Obituaries

Sep 7, 2013

Mary Ann Graham, age 76 years of Niles, Michigan died at 6:55 a.m. on Saturday, September 7, 2013 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles following a brief illness. She was born on July 3, 1937 in Saint Joseph, Michigan to Richard and Edith (Spoonmore) Ketelhut. She was graduated from Saint Joseph High School, and has lived in Niles since 1956....

Aug 31, 2013

Gerald Hanley “Red” Hillyer, age 78 years of Niles, Michigan died on Saturday, August 31, 2013 at Silverbrook Manor in Niles. He was born January 31, 1935 in Clinton, Indiana to Hanley & Mary (Lister) Hillyer. On April 8, 1953 he married the former Beverly Singleton, who survives with their daughter Debra (& Don) Carpenter of Niles, 7 grandchildren...

Aug 29, 2013

Biography

Joann Eileen Truax, age 73 years, of Dowagiac, Michigan died on Thursday, August 28, 2013 at Silverbrook Manor, Niles. The family has gathered privately for services.

Aug 29, 2013

Mr. Chris A. Clubine, age 55 years of Niles, Michigan, died Thursday, August 29, 2013 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Saint Joseph, Michigan, following a motor vehicle accident. He was born on February 2, 1958 in South Bend, Indiana to Donald E. and Patricia P. (Skopec) Clubine. He graduated from Niles High School, and from Lake Michigan College,...

Aug 26, 2013

June E. Day, age 94 years of Manhattan, Kansas and formerly of Niles, Michigan died on Monday, August 26, 2013 at the Good Shepherd Hospice House in Manhattan following a brief illness. She was born on June 6, 1919 in Niles to Paul and Kathryn (Chiverton) Hendricks. She was graduated from Niles High School, and lived here most of her...

Aug 25, 2013

Mark Gross, age 42 years of Niles, Michigan died at 11:26 a.m. on Sunday, August 25, 2013 at his home, unexpectedly but of natural causes. He was born on October 25, 1970 in South Bend, Indiana to Louis James and Ruth Naomi (Nance) Gross. He attended school in South Bend and Niles, and has lived in this area all...

Aug 18, 2013

Biography

Deborah Ann Buwa, age 60 years, of Niles died on Sunday, August 18, 2013 at her home following an extended illness. She was born December 25, 1952 to Robert A. & Emma (Jann) Schram. On February 8, 1969 she married David Buwa, who survives. The couple married again on January 8, 2005. Deborah drove the wheelchair van for...

Aug 12, 2013

Biography

Sheldon Edward “Shell” Bradley, age 50 years of Niles, Michigan, formerly of Chicago, Illinois died on Monday, August 12, 2013 at his residence of natural causes. Sheldon was born August 24, 1962 in Chicago, IL to Edward Bradley and Barbara (Hall) Rollins. Shell was graduated from Sullivan High School in 1980, where he was on the football team...

Aug 7, 2013

Catherine Mae Doe, age 87 years of Berrien Center, Michigan died at 7:36 a.m. on Wednesday, August 7, 2013 at her home following an extended illness. She was born on May 20, 1926 and anecdotal information suggests that her mother chose to remain anonymous, but trusted her new baby’s care to the community in which she was born. She...

Aug 5, 2013

Elizabeth T. Petruska, age 96 years of Niles, Michigan died at 7:00 a.m. on Monday, August 5, 2013 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles following a brief illness. She was born on June 13, 1917 in Niles to Simon P. and Barbara (Susick) Buheker. She was graduated from Niles High School, and has lived in Niles all of her...

Aug 1, 2013

Biography Doris M. Hartman, age 87 years of Niles, Michigan died at 12:35 p.m. on Thursday, August 1, 2013 at Silverbrook Manor in Niles following an extended illness. She was born on October 16, 1925 in Cleveland, Ohio to Lawrence and Ethel Leona (Kelly) Stoerkel. She was raised in Cleveland, and has lived in Niles since 1958. She was employed...

Jul 27, 2013

Fred H. Harkrider, age 73 years of Edwardsburg, Michigan and formerly of Niles and Buchanan died at 1:35 a.m. on Saturday, July 27, 2013 at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka, Indiana following an extended illness. He was born on April 25, 1940 in Buchanan, Michigan to Fred Redden and Shirley (Howard) Harkrider. He enlisted in the United...

Jul 24, 2013

Charles E. Hess, age 91 years of Edwardsburg, Michigan and formerly of Buchanan, Michigan died at 12:25 a.m. on Wednesday, July 24, 2013 at West Woods of Niles following an extended illness. He was born on April 11, 1922 at Buchanan, Michigan to Charles Herman and Cora Belle (Enos) Hess. He was graduated from Buchanan High School, and lived...

Jul 21, 2013

Biography

Clarence Elijah Hodges began his life journey on June 18, 1921 in Little Rock, Arkansas, the “baby” of Will and Callie (Banks) Hodges’ large family. He received his early Christian Education and training at Mt. Nebo A.M.E. Church in Little Rock. He graduated from the historic Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and was Valedictorian of the Class of...

Jul 21, 2013

Cyrus Benjamin “Ben” Groat, age 103, of Niles, Michigan died on Sunday, July 21, 2013 at the home of his nephew following an extended illness. He was born January 4, 1910 in Niles to Maxwell & Mabel (Woodford) Groat. Ben was graduated from Niles High School in 1929. He was the last surviving member of the school’s State Champion...

Jul 20, 2013

Ruth I. Briney, age 95 years of Niles, Michigan died at 9:40 p.m. on Saturday, July 20, 2013 at her home following a brief illness. She was born on September 1, 1917 in Medford, Wisconsin to Bernard and Inez Ruth (Grant) Molitor. She was graduated from Kenosha (Wisconsin) High School and in 1936 moved to Eau Claire, Michigan where she...

Jul 18, 2013

Patricia Ann “Pat” Rupp, age 84 years, former long-time resident of Miami Road in Niles, Michigan died at 4:54 a.m. on Thursday, July 18, 2013 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana following an extended illness. She was born on September 17, 1928 in Flint, Michigan to Wayne E. and Madeline (Joseph) Tolford. She was graduated from DeVilbiss High School...

Jul 15, 2013

Biography

Debra Jean “Debbie” Peel, age 57 years of Las Vegas, Nevada and formerly of Niles, Michigan died at 4:25 p.m. on Monday, July 15, 2013 at her home in Las Vegas following an extended illness. She was born on July 11, 1956 in South Bend, Indiana to Leon Edward and Barbara Jean (Glaser) Peel. She was graduated from...

Jul 15, 2013

Biography

Erzsébet Vesei, age 87 years of Niles, Michigan died at 5:15 a.m. on Monday, July 15, 2013 at West Woods of Niles following an extended illness. She was born on October 28, 1925 in Gyirmot, Hungary to Bela and Brigitta (Szabo) Varga, and completed school in Hungary (the U.S. equivalent of high school graduation). She came to the...

Jul 10, 2013

Biography

Marjorie L. Warner, age 88 years of Niles, Michigan died at 9:05 a.m. on Wednesday, July 10, 2013 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles following a brief illness. She was born on January 10, 1925 in Buchanan, Michigan to Carroll A. and Theresa (Schuler) Cross and lived in this area all of her life. She was graduated from...