Obituaries

Jayanti M. Patel, age 65, of Sturgis, Michigan passed away late Tuesday evening September 17, 2013 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He was born December 15, 1947 in Maniyoi, India son of the late Mavjibhai and Jethiben (Patel) Patel. Mr. Patel resided in Sturgis since 1990 coming from Chicago, Illinois. On March 27, 1981 he married Uma J. …

William “Bill” M. Smithers Jr., age 57, of Three Rivers, passed away on Monday, September 16, 2013 at Heartland Health Care surrounded by his loving family after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Willits, CA., on October 17, 1955 the son of William E. and Christine (Traverse) Smithers. Bill made Three Rivers his home in 1965 moving …

Thomas Wayne “Tom” Vernon, age 66, of Mendon, died Monday Sep. 16, 2013 at Rose Arbor Hospice Residence in Kalamazoo surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Owosso, MI on Jan. 17, 1947 the son of Bruce and Barbara (Moore) Vernon. The family later moved to Sturgis where Tom graduated from Sturgis High School with the class of …

Gertrude Ireen Geark, 91, of Three Rivers, passed away on Saturday, Sept. 14, 2013 at her home surrounded by her loving sons. She was born July 13, 1922 in Schoolcraft the daughter of the late Ellis and Billie (Cobb) Butler. Mrs. Geark has been a lifetime resident of this area. She was formerly employed in sales at Gilmore’s and also …

Allen “Spoon” Witherspoon, Jr., 84, of Three Rivers, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013. Arrangements by Hohner Funeral Home.

Barbara June Sobie, age 73, of Coldwater, passed away Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013, at The Laurels of Coldwater. She was born June 4, 1940, in Sturgis, a daughter of the late Marion and Cecilia (Harmon) Lawniczak. Barbara graduated from Sturgis High School with the class of 1958. She had resided in the Coldwater and Sturgis area all her life, working …

Turner T. Powell Jr., age 75, of White Pigeon, passed away peacefully Sunday, Sept. 15, 2013, at home. He was born Nov. 23, 1937, in Hartford, a son of the late Turner T. and Hattie (Poplin) Powell. Turner had been a resident of White Pigeon since 2004 and he resided with his caregiver and adopted mother, Stella Powell, since 1968. …

Dianna Sue Pliska, age 61, of Constantine, passed away Sunday, September 15th, 2013 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo. She was born on October 5, 1951, a daughter of Ethel Robinson and Charlie Cheeks. Sue graduated from Constantine High School in 1968. On July 4, 1988 she married Frank Pliska in Constantine. Sue worked as a Tax Assessor for Jamie …

Roger Alan Kisseberth, 77, passed away Friday, September 13, 2013. He was born Aug. 19, 1936, in Sturgis, to Milo and Martha (Mieras) Kisseberth. He married Marcella Daub Nov. 21, 1992 in Goshen. She survives along with a son, Mark T. (Jann Groom) Kisseberth, Winter Garden, Fla.; two step-daughters, Pamela (Mark Morton) Fisher, and Juli (Mitch) Kaylor, both of Goshen, …

Walter Lee McElvain, Jr., age 75, of Colon, died Sep. 14, 2013 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo after a courageous battle with cancer. He was born in Kalamazoo, MI on June 21, 1938 the only son and oldest of five children born to Walter Sr. and Margaret (Meyers) McElvain. He graduated from Vicksburg Schools and served in the U.S. …