Obituaries

William J. Bontrager, 88, of Centreville, Mich., passed away early Friday morning Oct. 2, 2009, at his home. He was born June 12, 1921, in Dodge City, Kansas a son of the late John M. and Elizabeth (Mullett) Bontrager. On March 1, 1942, he married Lydia Mae Yoder she survives along with 11 children, Alvin (Susie) Bontrager of Burr Oak, …

Robert A. Stiles, age 66, of Sturgis, passed away unexpectedly Thursday morning, Oct. 1, 2009, at the Sturgis Hospital emergency room. He was born Oct. 24, 1942, in Coldwater, a son of the late Guy and Edlah (Lincoln) Stiles. Bob had resided in Sturgis since 1972, coming from Coldwater. His early life was spent in the Branch County area, and …

Margaret C. Wall, age 93, of  Lainsburg, MI and formerly of Constantine, passed away Wednesday, September 30th, 2009 at Wynwood of Meridian. She was born in Eureka, IL on January 25, 1916, a daughter of Jacob Ludvig and Sophie (Roehn) Noe. Margaret graduated from Constantine High School. Margaret was married to Jack Wall for over 49 years. He preceded her …

Judy Kay Wolkins, age 64‚ of White Pigeon, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2009, at the Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. She was born in Elkhart, Ind., on September 9, 1945, a daughter of Amos and Gladys (Whitehead) Conner. Judy attended Constantine Schools and was a member of the Mottville Bible Church. On Aug. 5, 1966, she married …

Richard Ronald Wood, 68, of Zephyrhills, Fla., passed away Thursday, Sept. 17, 2009. Richard was born Nov. 2, 1940 in Three Rivers, the son of Joseph and Clara Wood, and lived in Three Rivers for many years prior to moving to Florida. He attended Three Rivers High School. In 1959, Richard enlisted in the Marines, and served tours of duty …

Eileen E. (Abernathey) Kemp, 92, of White Pigeon, died Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009, at her home, following an extended illness. Eileen was born on July 26, 1917, in Concord, Ill., a daughter to Earl and Ella Abernathey. Eileen was married to Charles Lawrence Kemp, who preceded her in death. She lived in Concord and Morrisonville, Ill., for many years, then …

John Howard Rieley, 90, of White Pigeon, died Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009, at Parkview LaGrange Hospital, LaGrange, Ind. He was born March 8, 1919, in Beaverton, a son of Erastus Clay and Catherine (Patterson) Rieley. He was a resident of the White Pigeon and Union area the past six years, coming from Beaverton and Lake City. He worked as a fruit picker and bee …

Nelly Jacobs, 64, of Columbia, Tenn., and formerly of Constantine and White Pigeon, died Friday, Sept. 24, 2009, at Maury Regional Hospital in Columbia after a one-year illness. She was born Jan. 6, 1945, in Lede, Belgium, a daughter of Joseph and Irma (DeSmit) D’Haese. She had lived for 17 years in Columbia, Tenn., coming from Constantine. On April 30, 1966, she married …

Ms. Jeanne P. Hunt Cripe, 88, was born in Goshen, Ind., on June 17, 1921. She passed into our Lord’s arms on Sept. 21, 2009. Survivors include her daughter, Ms. Kit (Hunt) Chavis of Venice, Fla., formerly of Hickory, N.C.; sister Mrs. Bud “Norma” Large of Sturgis, Mich.; grandson, Mr. Scott Duncan of Englewood, Fla.; and two great-grandsons. She was …

Tony Marazita, age 79, of Sturgis, went to be with his savior Sunday evening Sept. 27, 2009, at  Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident that occurred Sept. 11. He was born Nov. 1, 1929 in Niles, a son of the late Frank and Josephine (Tignanelli) Marazita. Tony had resided in Sturgis since 1954, …