Obituaries

Frederick “Fred” G. Schwartz, age 75, of Sturgis, passed on to Heaven on Saturday, December 3, 2022. He was born on July 23, 1947 in Sturgis, a son of John and Katie (Wickey) Schwartz. Fred attended Nottawa and Centreville Schools, later receiving his GED and going to Auction School. On November 12, 1971, he married Marilyn Miller at Locust Grove …

Marilyn Sue Essex, age 78, of Volinia, passed away Saturday, December 3, 2022 in Three Rivers. Marilyn was born in Centreville on February 16, 1944, the daughter of Bernard and Eulah (Stanard) Kahler. On March 7, 1964, at Volinia Baptist Church, she married Wayne Essex who preceded her in death on May 21, 2020. Marilyn was a telephone operator, working …

Timothy Paul Landrum, age 64, went to be with his Lord on Friday, December 2, 2022. He was born to John C Landrum, Sr, and Donna M (Shrock) Landrum on July 19, 1958 in Sturgis. Timothy graduated  in 1976 from Schoolcraft High School. On November 23, 2017, he married Cecilia Valladao Landrum in Scotts, MI. He is survived by his …

David William Middlestadt, Jr., age 55, of Marcellus, passed away Tuesday, November 29, 2022 at home. He was born in Paw Paw on January 2, 1967 the son of David Middlestadt and Nellie Faye (Allred) Middlestadt. On February 28, 1987, in Dowagiac he married Tina May (Johnson) Middlestadt who survives him in death. David was a custodian, working for many …

Beth Ann Donley, age 47, of Three Rivers, passed away Monday, November 28, 2022 in Three Rivers. She was born in South Bend on November 6, 1975 the daughter of Michael Allen Donley and Pamela Gail (Green) Donley. Beth had an Associate’s degree in Business Marketing, and Child Development. She worked for 16 years at Lilliput Learning Center. She enjoyed …

Charles William Gilger, age 64, of Howe, Indiana passed away Friday morning, December 2, 2022 at Skaggs Assisted Living in Burr Oak. He was born November 1, 1958 in Wilmington, Ohio son of Gordon and Maryanne (Torok) Gilger. Charles resided in Howe since 1984 coming from Texas and his early life was lived in Wichita Falls, Texas. He was a …

Corliss “Corkie” Wallen, age 72, of Colon, passed away on Friday, December 2, 2022, peacefully at her home. Corliss was born on May 25, 1950, in Sturgis, a daughter to the late Gerald and Juanita (Tiejema) Uric. On March 12, 1977, Corliss married her husband of 44 years, Jackie R. Wallen, in Sturgis at the Sturgis United Methodist Church. Jack …

Freddie Brown, age 73, of Three Rivers, passed away Thursday, November 17, 2022 at Edgewood Health & Rehabilitation. He was born August 9, 1949 in Hammond, Louisiana, the son of James and Zola Mae (Andrews) Brown, and lived at several locations in Louisiana before moving to Michigan with his family as an 18-year-old. A mason by trade, Freddie worked at …

Ronald John Riopel, age 89, of Three Rivers, passed away Monday, November 28, 2022 at home, surrounded by his loving family. He was born July 14, 1933 in Chicago, the son of John August and Anna Louise (Ebert) Riopel. Ron earned his bachelor of science degree at Western Michigan University: a triple major in physics, chemistry and mathematics, and a …

Mary Lou Happel, age 93, of Leonidas, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2022 at the Birches in Leonidas where she had resided the past 6 ½ years. She was born in Mendon on August 7, 1929 the daughter of Allen and Cora (Thomas) Carlisle. She graduated from Watervliet High School in 1949 and worked briefly …