Obituaries

Judy Persons, 74

Judith E. Persons, age 74, of Burr Oak, passed away Monday evening October 21, 2019 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. She was born November 15, 1944 in Three Rivers. She was a longtime resident of the Burr Oak, Sturgis area. Judy was a graduate of White Pigeon High School. On February 8, 1975 she married Rickey Lee Persons in …

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Ervin Bontrager, 67

Ervin B. Bontrager, age 67, of Centreville, passed away Saturday morning, Oct. 19, 2019, at Rose Arbor Hospice Residence in Kalamazoo. He was born Sept. 12, 1952, in Three Rivers, a son of the late Benedict and Mary Ann (Hochstetler) Bontrager. Ervin was a lifelong Centreville area resident and a graduate of Centreville High School with the class of 1971. …

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John Gill, 77

John Samuel Gill, age 77, of Sturgis, passed away Monday morning, October 21, 2019 at the Sturgis Hospital Emergency Room. He was born May 20, 1942 in Wolcottville, Indiana son of the late Lee Raymond and Ruth Ellen (Pierce) Gill. John resided in Sturgis since 1972 coming from Wolcottville. On November 7, 1965 he married Nancy Ann Weber in Albion, …

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Eddie Schrader Jr., 56

Edward “Eddie” Schrader Jr., age 56, of Constantine, went to be with God on Thursday, October 10th, 2019 at his home. He was born January 25, 1963 in Sturgis a son of Edward and Wanda (Howard) Schrader Sr. Eddie graduated from Constantine High School in 1981. At the age of 16, he entered the Army reserves and continued his service …

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Twilla Bornman, 78

Twilla A. Bornman, age 78, of White Pigeon, died on Friday, Oct. 18, 2019, at her home. Visitation will be from 5 to 8pm Wednesday at Farrand Funeral Home in White Pigeon, where services will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 24. Interment will be in White Pigeon Township Cemetery.

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David Sanders, 46

David Cory Sanders, age 46, of Three Rivers, died Friday, Oct. 18, 2019. He was born in Elkhart on March 13, 1973 the son of Eugene L. and Carol Ann (Scott) Sanders. He graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1991. David had been employed in the RV Industry in Middlebury and Elkhart, and most recently for a landscaping business. …

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Ann Lapham, 50

Ann Marie Lapham, age 50, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday, Oct. 17, 2019, at her home. She was born June 22, 1969, in Battle Creek, a daughter of the late Bruce and Carol (Webster) Lapham. Ann resided most of her life in the Sturgis area and was a graduate of Sturgis High School with the class of 1987. Ann was …

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Marian Yaros, 92

Marian Rose Yaros, age 92, of Sturgis, passed away Sunday morning, Oct. 20, 2019, at Thurston Woods Villa. In accordance with her wishes, cremation has taken place. Private family services and entombment will take place at a later date at the Oak Lawn Cemetery columbarium. Hackman Chapel of Hackman Family Funeral Homes of Sturgis is entrusted with arrangements.

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Larry Mast, 71

Larry E. Mast, age 71, of Mendon, died on Saturday, October 19, 2019 at his home following a lengthy illness. He was born February 23, 1948 in LaGrange, a son of Amos and Amanda (Yoder) Mast. Larry earned his GED while serving in 1W service in Sarasota, Florida. On January 5, 1979 he married Esther J. Schwartz at Locust Grove …

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Judy Van Solkema, 86

Judith Kirsch Van Solkema died Oct. 19, 2019, at the age of 86. Born Feb. 10, 1933, in Sturgis, she is predeceased by parents Guy W. Kirsch and Flora Kirsch Beck; brother Charles E. Kirsch; and son David G. Trout. She is survived by her adored husband, Sherman Van Solkema; daughters Debbie Moran (Larry), Cindy Trout and Karen Trout; daughter-in-law …

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