Obituaries

Donald Alan Harker, age 60, of Sturgis, passed away on June 10, 2023 at his home due to injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. He was born December 19, 1962 in Sturgis, son of the late Jack E. and Shirley Ruth (Gauss) Harker. Don was a lifelong Sturgis resident and a graduate of Sturgis high School with the class of …

Joyce Maxine Allen, age 88, of Leonidas, died Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at Beacon Three Rivers Health. She was born in Fulton, Michigan on September 3, 1934, the daughter of the late Harold and Nora (Stuck) Wise. She was married to Cleon Allen on August 22, 1953. He preceded her in death on September 13, 2011. Joyce is survived by …

Joan Modert, age 91, of Burr Oak, passed away Wednesday morning, June 14, 2023 at Sparrow House Adult Living in Sturgis. She was born August 17, 1931 in Bronson, Michigan daughter of the late Charles and Mary (Vaughn) Machan. Joan was a longtime resident of the Sturgis and Burr Oak area and her early life was spent in Bronson where …

Cherished and beloved child of God, Phyllis Joy Balzer, age 84, of Sturgis, died on Monday, June 12, 2023, at her home, with her husband and family by her side. Phyllis was born on January 11, 1939 to Elmer and Leona Behnke, in Bay City, Michigan. As a lifelong member of the Lutheran church, she was baptized on January 29, …

Marilyn J Boyer, age 78, died on Saturday, June 10, 2023. Arrangements are being handled by the Farrand Funeral Home

Howard A. Gragg, age 86, of Mendon, died Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at his home. He was born in Kalamazoo on October 26, 1936 the son of the late Archie and Doris (Olmstead) Gragg. He attended Richland Public Schools. The family moved to Ohio his senior year, and he graduated from Bexley High School. He served in the U.S. Air …

Morse Elton Thornburgh, age 85, of Marcellus, passed away on Saturday, June 10, 2023 at home. He was born in Peoria, Illinois on November 22, 1937 the son of Roy Thornburgh and Elva (Youngman) Thornburgh. On June 10, 1961 in Marcellus, he married Judy Mae Shannon who preceded him in death. Morse was a laborer, working for many years at …

William N. Foss, age 90, of Ft. Wayne, passed away on Friday, June 9, 2023, at Parkview Hospital Randallia. William was born on May 17, 1933 in Sturgis, a son to the late Wilfred and Nellie (Kime) Foss. Following high school, William served in the United States Army and was deployed to Korea. William then worked for GM for 26 …

Ralph D. Slater, age 86, of Tekonsha, passed away on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at his home. Ralph was born on May 14, 1937, in Ludington, a son to the late Elza and Margie (Kerr) Slater. Ralph served in the United States Air Force as a mechanic. Following his honorable discharge, he worked for the State of Michigan Road Commission …

Sharyl Sue Hargett, age 78, of Burr Oak, passed away Saturday afternoon, June 10, 2023 at her home. She was born December 5, 1944 in Sturgis, daughter of the late Donald and Retha (Perrin) Geark. Sharyl resided in the Sturgis and White Pigeon area her entire life. Following seven years of being together on November 9, 1985 she married Elmer …