White Pigeon, died Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born in Three Rivers on May 7, 1965 the daughter of David and Hattie (DePlanche) Kauffold and was a lifetime resident of St. Joseph County. Beth attended the Pathfinder Center in Centreville, and had worked at ARCH Workshop in …

Connie Sue Kramb, 57, of Three Rivers, passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009 at Rosewood Home in Coldwater, following a lengthy illness. She was born on May 13, 1952 in Three Rivers the daughter of Louis E. and Beverly I. (Tregidgo) Kramb. Connie was a lifetime resident of this area. She attended the Pathfinder School and also worked for …

Mary Jean Knapp, 80, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2009 at the Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born Jan. 10, 1929 in Oreana, Ill. a daughter to the late William and Elizabeth (Hogan) Fitzgerald. Mary has been a resident of Sturgis for the past 11 years, previously living in Elkhart, Ind., Parkville, Three Rivers, and on …