Obituaries

Thurmon Smith, age 68, of Sturgis, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and brother, passed on to his heavenly father Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011, at Parkview LaGrange Hospital in LaGrange, Ind.  He was born Feb. 15, 1943, in Sayersville, Ky., a son of Joseph and Gertrude (Beverly) Smith.  Thurmon had resided in Sturgis since 1967. On March 8, 1964, he …

Loretta Constance Blue, age 72, of White Pigeon, passed away Dec. 22, 2011 at her home.  According to her wishes, there will be no visitation. Cremation has taken place.  A memorial funeral Mass will be held at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 16 at Holy Angels Catholic Church, 404 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis.  The family suggests memorial donations in memory of Loretta …

Nelva R. Dykstra, 77, of Three Rivers, went to be with the Lord on Dec. 26, 2011. Nelva was born in Chicago, Ill., on April 28, 1934, the daughter of the late Albert and Helen (Rudenga) Kraai. She was a kind, gentle and loving woman. She loved her family and had a strong faith in the Lord. She had a …

Sheila J. Haring, 75, of Three Rivers, died on Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011. She was born June 1, 1936 in Three Rivers, the daughter of Ophir L. and Margaret Lucile (Shafer) Haring. Sheila graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1954, from Stephens College in 1956, and from Ohio University in 1958. Thereafter, she joined Amoco Corporation (formerly Standard Oil …

Anna (Betty) Sadler, age 85, of Three Rivers, went to be with the Lord on December 24, 2011, with her family by her side. She was born in Pontiac, MI on October 1, 1926, the daughter of the late Hugh and Pearl (Hamilton) Milton. Anna was a loving woman, whose strong faith made her a joy to be around. She …

James Theodore Holm, age 50, of Three Rivers passed away Monday, December 26, 2011 following a hereditary illness. Jim was born in Three Rivers, Mi June 2, 1961 the son of Walter Franklin and Wanda Lorrane(Hurst)Holm. Jim was born and raised in Three Rivers. He was employed for many years upon retiring from Parkland Plastics , Inc. Jim, from a …

Edith Vanessa (Edie) Holdcraft, age 66 of Constantine, MI, passed away  Sunday, December 25th, 2011 at her home. She was born in Logansport, IN on January 6, 1945, to  Don and Harriett (Sinninger) Gordon. Edie graduated from Logansport High School in 1962. On November 22, 1971 Edie married William O. Holdcraft in Logansport, IN. She had worked for GTE in …

Roberta A. “Bonnie” Miller, age 85, of Burr Oak, passed away Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011, at Sturgis Hospital. She was born July 28, 1926, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late John and Blendena (Cummings) Gest. Bobbie was a lifelong Burr Oak-area resident and a graduate of Burr Oak High School with the class of 1946. On Sept. 7, 1946, she …

Ruth Violet Marchand, 88, of Constantine, and former longtime Sturgis resident, passed away early Sunday morning, Dec. 25, 2011, at Fairview Nursing and Rehabilitation Community in Centreville. She was born Oct. 27, 1923, in Baldwin, a daughter of the late Jesse and Della (Baldwin) Miller. Ruth had resided with her daughter in Constantine since 2007. Prior to that, she lived …

Marilyn J. Deisler, 77, of White Pigeon, died Sunday, Dec. 25, 2011, at Riverview Manor in Three Rivers, following a short illness. She was March 9, 1934, in Mottville, a daughter of Winford S. and Mary A. (Harris) Rentfrow. She was a 1952 graduate of White Pigeon High School, and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in nursing from University of …