Obituaries

Benjamin Allen “Ben” Burkett, age 20, of Mendon, died Tuesday, June 23, 2009 from injuries received in a motor vehicle accident in Brady Township.  He was born in Kalamazoo on May 14, 1989 the son of Gordon A. and Minnie (Blair) Burkett, Jr.  He attended Vicksburg Schools where he participated in football and wrestling.  Ben graduated from Portage Central High …

Katherine (Kay) Shoemaker, 73, passed away Monday, May 25, 2009, at a hospice hospital in Bradenton, Fla. Kay was born in Nappanee, Ind., on Aug. 21, 1935, a daughter of Owen and Fern Shoemaker. Kay graduated from White Pigeon High School and the Bronson Hospital of Nursing with an RN degree. She loved to travel and had been in all 50 states. …

Charles A. Fetch, of Three Rivers, passed away on June 22, 2009 at Heartland Health Care Center.  He was born on Nov. 16, 1922 in LaGrange, IN, the son of Homer Charles and Mary Grace (Bellaire) Fetch.   Charles was a graduate of White Pigeon High School.  During WWII he served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as Sgt. of …

Dorotha Ellen Hazel, age 92, of Three Rivers, passed away Monday, June 22nd, 2009 at the Heartland Health Care Center in Three Rivers. She was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana on December 17, 1916,  the daughter of  Harry and Myrtle (Kennedy) Chadwick. Dorotha graduated from Crawfordsville High School in 1934 and attended the Indianapolis Central Business College.  On July 2, 1938 …

Leo  David Bischoff,  age 59, White Pigeon, Mottville Twp.passed away Friday, June 19th, 2009 at the Elkhart General Hospital  in Elkhart, IN.  He was born in Ottawa Lake, MI on May 3, 1950,  a son of  Lyle James and Joseanna (Cox) Bischoff. Leo graduated from Whiteford HS in 1968, and graduated in 1972 from Ferris State University where he also …

Michael D. “Wolfie” Wolfinger, age 62, of Burr Oak, Mich., passed away Tuesday morning, June 16, 2009, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. He was born May 29, 1947, in Coldwater, a son of Russell and Florence (Miner) Wolfinger.  He had been a resident of Burr Oak since 2000, moving there from Bronson. On July 27, 1971, he married Martha …

Lillian Marinthia Rinehart, age 88, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 13, 2009, at the Cass County Medical Facility.  She was born on Oct. 15, 1920, the daughter of Samuel D. and Lillian (Reynolds) Mitterling. Lillian truly loved to work with her hands crocheting, making doilies and quilts for her family. She was employed as a secretary …

Ronald Lew “Ron” Cook, age 71 of Mendon, died Monday, June 15, 2009 following a long illness.  He was born in Vicksburg on April 22, 1938 the son of Rex A. and Gladys (Henry) Cook and was a lifetime resident of the Mendon area.  Ron attended Mendon Schools, and was a 44 year employee of Simpson Paper and later Fox-River …

Helen Marie Frye, age 74 Centreville passed away  Sunday, June 14th, 2009 at Three Rivers Health. She was born in Sturgis,  on June 23, 1934,  a daughter of  Clayton and Anna  (Edler) Melchi. Helen graduated from Sturgis High School in 1952 where she participated in cheer leading.   On June 7, 1952 she married Wellington Frye in Sturgis. He preceded her …

Dana Steven Horvath, Sr., age 63 White Pigeon, MI formerly of South Bend, IN passed away  Sunday, June 14th, 2009 at his home when he lost his valiant fight with cancer. Dan  was born in South Bend, on March 3, 1946,  a son of the late Steven J and LaRayne A. (King ) Horvath. Dan graduated from Washington High School …