Obituaries

Apr 20, 2020

Janet M. Barr 80 of Niles passed away on Monday, April 20 at Spectrum Lakeland Hospital Niles.

Janet was born on March 10, 1940 in Niles to the late Lloyd and Evelyn (Price) Carpenter.

She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Donald Carpenter and sisters, Carmen Mitchell and Norma Fruehauf

Apr 13, 2020

Sherri Lee Sarratore, age 58 years formerly of Niles, Michigan daughter, sister, world traveler, business manager, and conservator of sea turtles died at 5:45 p.m. on Monday, April 13, 2020 at the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis following complications from bone marrow transplant therapy for acute myeloid leukemia.

She was born...

Apr 10, 2020

Mamie Jean Okeke, age 86 years of Niles, Michigan, mother, grandmother, accountant, traveler, churchwoman, and wise counselor died unexpectedly on the morning of Good Friday 2020 (April 10) at her home following a brief illness.

She was born on August 9, 1933 in Saint Louis, Missouri to Chapman R. and Geneva Cleo (Gaines)...

Apr 3, 2020

Charles Henry “Chuck” Olinghouse, age 90 years of Niles, Michigan, father, grandfather, and lifelong area amateur bowler died peacefully but unexpectedly Friday morning, April 3, 2020 at his home of natural causes.

He was born on October 12, 1929 in Kendallville, Indiana to Ivory J. and Grace O. (Marti) Olinghouse.  He was graduated...

Apr 1, 2020

Henrietta Hattie Walus, age 85 years, originally of the downriver area of Detroit, Michigan and retired to Niles, Michigan, Mother, Grandmother, Mother-in-law, lifelong Catholic, visitor to casinos, and shopper died unexpectedly but peacefully Wednesday morning, April 1, 2020 at her home of natural causes.

She was born on October 15, 1934 in Detroit,...

Mar 30, 2020

Mary Lou Rasmussen, 62 of Niles, passed away on Monday, March 30, 2020 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend.

She was born on June 11, 1957 in Niles to the Late Paul and Annis (Hilla) Mills.

Mary Lou is survived by her children; Adam Rasmussen, Christy Rasmussen, Debbie (Brian) Presley, Sara (Brandon) Grosvenor, Kenneth (Rakisha)...

Mar 28, 2020

Cheryl Lorraine Brown, age 81 years of Niles, Michigan, wife, mother, grandmother, farmer, cook, and “RVer” died peacefully at 8:18 p.m. on Saturday, March 28, 2020 at The Chalet of Niles following an extended illness.

She was born on May 8, 1938 in Winter, Wisconsin to John and Ethel (Agnew) Luke.  She moved...

Mar 24, 2020

Ismael Rios Villa, 47 of Niles, passed away in St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka on Tuesday, March 24, 2020.

Ismael is preceded in death by his Mother Gloria Villa.

He is survived by his father, Rafael Rios of Mexico, his children; Leonardo Rios of Berrien Springs, Erick Rios of Elkhart, Taylor (Brianna) Rios...

Mar 23, 2020

Betty M. J. Hartline, 87, of Niles, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 23, 2020 after several months under the loving care of her family and the compassionate and capable staff of West Woods of Niles Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Betty was born on September 24, 1932 in Portageville, MO to the late Robert Elton...

Mar 21, 2020

Frances ‘Fran’ Arelene Kidwell, 92 of Niles passed away on Saturday, March 21, 2020 in Hanson Hospice.

Fran was born on August 8, 1927 in New Philadelphia, Ohio to the late Birgous F. and Mary R. (Meese) Quillin.

On October 12, 1947 she married Eugene Kidwell who passed away in 1995.  She is also preceded...

Mar 21, 2020

Tobye Babbitt Merrill of Niles, Michigan . . . is no more . . . has kicked the bucket . . . is now a dead person.  She “shuffled off this mortal coil” (Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”) on Saturday, March 21, 2020 at 3:05 p.m. at her home in Niles.  Her spirit was released from her roughly worn body,...

Mar 20, 2020

Margaret True Lewis Rankel, age 96 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, March 20, 2020 at West Woods of Niles following an extended illness.

She was born September 11, 1923, in Berrien County Michigan to John and Hattie (Smith) True.  She was the youngest of nine children all of...

Mar 20, 2020

Billy D. Zimmerman, 76 of Mishawaka, passed away at his home on March 20, 2020’

Billy was born on January 10, 1944 in Niles, MI to the late Donald and Betty (Harger) Zimmerman.  In May of 1972 he married Wilma Thomas who preceded him in death in 2016.

Billy is also preceded in death by...

Mar 19, 2020

Cecile M. Crandall passed away on March 19, 2020 in Riveridge nursing home in Niles. Cecile was born on August 16, 1928 in Berrien Springs to the late Mildred (Stowell) and Ellsworth Clem. She is also preceded in death by her brothers, Don Clem and Larry Clem. On July 15, 1949 in Angola, Indiana she married Charles ‘Chuck’ Crandall...

Mar 18, 2020

Aaron D. Thomas, 42 of Niles passed away from natural causes on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 in Niles.

Aaron was born on March 20, 1977 in Niles to Daniel and Bonnie (Makepeace) Thomas.

Aaron is preceded in death by his father Daniel.

He is survived by his wife, Jona Thomas, children; Jacob Thomas,...

Mar 17, 2020

Marlene Lorraine Vandenburg, age 82 years of Niles, wife, mother, grandmother, creative crafter, seasonal celebrator,  photographer, and cat lady died peacefully at 3:23 p.m. on Saint Patrick’s Day Tuesday, March 17, 2020 with family at her side in the Emergency Department of Spectrum Health Lakeland Hospital – Niles following a brief illness.

She...

Mar 10, 2020

Margaret Elizabeth Askren, age 89 of Niles, Michigan, wife, mother, grandmother, typist, and volunteer died peacefully at 2:10 p.m. on Tuesday, March 10, 2020 at Spectrum Lakeland Hospital in Niles following an extended illness.

She was born on July 13, 1930 in Palmer, Kansas (increasing Palmer’s population to 187) to Walter A. and...

Mar 10, 2020

Eunice Mae Hurlbutt, 93 of Niles passed away in Wellbrooke of South Bend.

Eunice was born on September 13, 1926 in Niles to the late Phillip and Esther (Mongomery) Tuesley.

On May 1, 1945 she married Melvin Hurlbutt who passed away in 2004.

Eunice is survived by her sons; Jerry (Linda) Hurlbutt and...

Mar 5, 2020

Scott J. Phillips, 56 of Cassopolis, passed away from natural causes on Thursday, March 5, 2020 in Spectrum Lakeland Medical Center.

Scott was born on January 24, 1964 in Niles to the late John and Evelyn (Woltman) Phillips.

He is preceded in death by his parents, an infant sister Sandra, brothers Jim Phillips, Greg Phillips...

Mar 3, 2020

After a protracted struggle with respiratory and other ailments, Fred Schneider, 75, died on Tuesday, 3 March 2020, at Lakeland Hospital in Niles, the same hospital where he was born (then known as Pawating Hospital) on 17 May 1944. He was preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Helen Schneider, his brother Terry Schneider, and his sister Rosalie Ann...