Obituaries

William “Bill” Michael Heflin, 66, of Mendon, died peacefully at his home on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016 after a long illness caused by his exposure to Agent Orange while serving in Viet Nam. Cremation has taken place. Bill was born May 15, 1949 in Kalamazoo the sixth child born to Frank and Margaret (Maturen) Heflin. Bill’s family was a group …

Elvis “Red” O’Neill, age 82, of Marcellus, MI passed away Saturday, February 20, 2016 at home. He was born February 13, 1934 in Kennett, Missouri, the son of Rothert and Edna P. (Kemper) O’Neill. On June 30, 1964 he married Shirley Copas who preceded him in death on May 8, 2011. Red was a logger all of his life. He …

T.J. Kirk, age 62, of Mendon, died Thursday, Feb. 18, 2016 at his home. He was born near Dowagiac, MI on May 29, 1953 the son of Donald N. and Katherine (Woodhams) Kirk. After graduating from Cassopolis High School, T.J. was married to Cathy Bradley on July 18, 1975 in Three Rivers. They have resided in Mendon since 1976. T.J. …

Lucille (Luci) Culbertson, 68, of Mottville Township, died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016, at her home, following an extended illness. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. Friday at Farrand Funeral Home in White Pigeon. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016, at the funeral home. Interment will take place in Mottville Township Cemetery. Donations maybe directed to …

Ronnie E. Hawkins Sr. of Sturgis, age 60, died Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at his home after losing his battle with cancer. He was born December 9, 1955 in Sturgis, a son of Junior and Marjorie (Westphal) Hawkins. He graduated from Constantine High School and served in the Army National Guard from 1974 to 1982. On November 29, 1986, Ronnie married …

S. Jane Eicholtz, age 90, of Three Rivers, died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016 at New Friends Assisted Living in Kalamazoo. She was born in Akron, Indiana on Nov. 14, 1925 the daughter of Russell L. and Hazel D. (Tullis) Rader. Jane graduated from Three Rivers High School and later attended Western Michigan University. Following her marriage to Clyde Donald Eicholtz, …

Mrs. Linda Sue Schug, 61, of Marcellus, passed away suddenly on Monday, Feb. 15, 2016 at Bronson Methodist Hospital following a brief illness. She was born in Baldwin, MI., on Feb. 10th, 1955 the daughter of the late Eugene and Shirley (Weiborn) Nichols. Linda graduated from Three Rivers High School in 1973 and continued her education at Davenport University. She …

Ione Emma Pappas, age 83, of Sturgis, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2016, at Sturgis Hospital. She was born July 30, 1932, in Chicago, a daughter of the late Gustav and Emma (Wolter) Zerbs. As a teen, Ione moved to Burr Oak, where she graduated from Burr Oak High School. She has since resided in the Burr Oak and Sturgis …

Richard C. Leighton, age 85, of Mendon, passed away Friday, February 12, 2016 at his home. On November 1, 1930, he was born in Anderson, IN, a son of George and Selma (Jones) Leighton. Richard married Norma Nutt on August 23, 1958 in Elizabethtown, TN. She preceded him in death on June 13, 2005. Richard served in the U.S. Army …

Cathy Lee Sussdorf, age 58, of Three Rivers, died Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2016 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born in Three Rivers on April 13, 1957 the daughter of Charles and Cathryn (Mikosz) Cooper and was a lifetime resident of Three Rivers. She graduated from Three Rivers High School with the class of 1975. Kathy was a …