Obituaries

Shirley L. Hackler, 70, of Constantine, passed away Tuesday, February 2, 2016 at Borgess Medical Center.  She was born on February 11, 1945, a daughter of Randall and Grace (Bigelow) Stafford.  Shirley attended Constantine Public Schools.  On October 3, 1963, she married John Hackler in Constantine.  She held many jobs throughout her life, mainly working at Kmart in Sturgis, and …

James P. “Jamie” Denaway, 41, of Bowling Green, Ohio, died Monday, Feb. 1, 2016 in LaGrange, Ind. Mr. Denaway was born Feb. 10, 1974, in Elkhart, Ind., to James A. and Cathy (Spreuer) Denaway. Growing up in the Topeka, Ind., area, he worked as an electrician. Jamie was an avid sports-watcher and especially loved the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and …

Robert Lee Flowers, age 66, of Three Rivers passed away on Monday, February 1, 2016 at Spectrum Health of Grand Rapids. He was born in Sturgis, MI on March 11, 1949 the son of Robert R. and Edna (Cain) Flowers. Robert was a 1968 graduate of Centreville High School where he excelled in football. He was employed at General Motors …

Mary J. Young, age 84, of Constantine, died Tuesday, February 2, 2016 at Heartland Health Care Center. She was born April 1, 1931, a daughter of George and Vira (Gilbert) Tilford. Mary graduated from Constantine High School in 1949. On May 1, 1954, she married Raymond Young at Messiah Lutheran Church in Constantine. Mary was active in school and community for her …

Fred Cooper, Jr., age 88, of rural Three Rivers, died unexpectedly of natural causes at his home. He was born near Vicksburg on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 1928 the son of Fred and Frieda (Lowe) Cooper and was a lifetime resident of the area. He graduated from Mendon High School with the class of 1946, and later served in the U.S. …

Richard A. Lewis, 60, of Mottville Township, Constantine, passed away Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016, at his home. He was born Oct. 21, 1955, in Three Rivers, a son of Richard E. and Wanna L. (Keller) Lewis. He was a resident of the Mottville area for the past 15 years, coming from Stone Lake. He was a graduate of White Pigeon …

Claire E. Knapp, age 86, of Marcellus, MI, passed away Friday, January 29, 2016 following a brief illness. She was born September 18, 1929 in Dowagiac, MI the daughter of Harvey E. and Christine D. (Cowham) Elsey. On June 5, 1949 in Wakelee, MI she married Fred R. Knapp who preceded her in death. Claire retired from G.W. Jones Exchange …

Wilma Marianne Knecht, age 87, of Three Rivers passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at Borgess Medical Center. She was born in Solingen, Germany on January 16, 1929 and moved to the United States in 1958. If light could be a person If love would never die If laughter healed a broken heart If …

Arnold S. Long, 85, Nottawa, passed away Tuesday, January 26, 2016 at Borgess Medical Center. He was born in Ney, OH on August 15, 1930, a son of James and Jenny (Lumpkins) Long. Arnold served in the National Guard. In 1955, he married Rhea High in Angola, IN. Arnold held many jobs throughout his life, retiring from Process Metals in …

Kenneth R. Reish, age 90, of Marcellus, MI passed away Tuesday, January 26, 2016. He was born April 30, 1925, in Marcellus the son of Leo E. and Fannie G. (Beadle) Reish. On July 20, 1957, in Benton Harbor, MI he married Glina L. Henderson who preceded him in death. Kenneth graduated from Marcellus High School in 1944. He was …