Obituaries

Hollis Albert “Al” Larsen, age 87, of Sturgis, passed away peacefully early Tuesday evening, April 23, 2013, at his home. He was born Aug. 5, 1925, in Wheat Ridge, Colo., a son of Albert and Blanche (Hollis) Larsen. Al was a manager for the W.T. Grant Company for 30 years. He managed stores in many towns in the Midwest but …

Norman Leroy Salter, 74, of Mesick, passed away Friday, April 19, 2013, at Munson Medical Center. Norman was born Feb. 4, 1939, in Three Rivers, to Harley and Ruth Salter. On Sept. 18, 1959, Norman married Ardith (Osborn) Salter in Centerville. Norm is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Ardith Salter of Mesick; four sons, Sam (Brenda) Salter …

Ruth E. Hocker, age 78, of Centreville, passed away peacefully Thursday morning, April 25, 2013, at her home, surrounded by her family. She was born Jan. 6, 1935, in St. Clair Shores, a daughter of the late George and Edna (Harm) Husk. Ruth resided in Centreville since 1987, coming from Three Rivers, where she lived for many years. Her early …

General R. “Tony” Pollard, age 69, of Three Rivers, passed away Thursday April 25, 2013 at his home. He was born in Portsmouth, OH on September 5, 1943, a son of Clarence A. and Lida May (Hammond) Pollard. He worked as a finisher in the construction business, retiring in 2008. On January 11, 1965 Tony married Brenda Fay Adams in …

Charles “Chuck” T. O’Brien III, of Burr Oak, passed away Sunday evening April 21, 2013, in an automobile accident. He was born March 19, 1973, in Coldwater, a son of Charles T. O’Brien II and Marcia (Porter) Lindsey. Chuck has been a resident of this area most all his life and was married March 17, 2005, to Cindy Long, who …

Robert Earl “Rocky” Mercer, age 73, of Middlebury, Indiana, passed away Saturday, April 20th, 2013 at Goshen General Hospital. He was born on August 2, 1939 a son of Jess Willard and Ruth (Dimmick) Mercer in Constantine, MI. Rocky worked at Syndicate Store Fixtures in Middlebury, IN for 18 Years retiring in 2001. He was also a Truck Driver for …

Jasper “Sonny” Imburgia, age 77, of White Pigeon, passed away Saturday, April 20th, 2013 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. He was born in Chicago, IL on November 18, 1935, a son of Frank and Marie (Dziurgot) Imburgia. Sonny graduated from St. Phillip High School in Chicago and later served overseas in the US Army from 1958 – 1960. On …

Irmgard Klara Schmidt, age 80, of Ft. Lauderdale, FL died Thursday April 18, 2013 at Kindred Hospital in Ft. Lauderdale. She was born in Gross-Koris, Germany on Oct. 13, 1932 the daughter of Erich and Klara (Gedeon) Schmidt. She emigrated to the United States in 1951, and for a time lived in Mendon. She later resided in Chicago and New …

Janice Marie (Weitting) Keeslar, 69, passed on early Thursday morning, April 18, 2013, surrounded by her loving and devoted children. She was a lifelong resident of Sturgis and the beloved daughter of the late Lawrence and Charlotte (Dunham) Weitting. Janice was a dedicated caseworker for the Family Independence Agency and especially enjoyed working with the elderly. She retired at age …

Ella Ruth Kelley, age 88, of Sturgis, passed away Wednesday, April 17, 2013, at Fairview Nursing and Rehabilitation in Centreville. She was born May 18, 1924, in LaGrange, Ind., a daughter of the late Willis and Minnie (Wierich) Stahl. Ruth resided in the LaGrange and Sturgis area nearly her whole life and was a graduate of Sturgis High School with …