Obituaries

Oct 21, 2022

Sergeant First Class Charles Richard Leath, U.S. Army, Retired, age 78 years of Niles, Michigan, Honorable Veteran, proud Freemason, and loving family man died unexpectedly at 2:24 p.m. on Friday, October 21, 2022 with his family gathered around in the Emergency Department of Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka, Indiana following a battle against cancer.  His...

Oct 20, 2022

John Leroy Grice, age 75 years of Niles, Michigan, father, grandfather, brother, outdoorsman, gardener, and – sometimes - a bit ornery, died peacefully at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 20, 2022 with his family gathered at his home, ending a long battle against cancer.

He was born on January 31, 1947 in Niles...

Oct 19, 2022

Thomas A. Roberts, 61 of Niles, passed away on Thursday October 19, 2022 in Spectrum Lakeland Health in St. Joseph. Tom was born on March 6, 1961 to the late Harry A. and Maudie (Smith) Roberts. He is preceded in death by his parents and his stepfather, Edwin F. Willard. Tom was the owner of several businesses in the...

Oct 14, 2022

Victor Maxmillian Gutschenritter, a member of the greatest generation, product of the great depression, and veteran of World War II passed away on October 14, 2022.  He was born on September 26, 1923 on the Gutschenritter family farm in Hartford Wisconsin.  Fifteen months later his mother, Elizabeth Burelbach Gutschenritter passed away.  He, his brother Lawrence J., and his sisters...

Oct 14, 2022

Earlene Jane Orrick, 86, of Buchanan, passed away on Friday, October 14, 2022 in her home with her family by her side.

Jane was born on August 20, 1936 in Michigan City, IN to the late Earl and Norma (Flotow) Bivins.

In February 1959 she married Willard Orrick with whom she celebrated an amazing 63...

Oct 9, 2022

Thomas Lee Shefsick, The Man, The Myth, The Legend died October 9th in his home unexpectedly.

The Man: Tom was born on September 4, 1949 in Niles, Michigan to Frank J. and Phyllis M. (Shephard) Shefsick, who preceded him in death. He grew up in Niles with his brother Norman to...

Oct 9, 2022

Gary Duane Burbank, Sr. age 68 years of Niles, Michigan and formerly of Battle Creek, Michigan died unexpectedly but peacefully at 2:55 p.m. on Sunday, October 9, 2022 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana with his family at his bedside.

He was born on January 8, 1954 in Battle Creek to Russell...

Oct 6, 2022

Edward Lee Green, age 80 years of Niles, Michigan, brother, uncle, handyman, outdoorsman, and friend died peacefully at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 6, 2022 with his nephew at his side at West Woods of Niles following a brief illness.

He was born on April 26, 1942 in Niles to George and Barbara...

Oct 4, 2022

Shane Michael Lee McGraw, 42 of Niles, passed away unexpectedly on Tuesday October 4, 2022 in Spectrum Lakeland Niles Hospital.

Shane was born on February 7, 1980 in Niles to Herbert McGraw and Dawn (Biggs) Miller.

Shane is sadly preceded in death by his sister Sarah McGraw on March 24, 2022.

...

Oct 3, 2022

Theresa Jean Hardesty 60, of Niles, left us way too early.  She passed away suddenly on Monday, October 3, 2022 at Spectrum Lakeland Hospital in Niles.

Theresa was born on May 16, 1962 in Hammond, IN to the late Burt and Maryann Hardesty.

Theresa is survived by her children; Amanda Cooper, Karrie (Shane Poisel) Hardesty...

Sep 29, 2022

Mara Lou Ferguson of Niles, Michigan; devoted wife, mother and grandmother died peacefully at 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 29, 2022 at home with her husband at her side, just days short of her ninetieth birthday.  Her family is grateful for the kind and compassionate care provided by Caring Circle Hospice at Home.

...

Sep 26, 2022

Arcadio passed away on Monday, September 26, 2022.  He went to be with his Lord and Savior.

Arcadio was born in Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico on December 8, 1931 to Francisco and Monscrate (De Leon) Sanchez.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his son Wayne Sanchez, son-in-law, Delbert Green and 5 sisters, Mary,...

Sep 23, 2022

Marjie K. Sawyer, age 59 years of Buchanan, Michigan, mother, sister, niece, bead jewelry artist, bargain shopper, and dog lover died unexpectedly at 5:29 a.m. on Friday, September 23, 2022 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana following a brief illness.  Marjie chose to aid the education of future nurses and physicians through the gift of anatomical...

Sep 21, 2022

Sue Ann Van Leeuwen, 79, of Niles, passed away on Wednesday, September 21, 2022 in Wellbrooke at South Bend.

Sue was born on August 14, 1943 in Niles to the late Robert and Ruth (Vanderbeck) Weimer.

She is preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Mary Lynn Maxwell.

On May 25, 1963, she married Frank Van Leeuwen at...

Sep 19, 2022

Timothy Lee Stubelt, 68 of Niles, passed away in his home on September 19, 2022.

Tim was born on October 6, 1953 in St. Joseph, MI to the late Richard and Luella Stubelt.

On October 14, 2006 he married the former Laverne Mae Nennfeldt who passed away on March 25, 2022.

Tim is...

Sep 17, 2022

Steven J. Skalla, 69, Husband, father, grandfather, avid fisherman and story teller, passed away suddenly on Saturday, September 17, 2022 in Spectrum Lakeland Hospital St. Joseph.

Steven was born on April 23, 1953 in Niles to the late John and Barbara Skalla. He is also preceded in death by his brother, David Skalla and sister, Michelle Hively....

Sep 15, 2022

Larry Rubel Johnson, II, 51 of Niles passed away unexpectedly at his home on September 15, 2022.

Larry was born in South St. Paul Minnesota on August 3, 1971 to Larry R and Beverly Jean (Plew) Johnson.

Larry is preceded in death by his Grandmother, Lula Bell Johnson and...

Sep 4, 2022

Wendy Lynn Cretacci, 51 of Granger, passed away all too young.

Wendy was born on August 27, 1971 in Niles to Henry and Pamela (Dale) Mierlak.

She is preceded in death by her father, Henry.

Wendy is survived by her mother Pamela Mierlak of Buchanan, MI. Husband of 19 years, James...

Sep 3, 2022

Donna Joyce Ochenryder 89 of Niles, wife, mother, Grandmother and local historian, passed away early Saturday morning at Brentwood in Niles with her daughters at her side.

Donna was born in Niles on May 16, 1933 to the late Edward and Alice (Schau) Turtle. Donna is survived by her brother Joe Crocker, daughters Quin (David) Wright and...

Sep 3, 2022

Loren Thomas Hannan, Jr. 67, of Niles, passed away on Saturday, September 3, 2022 in Memorial Hospital.

Loren was born in Minneapolis, MN on March 30, 1955 to the late Loren Thomas, Sr and Joy Ann (Pierce) Hannan.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Patty Blanchard.

Those left...