Elloise Deibler

Elloise ‘Ellie’ Charlotte Deibler, 91, formerly of Niles, passed away peacefully with her family at her side on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at her home in Portage, Michigan.

Ellie was born on February 25, 1930 in Benton Harbor, MI and was the daughter of the late John and Lydia Schlundt Lute.

Ellie started working for Woolworth in downtown Niles at the age of 12 to supplement the family income. After high school, Ellie worked for a local optometrist until she took a job with Simplicity Pattern, where she worked until she retired. She held many jobs at Simplicity, but the most notable was being the first woman to work in the press room.

On March 25, 1950, at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Niles, Ellie married Richard ‘Dick’ Deibler, who preceded her in death. She and Dick traveled a lot in their camper throughout the United States. They also toured Europe and visited the locations where Dick was stationed overseas during WWII. As well going to dances, Ellie and Dick enjoyed being active members of a Model A Club and a German Club.

Ellie had many hobbies. She enjoyed various types of needlework, she was a talented seamstress and also a skilled cake decorator. Anyone who knew Ellie knew that she loved to bake. Her kitchen always smelled of freshly baked cookies, pies or cakes. When it came to the holidays, she loved them all, but her favorite was Christmas. She began preparing weeks in advance by shopping, decorating, and baking.

Ellie had a big heart when it came to animals. She always made sure that the strays had fresh food and water. When she could, she gave them a warm, loving home.

Ellie was a proud lifelong Lutheran and became a member of a Lutheran Church everywhere she lived.

After retirement, Ellie and Dick moved to Palm Beach Gardens, FL to escape the cold Michigan winters. She met many celebrities as a costume change assistant at the Burt Reynolds Theater in Jupiter, FL.

After Dick passed, Ellie moved to Melbourne, FL and worked at Walmart for over a decade, before moving to Portage, MI in 2019.

Ellie was preceded in death by both of her parents, as well as her stepdad Charles Voorhees. She survived by her children Shelley (Tom) Swartzloff of Portage, MI, Dane (Debbie) Deibler of Titusville, FL; grandchildren Katie Swartzloff, and Heidi (Travis Calhoun) Swartzloff; and a great-granddaughter Eliza Calhoun. She is also survived by her half-sister Carol, who she discovered late in life, and a special friend Lydia Swafford.

A Graveside service will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery on Monday, November 8, 2021 at 11:00 am, with Pastor Paul Naumann of St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Portage officiating.

Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles. Online condolences may be left at: www.halbritterwickens.com

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Southwest Michigan, https://centricacare.org/giving/ or to Meals on Wheels of Kalamazoo, https://milestoneseniorservices.org/donate or to St Michael’s Lutheran Church, 7211 Oakland Dr., Portage, MI 49024.