Niles Stewart
November 30, 1925 — March 6, 2017
Niles Wayne Stewart, age 91 years, formerly of Niles, Michigan, died peacefully on Monday, March 6, 2017 surrounded by loving family in Winter Haven, Florida.
He was born on November 30, 1925 in Dowagiac, Michigan to Archie and Ethel (Schoonmaker) Stewart. He graduated from Niles High School in 1944 and enlisted in the United States Navy. He served on the USS LST 632 in the Philippines and China, and was honorably discharged as a Veteran of World War II. He retired from Kawneer and National Standard Companies.
Niles had a great passion for creating stained glass art for over 50 years. He also enjoyed fishing, hunting and bowling in his spare time.
While ballroom dancing, Niles met Mildred Irene Dudash. On May 15, 1954 he married Millie and they enjoyed dancing together for thirty-eight years prior to her death on September 3, 1992. He was also preceded in death by his son, Ronald Wayne Stewart, grandson, Patrick Stewart Curran and son-in-law Larry Michael Roland. Niles’ brothers, Emil (Helen) and Cecil (Edna) Stewart and a sister, Clara (Guy) Kizer.
On January 5, 2000 he married Donna Bebber and they resided in Lakeland, Florida.
Surviving family include his wife, Donna and his children, Diana (& Jim) Curran of Niles, Julie (& Tony) Farish of Winter Haven, Florida, Dale (& Orlin) Anderson of Cape Coral, Florida, and Lynn Roland of Winter Haven, Florida. Grandchildren Randy and Greg Stewart, Mikel Murphy, Jenifer (& Brandon) Hood, Kevin Curran, Hannah and Jacob Anderson and Wayne Farish. Great-grandchildren, Kayla Murphy, Nicholas (& Lian) Murphy, Brady and Carson Hood and great-great-grandchildren, Bella, Sophia and Audrey.
Services for Niles Stewart will be at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, June 23, 2017 at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of the First Presbyterian Church of Niles officiating. Committal Rites will follow at Mission Hills and will conclude with Full Military Honors by the United States Navy Honor Guard and American Legion Post #51 of Buchanan, Michigan.
Contributions in memory of Niles W. Stewart may be made to: Patrick Curran Memorial Scholarship and Diana Curran.