Obituaries

Joan J. Harmon, 79 of Sturgis, Mich., passed away June 6, 2009, at the Heartland Health Care Center in Kalamazoo, Mich. She was born June 30, 1929, in Sturgis, Mich., a daughter to the late Freddie F. and Cora (Nihart) Messner. Joan had resided in the Sturgis and White Pigeon area all of her life. On Sept. 10, 1949, she …

Mary L. Baker, 86, formerly of Ney, Ohio, passed away Wednesday, June 3, 2009, at Good Shepherd Nursing Home in Fostoria, Ohio.  Mrs. Baker was born April 15, 1923, in Defiance County, Ohio, the daughter of John and Ruby Laura (Lentz) Kleinhen.   She married Edgar L. Baker in Bryan on Dec. 5, 1942, and he preceded her in death on …

Michael E. Miller, age 50, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Wednesday, June 3, 2009, at Parkview Memorial Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind. He was born Nov. 25, 1958, in Sturgis, a son of Lewis and Ruby (Troyer) Miller, and had been a resident of St. Joseph County all of his life. On Nov. 30, 1984, he married Darlene Gerber in …

Dennis W. Wesse, 59, of White Pigeon, died April 7, 2009, in Elkhart, Ind., following an extended illness. Memorial services and full military rites will be held at noon Friday at Fort Custer National Cemetery in Augusta, Mich. Donations may be directed to the American Cancer Society or the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Arrangements are being handled by the Farrand Funeral …

Noah A. Miller, age 75, of Colon, passed away Tuesday, June 2, 2009, at the Laurels of Coldwater after a short illness. Noah was born March 9, 1934, in LaGrange, Ind., a son of the late Amos N. and Bessie (Beechum) Miller. Noah had lived in Colon the past 21 years, coming from Sturgis. He had worked as a truck …

Helen M. Lovejoy, age 89, of Goshen, Ind., died Monday, June 1, 2009, at her home. There will be no visitation. Cremation has taken place. Graveside services will be held 11 a.m. Saturday at White Pigeon Township Cemetery, with the Rev. Wilbur Brandli officiating. Arrangements are by Farrand Funeral Home, White Pigeon.

Jane Ann Blake, age 62 of Sturgis, Michigan passed away Wednesday afternoon May 27, 2009 at her home. She was born January 20, 1947 in Sturgis, Michigan a daughter to the late Richard and Katheryn (Egelson) Gravit. For over 20 years she had lived in El Paso, Texas returning to Sturgis in 2006 and her early life was spent in …

Alvin Lee Wooster Sr., age 52, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Monday evening June 1, 2009, in Fawn River Township due to injuries sustained in an automobile bicyclist accident. He was born Sept. 23, 1956, in LaGrange, Ind., a son to Nelson and Mary Lou (Shank) Wooster. Al was a LaGrange, Ind., and Sturgis, Mich., area resident his whole life …

Charles Wayne Saunders, 70, of Austin, Texas, passed away Sunday, May 24, 2009, at Christopher House Hospice, Austin, Texas. He was born in Sturgis Mich., April 9, 1939, to the late Beatrice Fackler Birdsall. After graduating from White Pigeon High School, White Pigeon, Mich., where he excelled at sports, he joined the Armed Forces in 1958 and faithfully served his …

Kelly Jean Eagan-Walker, age 48, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Saturday evening, May 30, 2009, at the Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, Mich. She was born March 9, 1961, in Attleboro, Mass., a daughter of Dennis and Katherine (Wentworth) Eagan. Kelly had resided in Sturgis since 1971, coming from Texas. She was a graduate of Sturgis High School with the …