Obituaries

Janice Marie (Knaak) Johnson, age 71, of Mendon, died peacefully on Friday March 11, 2011, surrounded by her family. She was born on May 29, 1939, in Schoolcraft. In her younger years, Jan worked as a dental hygiene assistant and was the assistant supervisor in the accounting department at Alberto Culver in Chicago. In her later years she obtained her …

Margaret M. (Parker) White, 91, was born on Feb. 16, 1920 in St. Louis, Mo. to the union of the late Mr. Louis Parker and Harriet Beasley. They moved to Three Rivers in 1956. To this marriage three children were born: Henrietta Shannon of Mishawaka, Ind., Charlie Mae Copley of South Bend, Ind., and Margaret White of Three Rivers. Margaret …

Catherine Agnes Young, of Kalamazoo, and formerly of Sturgis, died on March 7, 2011, at Upjohn Community Care Center. Catherine was born on Nov. 7, 1912, in Toledo, Ohio, the daughter of Thomas and Lena (Jelinek) Hosek. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harold, in 1998, her brother, George Hosek and sister, Alice Wilson. Catherine is survived …

Cleora Wigton Jeffress, 89, of Sturgis, passed away Friday morning, March 11, 2011, at Thurston Woods Village in Sturgis. She was born March 27, 1921, in New Castle, Pa., a daughter of the late James and Ora (Breast) Wigton. Cleora had resided in Sturgis since 1991. She retired following 13 years of dedicated employment as a church secretary in Pennsylvania, …

Edith Marie Studeman, 89, of Sturgis, passed away early Thursday afternoon, March 10, 2011 at the home of her son in Sturgis. She was born Sept. 4, 1921, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late George and Anna (Sweeder) Parker. Mrs. Studeman was a lifelong Sturgis resident and graduated from Sturgis High School with the class of 1939. On Jan. …

George Elmer Johnson of Three Rivers, until recently a lifelong resident of Munising, has gone to be with his Lord and Saviour on March 9, 2011. George was preceded in death by his wife, Betty; his parents; brothers, Arvo, Wilho, Carl, Harry, Paul and Emil; sisters, Delia (Hans) Pelto, Lillian (Roland) Gearing, Anne (George) Sanders, Elsie Johnson and Martha (Donald) …

Roger Duane Vaughn, 58, of Sturgis, went to be with his Lord and Savior Tuesday evening, March 8, 2011, at his home with his family at his side. He was born Oct. 20, 1952, in Angola, Ind., a son of the late Clifford and Veda Irene (Gangwer) Vaughn. Roger had resided in Sturgis since 1971, coming from Angola. On Sept. …

Cynthia B. Ream, 69, of Burr Oak, passed away Sunday, March 6, 2011, at her home. She was born Oct. 2, 1941, in Detroit, a daughter of the late Henry and Agness Pendzich. Mrs. Ream had resided in Burr Oak since 1984, coming from Detroit. On Sept. 15, 1968, she married Kenneth Ream in Detroit. She had been employed in …

We say goodbye to our dear loved one, Vermadell (Allen) Thomas, age 89, of Leonidas. She left us peacefully and without pain on Saturday, March 5, 2011, to join her beloved husband, Leonard, forever. She leaves behind her family who love her, children Sheilah (E.D.) Mutschler, Rhonda (John) Smit and Shelley (Polyvios) Touloupas; grandchildren Lance (Nancy) Patnoude, Monica Patnoude, Brian …

Charles Joseph Krontz, seven-month-old son of Amanda Krontz of Three Rivers, passed away unexpectedly Sunday, March 6, 2011, at Three Rivers Health in Three Rivers. He was born July 7, 2010, in LaGrange, Ind. Charles Joseph is survived by his mother, Amanda Krontz, and her companion, Josh Jackson of Three Rivers; one brother, Michael Krontz at home; grandparents William and …