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Obituaries

Celebrating the life of a Fetzer visionary: Robert F. ‘Rob’ Lehman

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November 12, 2026

Robert F. Lehman became president of the Fetzer Institute in 1989, guiding its pioneering exploration of the relationship between mind, body, and spirit. Under his leadership, the Institute supported groundbreaking research in mind-body health, contemplative practice, and human development, including the Emmy Award-winning PBS series Healing and the Mind with Bill Moyers. He also established the Institute’s first fellows program and oversaw the opening of Seasons, its retreat center, in 1994.

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Watershed Voice: Year in Review
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December 30, 2025

Before our three-week publishing pause, Watershed Voice invites our readers to take a look back at the past year in local news. For Watershed Voice, it was a year marked by change, as we transitioned from one staff writer — Najifa Farhat for the first half of the year — to another, Maxwell Knauer, for the second half of the year. No matter the author of our stories, we aimed to bring prompt, fact-based, independent reporting to Southwest Michigan. Here’s a look at some of our favorite, most impactful, and most-read stories of 2025.

Obituary: Betty Kipker-Chase
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Obituaries
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June 17, 2025

Three Rivers resident Betty Lou Kipker-Chase, 90, passed away Sunday, June 15 at Bronson Methodist Hospital with family at her side.

Obituary: Barbara Ellen Penny
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May 24, 2024

Our community mourns the loss of Barbara Ellen Penny of Three Rivers, Michigan who passed away from heart failure on May 14, 2024, at the age of 77.  Watershed Voice extends its deepest sympathies to Barb's family and friends. She was an ardent advocate for so many local organizations, including ours, and we couldn't be more grateful for having known her. Rest in Power, Barb.

Obituary: Emmasayge Thomas
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January 27, 2022

From the family of Emmasayge Thomas: "The world lost an incredibly bright light in December, when our darling sprite Emmasayge took her own life. She was an empathetic, wise, and beautiful soul...so very strong, sensitive, loving, honest & kind. Her wisdom was surpassed only by her humor, and her laugh was joyful & infectious."

Obituary: Norman “Duke” Zuidema
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May 7, 2021

On April 13, 2021, Norman (Duke) Zuidema passed away peacefully at home, less than a year after his beloved, Beverly.

Obituary: Anthony Lee “Tony” McCole
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June 22, 2020

Anthony Lee “Tony” McCole age 49 at his passing on Monday May 25, 2020 will be forever missed.

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Obituary: Nicole Lynn (Bradford) Kraynik
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June 22, 2020

Nicole Lynn (Bradford) Kraynik, 37, passed away unexpectedly in Murfreesboro, Tennessee on June 10, 2020.

Obituary: John ‘Johnny’ Giroux Whitney
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June 9, 2020

John “Johnny” Giroux Whitney, age 44 at his passing on Saturday, April 25, 2020, will be forever missed.

Obituary: Beverly Zuidema
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June 5, 2020

Beverly Jeanne (Van Drunen) Zuidema passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her family on May 31, 2020, after a brief hospitalization for a stroke. She was 85 years old.

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