Obituaries

Apr 25, 2015

Elizabeth Marie “Betty” VanDerbeck, age 88 years of Niles, Michigan died on Saturday, April 25, 2015 at Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville. She was born December 27, 1926 in Niles to Marshall and Eva (Rayfuse) Grathwohl. Betty graduated from Niles High School in 1944 and attended the University of Michigan and Western University to obtain her teaching credentials. She taught...

Apr 23, 2015

Larry L. Vanderboegh, age 79 longtime resident of Niles, Michigan died at 9:38 a.m. on Thursday, April 23, 2015 at his home in Berrien Center, Michigan following a brief illness. He was born on July 26, 1935 in Niles to Harold H. and Hazel Pearl (Smith) Vanderboegh, and was graduated from Niles High School. He was first employed at the...

Apr 23, 2015

William R. “Bill” Whitmire, age 94 years, longtime resident of Niles, Michigan died at 9:05 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, 2015 in Three Rivers, Michigan following a brief illness. He was born on June 6, 1920 in Alicia, Arkansas to William Robert and Mary Ann (Brown) Whitmire. He was raised there, and entered the United States Marine Corps from Arkansas,...

Apr 21, 2015

Patricia Ann Compoe, age 83 years of Niles, Michigan died on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 at the home of her daughter in Niles, surrounded by love. She was born February 25, 1932 in Niles to Eldon and Gladys (Leatherman) Cummins. Pat graduated from Niles High School in 1950 with plans to attend business college. That plan was thwarted when...

Apr 20, 2015

Dolores Mae Baird, “Dee Dee” age 99 years of Lakeshore Drive, Niles, went very peacefully to be with the Lord on Monday at 10:30 am, April 20, 2015 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana, following a brief illness. She was born on July 12, 1915 in Michigan City, Indiana to Gustave and Carrie Ethel (Shaw) Fritz. Dolores was...

Apr 17, 2015

Irene E. Messenger, age 73 years of Niles, Michigan died Saturday morning, April 18, 2015 at her home unexpectedly, but of natural causes. She was born on November 25, 1941 in Goshen, Indiana to Job and Nora Mae (Billow) Whirledge, and was graduated from Northridge High School in Middlebury, Indiana. She earned the Licensed Practical Nurse certification, and served many...

Apr 15, 2015

Biography

Richard E. Popelka, age 62 years of Three Oaks, Michigan died at 1:46 a.m. on Wednesday, April 15, 2015, unexpectedly. He was born on March 23, 1953 in Berwyn, Illinois to Anthony Martin and Frances Marie (Matkovik) Popelka and was graduated from Community High School District 94 in West Chicago, Illinois. He was employed as a waiter for...

Apr 15, 2015

Mr. Bruce L. Waterhouse, Sr. age 88 years of Niles, Michigan died at 9:50 a.m. on Wednesday, April 15, 2015 at his home. He was born on May 19, 1926 in Lorain, Ohio to Clifford Charles and Cary May (Leiter) Waterhouse. He graduated from Lorain High School, worked for a few months, and then entered the United States Navy. After...

Apr 13, 2015

Kay Margaret Hartman, age 79 years of Niles, Michigan died on Monday, April 13, 2015 at Lakeland Health in Niles following a brief illness. She was born August 30, 1935 in Niles to Fred and Myrtle (Hipshier) Shepardson. Kay was a 1953 graduate of Niles High School and a member of the “53 Club”. She was a secretary for the...

Apr 12, 2015

Kathryn Jean Frizzell, age 86 of Niles, Michigan died on Sunday, April 12, 2015 at Riveridge Manor in Niles following an extended illness. She was born December 30, 1928 in Benton Harbor, Michigan to Everett J. & Mildred (Stevens) Gordon. Jean spent over 30 years in the hospitality industry at the Portofino and Franky's restaurants in Niles. Upon retirement Jean...

Apr 9, 2015

Dennis D. Phillips, age 70 years of Marcellus, Michigan died with his family gathered around his bed at 11:25 p.m. on Thursday, April 9, 2015 at The Timbers of Cass County in Dowagiac, Michigan following a brief illness. He was born on January 21, 1945 in Dowagiac to Gail Benton and Elizabeth June (Sibley) Phillips. He was graduated from Dowagiac...

Apr 8, 2015

Lola Mozell “Mo” Nelson, age 83 of Niles, Michigan died on Wednesday, April 8, 2015 at the Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville following in extended illness. She was born November 21, 1932 in Manchester, Indiana to Jess B. and Iza Ann (Robinson) Orrick. Mo was raised in Niles. She worked in Florida, where she was an owner and operator of...

Apr 3, 2015

Ella Mae Winningham, age 85 years of Berrien Springs, Michigan died at 3:45 p.m. on Friday, April 3, 2015 at her home following an extended illness. She was born on February 19, 1930 in Wynne, Arkansas to Ernest Lee and Lottie (Blackwell) Waters. She was raised and schooled in Wynne and Vanndale, Arkansas, and came to this area in 1950....

Apr 2, 2015

Linda Mae Wagner, age 75 years of Niles, Michigan died at 9:37 a.m. on Thursday, April 2, 2015 while visiting her daughter in Brighton, Michigan. Her death was unexpected, but of natural causes. She was born on May 12, 1939 in Salem, Indiana to Cleland L. and Leota A. (Zaring) Settle. She graduated from Salem High School, and began...

Mar 26, 2015

Vera L. Geideman, age 94 of Niles, Michigan died on Thursday, March 26, 2015 at her daughter’s home after an extended illness. She was born on March 25, 1921 in Libertyville, Illinois to Lloyd and Mary (Erfurth) Bennett. She was graduated from Eau Claire in 1938, and has lived in this area most of her life. She and her...

Mar 25, 2015

Former Niles residents, brothers Jerry P. Kuhl, age 74 years and Charles R. Kuhl, age 79 years died three days apart from each other last month. Jerry died on March 22, 2015 in Arlington, Texas and Charles died on March 25, 2015 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Charles was born on September 16, 1935 in Niles and Jerry was born on...

Mar 22, 2015

Former Niles residents, brothers Jerry P. Kuhl, age 74 years and Charles R. Kuhl, age 79 years died three days apart from each other last month. Jerry died on March 22, 2015 in Arlington, Texas and Charles died on March 25, 2015 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Charles was born on September 16, 1935 in Niles and Jerry was born on...

Mar 22, 2015

Biography

Judy F. Graziani, age 60 years of Niles, Michigan died with her family gathered around her bed at 2:35 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, 2015 at her home following an extended illness. She was born on August 1, 1954 in Niles, Michigan to Lovell and Edith (Yahne) Pitcher. She was a lifetime Niles resident and helped in the...

Mar 22, 2015

David B. Witham, age 56 years of Niles, Michigan died at 9:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 22, 2015 at his home, unexpectedly. He was born on May 27, 1958 in Niles to Allan Dale and Wanda L. (Woods) Witham. He was graduated from Niles High School and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from William James College at Grand Valley...

Mar 22, 2015

Frank Lynn Kalin, age 89 years of Niles, Michigan died at 2:40 a.m. on Sunday, March 22, 2015 following a brief illness. He was born on March 31, 1925 in Gary, Indiana to Karl and Margaret (Imber) Kalinowski. He was raised in North Judson, Indiana and has lived in Niles most of his life. He earned his high school...