Obituaries

Sep 24, 2017

Donald C. McLean

January 3, 1934 – September 24, 2017

Niles – Donald McLean passed away on September 24, 2017 at home. Donald was born to William and Linda (Rossow) McLean in Berrien Center, MI. Donald attended Buchanan high School. He served in the Naval Reserves and then served in the US Army. On December...

Sep 23, 2017

Rev. Kenneth G. Riggenbach, age 86 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at noon on Saturday, September 23, 2017, following an extended illness.

He was born on October 22, 1930 in Bay City, Michigan to Hubert T. and Lydia L. (Sinn) Riggenbach.  He graduated from Downers Grove (Illinois) High School and Saint Paul (Minnesota) Bible College (now...

Sep 21, 2017

Nancy Kay Birdyshaw, age 63 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 1:15 p.m. on Thursday, September 21, 2017 at her home following a brief illness.

She was born on March 25, 1954 in Niles to John Henry and Nellie Rose (Weed) Bair, Sr.  She was graduated from Niles High School, and attended...

Sep 20, 2017

Josephine Ann “Josie” Bassler, age 97 years of Niles, Michigan passed away peacefully at 5:05 p.m. on Wednesday, September 20, 2017 surrounded by family at her home.

She was born on April 20, 1920 in Niles to Joseph and Pauline (Modory) Medo.  She was graduated from Niles High School, and was first employed...

Sep 9, 2017

Francis Jerome “Jerry” Lewandowski, age 65 years of South Bend, Indiana died peacefully at 8:08 a.m. on Saturday, September 9, 2017 at his home following an illness.

He was born on October 22, 1951 in South Bend to Zygmond and Helen Marie (Stefanski) Lewandowski.  He attended Holy Cross Elementary School, and was graduated...

Sep 8, 2017

Cynthia R. Johnson

December 31, 1964 – September 8, 2017

Spring Lake – Cynthia R. Johnson, 52, passed away at 12:04pm on Friday, September 8, 2017 in Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI.

Cindy was born on December 31, 1964 in Niles, MI to David C. and Judith A. (Barker) Vinnedge

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Sep 7, 2017

Irene Bradford Willis, age 92 of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 7, 2017.  She was surrounded by family.

She was born on February 12, 1925 in Enid, Mississippi to John Robert and Mandy (Buckley) Bradford.  She attended school in Enid, and lived in Charleston, Mississippi before coming to Niles in 1950.

Sep 3, 2017

Gary J. Groat

February 17, 1943 – September 3, 2017

Niles – Gary J. Groat, 74, was born on February 17, 1943 in Niles to Robert and Frances Groat.  He passed away at home on September 3, 2017.

He graduated from Buchanan High School and was part of the football team...

Sep 1, 2017

Niles George Scott Spence 69,died and hopefully has gone to join his mother and Frankie, Johnny and Beauregard and the many other dogs that were an important part of his life.

George was born November 17, 1947 to Jack and Gertrude Spence, who preceded him in death.

He started his teaching career as an orchestra...

Sep 1, 2017

Owen L. Buck, 85 of Niles, passed away in Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph after a brief illness.

Owen was born on July 7, 1932 in South Bend to the late Warren and Helen (Ernsberger) Buck, Sr. He is also preceded by his son Bruce, his sister, Phyllis Harris and brother Warren Buck, Jr.

On August...

Sep 1, 2017

Richard Lee Matthews, age 72 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully but unexpectedly on Friday, September 1, 2017 at his home of natural causes.

He was born on January 23, 1945 (1/23/45) in Niles to Jess Earl and Laura Elizabeth (Dugan) Matthews.  He was graduated from Niles High School, and has lived in Niles all of his...

Sep 1, 2017

William Warren Watson

December 24, 1948 – September 1, 2017

William ‘Wild Bill’ Warren Watson, 68 of Niles passed away at his home after a long and courageous fight with cancer.

Bill was born on December 24, 1948 to the late Warren C and Ruth H. (Zerr) Watson.  On July 3, 1971 he...

Aug 31, 2017

George Edward Boston, age 85 years of Berrien Center, Michigan died peacefully at 12:22 p.m. on Thursday, August 31, 2017 with family gathered around at this home following a brief illness.

He was born on October 22, 1931 in East Liverpool, Ohio to Clarence Albert and Helen Elizabeth (Crawford) Boston.  He was graduated...

Aug 27, 2017

Aaron James Sanders, age 24 years formerly of Buchanan, Michigan died unexpectedly at 7:21 p.m. on Sunday, August 27, 2017 at his home in Bristol, Indiana.

He was born on July 28, 1993 in Niles to Christopher Wayne Sanders and Mary Ann (Williams) Sanders.  He was graduated from Marcellus (Michigan) High School, and enlisted in the Michigan...

Aug 26, 2017

Mr. Dan Lee Bucha, age 80 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 5:49 a.m. on Saturday, August 26, 2017 at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka, Indiana following a brief illness.

He was born on March 13, 1937 in South Bend, Indiana Epworth Hospital to Jerry and Ruth H. (Baker) Bucha. ...

Aug 24, 2017

Berrien Springs – Murray Leon Winningham, 86, passed away at 1:29am on August 24, 2017 in Lakeland Hospital in Niles.

Murray was born on July 10, 1931 in Wynne, Arkansas to the late Murray Loe and Florance Atalia (Hudson) Winningham. On December 3, 1949 in Wynne, Arkansas, Murray married Ella Mae (Waters) and she passed away on...

Aug 22, 2017

Wava Jean Crouch

October 7, 1928 – August 22, 2017

Niles – Wava Jean Crouch, 88, passed away at 4:55pm on Tuesday, August 22, 2017 in Memorial Hospital.

Wava was born on October 7, 1928 in South Bend, to the late Henry J. and Augusta P. (Mischke) Wishman. Wava was also preceded in...

Aug 13, 2017

Mary “Kitty” Heath, 76 of Niles, passed away at her home on Sunday, August 13, 2017 with her family by her side.

She was born on March 6, 1941 in Niles to the late Ernest and Winifred (Kiggins) Juhasz.  Kitty is also preceded in death by her son James Michael Heath and sisters Joyce De Jaegher and...

Aug 9, 2017

Lee David "Dave" Topping, age 61 years, of Niles, Michigan died Wednesday, August 9, 2017.

The family will be gathering privately.

Arrangements were made at Halbritter Wickens Funeral Home, Niles.

Aug 9, 2017

Robert R. Geik

September 27, 1934 – August 9 2017

Niles – Robert R. Geik, 82, passed away at 11:59am on Wednesday, August 9, 2017.

Bob was born on September 27, 1934 in Three Oaks, MI to the late Gustave and Bertha (Schmidt) Geik. Bob was also preceded in death by his brothers...