Obituaries

Robert Gordon Reinel went to be with his Lord and Savior on Friday, Dec. 16, 2011, following a brief battle with cancer at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo. Gordon was born Nov. 16, 1936, in Detroit, to John and J. Chrystal (Gordon) Reinel, who preceded him in death. As a young boy, he resided in Grosse Pointe Farms. His adolescence …

Nancy “Nan” Morgan Houston, of Kalamazoo, a writer, editor, and public relations manager for colleges and universities in Michigan, died Saturday, Dec. 17, 2011, in Kalamazoo, after a brief illness. She was 83. From 1971 to 1993, she worked in Michigan State University’s public information office, first handling the needs of the university’s Colleges of Human Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine, …

Libby E. Atherton, age 96, of Clinton, Iowa, died Monday, Dec. 19, 2011, at Mercy Living Center North in Clinton, Iowa. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21 at Pape Funeral Home in Clinton. Visitation was held on Wednesday, prior to the services. Burial was in Oakland Cemetery, Clinton. Libby was born in Milaca, Minn., on Dec. 2, …

Edmund “Ed” Carl Haldy, age 93, of Three Rivers, passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday morning, December 21, 2011 surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Detriot, MI., on February 25, 1918 the son of the late Louis and Mary (Schonchek) Haldy. Mr. Haldy honorably served his country during WWII in the U.S. Army. After returning home, …

Lee B. Crampton, 84, of Concord, Calif., died Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2011, in Concord of natural causes. He was born Sept. 14, 1927, in White Pigeon Township, to Carl V. and Edna B. (Barnes) Crampton. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and had lived in California since 1973, 32 years in Concord. On July 6, 1952, he married Gloria …

Kenneth Eugene Newton Sr., age 53, of rural Three Rivers, died Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011, at his home, following a long illness. He was born May 11, 1958, in Manila, Ark., a son of James and Mildred (Keith) Newton. In 1966, the family came to Michigan, where he graduated from St. Joseph High School. Ken had resided in the Three …

Linda Jean Cunningham, age 50, of Sturgis, passed away Thursday evening, Dec. 15, 2011, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born Sept. 16, 1961, in Mount Clemens, a daughter of Paul William and Patricia (June (Dean) Bellaire. Linda had resided in Sturgis since 1979, coming from England. For the past nine years, she had been employed at the …

John R. Harvey, 74, of Three Rivers, died Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011 at his home following a long illness. He was born in Three Rivers on Oct. 24, 1937 the son of the late Ruel B. and Margaret E. (Reid) Harvey, and had been an area resident his entire life. John served in the U.S Air Force before returning to …

Wanda June Cross, age 79, of Sturgis, Michigan passed away Friday morning, December 16, 2011 at her home. She was born June 3, 1932 in Burr Oak, Michigan a daughter of the late Orlo and Dorothy (Hackman) Stroup. Wanda was a lifelong Sturgis and Burr Oak area resident. In 1977 she married Lawrence John Cross in Centreville, Michigan. Wanda had …

Janet Marie Williams, age 68, of Three Rivers, died Thursday Dec. 15, 2011 at her home. She was born in Three Rivers on April 12, 1943 the daughter of Lloyd and Ella M. (Bean) Swinehart and was a lifetime resident of Three Rivers. She graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1960. Janet had been employed as an accountant at …