Obituaries

Charles Harold (Chuck) Taylor, age 79, of Branch, MI passed away at his home surrounded by his family. He was born on July 9, 1934, a son of Harold and Dexter (Hunter) Taylor in Sturgis. On April 18,1953 Chuck married Joyce Kipker in LaGrange, IN. He served in the Michigan National Guard from 1953 to 1983. He worked as a …

Robert Lee Bidelman, Jr., age 56, of Constantine, passed away March 4th, 2014. He born in Denver, Colorado on August 23, 1957, a son of Mary Jane (Allen) and Robert Lee Bidelman Sr. He worked as a plumber at Pace Industries. Surviving are his father Robert (Carol) Bidelman, daughter Heather Bidelman, brother Al Bidelman, half sisters Diane and Deb Wise, …

Rufus Dayton Hubbard passed away peacefully at his home on March 3, 2014. He and his late wife Allene, were the founding owners of Corey Lake Orchards. “Dayton” as he was known to his family and friends was born May 15, 1930, in Floyd County, Virginia. He graduated from Blacksburg High School in 1947 and attended Virginia Tech, from which …

Patricia Rae Gray, age 71, of Sherwood, died Sunday, March 2, 2014 at her home. She was born in Goshen, IN on Oct. 30, 1942 the daughter of Charles and Naomi (Trine) Richards, and later attended Schoolcraft High School. Patricia recently retired from T-H Plastics in Mendon. She loved her family, animals, crocheting, flower gardening and hunting. Patricia is survived …

Eleanor “Taffy” June (Weiss) Paul, age 70, of Sturgis, Michigan passed away early Sunday afternoon, March 2, 2014 at home surrounded by family and friends. She was born May 30, 1943 in Chicago, Illinois daughter of the late Fred and Dorothy (Lewis) Weiss. Taffy resided in Sturgis since 1978 coming from Jenison, Michigan. On March 17, 1967 she married Harry …

Joyce D. Smith, 62, of Sturgis, died Friday, Feb. 28, 2014, at St. Joseph Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind., following an extended illness. She was born Aug. 12, 1951, in Goshen, Ind., to Melvin and Velma (Marchant) Beardsley. She was a resident of the Sturgis area for the past 26 years, coming from White Pigeon. She had been employed at Kirsch Company …

Ivan A. Stuckey, age 92, of Burr Oak, went to be with the Lord on Saturday morning March 1, 2014, at Parkview Regional Hospital in Fort Wayne, Ind. He was born May 15, 1921 in Archbold, Ohio, a son of the late Aaron and Sarah (Eicher) Stuckey. Ivan resided in Burr Oak for the past 49 years after moving from …

Pearl Marion Bailey, age 102, passed away Friday afternoon, Feb. 28, 2014, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born April 23, 1911, in Milwaukee, a daughter of the late Charles and Petronelle Lupenski. Mrs. Bailey resided in Sturgis since 1974, coming from Chicago. In January 1971, she married Alvin Bailey in Chicago. He died October 18, 1979. She …

Catherine Anne Wolfe, age 70, of Three Rivers, passed away on Saturday, March 1, 2014 at Borgess Medical Center following a lengthy illness. She was born on Nov. 24, 1943 in Garden City, MI., the daughter of Jack and Catherine (O’Byrne) Pelon. Mrs. Wolfe has been a long time resident of Three Rivers. She was employed for many years as …

Russel D. Ames, 86, of Sturgis, passed away Saturday morning, March 1, 2014 at his home. He was born July 24, 1927 in Three Rivers, son of the late Claude and Mildred (Ernest) Ames. Russel resided in Sturgis since 1948 coming from Three Rivers. On Dec. 31, 1948 he married Joyce Ann Holtz at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Sturgis. …