Obituaries

Marco David Chapman, age 16, of Three Rivers, died Wednesday, July 19, 2017 while swimming with friends along the St. Joseph River. He was born in Three Rivers on Feb. 27, 2001 the son of Marco David Patton and Leesa O. Chapman, and was a lifetime resident of the Michiana area. Marco had just completed the 10th grade at Lakeland …

John Edward Thoendel, Sr., age 66, of Vandalia, died peacefully Friday, July 21, 2017 in the comfort of his family’s presence in his daughter’s residence. He was born July 24, 1950 in Cassopolis to Adolph and Martha Thoendel. His parents preceded him in death. He was also preceded by one daughter, Nykole Thoendel. John served honorably in the U.S. Army …

Floyd Alfred Astling, age 80, passed away Thursday, July 20, 2017, following a brief illness. He spent his remaining days in the care of Grace Healthcare in Three Rivers. Floyd was born Aug. 30, 1936, at the Constantine Hospital in Constantine. He was the son of the late Charles H. and Myrtle K. (Schutt) Astling. He was a well-known resident …

Richard E. Claxton, age 73, of White Pigeon, died Tuesday, July 18, 2017, at his home, following a one-year illness. He was born July 28, 1943, in Constantine, a son of Russell and Illa (Sudlow) Claxton. He was a White Pigeon and Constantine resident all his life, a graduate of White Pigeon High School and a veteran of the U.S. …

Joseph James Andrus, age 35, of Ann Arbor, and formerly of Sturgis, passed away unexpectedly Monday, July 17, 2017 at his home. He was born December 5, 1981 in Kingsville, Texas son of William and Diane (Barnett) Andrus. He resided in Ann Arbor for the past 3 years but Joe lived as most of us only threaten to do. He …

Karen S. Chaffee, 75, of Livingston, Mont., and formerly of White Pigeon, died Sunday, July 16, 2017, in Billings, Mont., following an extended illness. She was born Aug. 22, 1941, in Elkhart, a daughter of Robert and Ruth (Signs) Chaffee. She had been a resident of Montana since 2012, coming from White Pigeon, where she lived for 36 years. She …

Sharon “Shari” L. Closson, 67, passed away peacefully Tuesday, July 18, 2017, surrounded by her family. Born in Sturgis, Shari completed her bachelor of science degree in nursing from Ball State University. She worked as a registered nurse with Parkview Randallia for 38 years. Surviving are her husband of 45 years, Joseph Closson of Kimmell, Ind.; her mother, Mary Ann …

Jason Allen Bottger, age 42, of Sturgis, passed away suddenly at home Saturday, July 15, 2017. He was born July 21, 1974 in Greenville, South Carolina to Dennis and Penny (Daugherty) Bottger. Jason moved to Three Rivers from South Carolina in 1984.  He was a graduate of Three Rivers High School class of 1992. Jason loved to play the drums …

Morris Layne Spears, age 75, of Constantine, passed away on Friday, July 14, 2017 at his home. He was born in Kentucky on March 22, 1942, a son of Homer and Dixie (Kinney) Spears. He was self-employed in sales and enjoyed ‘picking’ antiques and treasures. On March 17, 1987, he married Mabel Bell; they were later divorced. Surviving Morris are …

Curtis Alan Babcock, age 54, formerly of Brownwood, Texas, passed away Sunday, July 9, 2017, at the home of his very special friends, Richard, Roger, Misty and Ray Williams, after a short, but hard, fight with cancer. He was born the son of the late Lloyd Jr. and Carolyn (Llewellyn) Babcock. Curt grew up in Sturgis and started traveling as …