Obituaries

Jul 28, 2018

Michael Ray Pierce, age 51 years of Niles, Michigan died at 2:25 p.m. on Saturday, July 28, 2018 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan following a brief illness.

He was born on December 30, 1966 in South Bend, Indiana to Albert J. and Barbara Ann (Hicks) Pierce.  He was graduated from South...

Jul 25, 2018

AnnMarie Arikka Taylor, infant daughter of Keshia Marie Lemna and Joshua Lane Taylor of Niles was stillborn, near term, on Wednesday, July 25, 2018 at Lakeland Hospital – Niles following umbilical cord complications.

AnnMarie’s mother remembers her as having been active and content for most of her life.  Her father and siblings were...

Jul 19, 2018

Janet M. Hendershott March 29, 1951 – July 19, 2018 Niles – Janet M. Hendershott, 67, passed away at 12:11pm on Thursday, July 19, 2018 in Lakeland Health, St. Joseph. Janet was born on March 29, 1951 in South Bend to Ralph W. and Lucia J. (Brothers) Hendershott, Sr. Janet was preceded in death by her father, Ralph Sr. Janet...

Jul 19, 2018

Deborah Kay Svien June 16, 1949 – July 19, 2018 Deborah Kay Svien, age 69, of Hastings, died Thursday, July 19, 2018, at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, Minnesota. Deb was born in Niles on June 16, 1949 to Harry and Holly Petersen. The youngest of five children, she often spoke of the many times she was a tagalong...

Jul 17, 2018

Sharon D. Calkins September 17, 1935 - July 17, 2018 South Bend - Sharon D. (Kinch) Calkins, 82, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones on Tuesday, July 17, 2018. Sharon was born September 17, 1935, in South Bend to the late Paul A. and Alberta M. (MacDonald) Kinch. Sharon was married to the late Donald E....

Jul 14, 2018

Sarah (Kathy) Kenton February 18, 1954 – July 14, 2018 Bitely, MI – Sarah (Kathy) Kenton, 64, of Bitely, MI and formally of Niles, MI, passed away on July 14, 2018 in her home. Sarah was born on February 18, 1954 in Niles to the late Rex and Joan L. (Zimmerman) Kenton, Sr. Sarah was also preceded in death...

Jul 14, 2018

Charles W. Bybee, Sr., 87 of Niles, passed away at home after an extended illness.

Charles was born on February 17, 1931 in South Bend to the late John and Grace (Copeland) Bybee, Sr. He is also preceded in death by his daughter Sheryl Marie Bybee, granddaughter Ashley Schaefer Stahl, his brother John L. Bybee, Jr., sisters...

Jul 9, 2018

Mabel Myrtle Panarites, formerly of Niles, Michigan having successfully attained the remarkable age of 100 years, died peacefully on Monday, July 9, 2018 in Peoria, Arizona following a brief illness.

She was born on September 20, 1917 in Michigan City, Indiana to Bessie (née Wuersch), a homemaker and Arnold Pawloski.  Moving as a...

Jul 4, 2018

Deborah Kay Arnold, age 67 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 6:53 a.m. on Wednesday, July 4, 2018 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana following an extended illness.

She was born on June 12, 1951 in South Bend to Kenneth R. and Garnet M. (Edwards) Coleman.  She attended Brandywine Community Schools,...

Jul 3, 2018

Donald Lee Camp, age 97 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 10:15 p.m. on Tuesday, July 3, 2018 with family gathered around at his home following a brief illness.

He was born on January 12, 1921 in Niles to Robert and Alta (Schaffer) Camp and was graduated from Berrien Springs High School. ...

Jul 1, 2018

Samuel E. Kiger, 76 of Niles, passed away at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph, MI after a short illness.

Sam was born on June 27, 1942 in Kokomo, IN to the late Raymond and Beulah(Stewart) Kiger.  He is also preceded in death by his son Steven, his sister Virginia Bean and brother John Kiger.

Sam...

Jun 30, 2018

Shirley L. Hein July 2, 1935 – June 30, 2018 Buchanan – Shirley L. (Nelson) Hein, 82, passed away at 12:45pm on Saturday, June 30, 2018 in Southfield Village. Shirley was born on July 2, 1935, in Buchanan, MI to the late Frank G. and Pearl J. (Dills) Nelson. Shirley was also preceded in death by a daughter Julie...

Jun 27, 2018

Chauncey Benjamin Tyler, age 43 years of Niles, Michigan died unexpectedly at 6:39 p.m. at Lakeland Hospital – Niles from complications of a lifelong battle against kidney disease. Chauncey’s life was extended many years ago by a kidney transplant, and at his death he was able to enhance the lives of others through tissue donation. He was...

Jun 24, 2018

Celestino Feliciano “Tino” Echevarria, age 85 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 11:25 p.m. on Sunday, June 24, 2018 with family gathered around at his home following a brief illness. He was born on April 18, 1933 in Añasco, Puerto Rico to Jose Feliciano and Severiana Echavarria, and attended school in Puerto Rico. He came to Niles in...

Jun 22, 2018

Thomas A. Mantke, 60, of Niles, died unexpectedly at his home on Friday, June 22, 2018. He was born in Battle Creek, Michigan May 3, 1958, to Margaret Mannix Mantke and Alan W. Mantke. Thomas was preceded in death by his Father, Alan W. Mantke. Surviving Tom are his mother, Margaret Husa of Lawrence, MI and step father, James...

Jun 20, 2018

Peggy Sue French March 16, 1931 – June 20, 2018 Niles – Peggy Sue French, 87, passed away at 8:05pm on Wednesday, June 20, 2018 in Hallmark Living in Benton Harbor. Peggy was born March 16, 1931 in Dyersburg, TN to the late Tom P. and Mattie Lee (Via) Pettie. On July 30, 1949, in Niles, Peggy married William...

Jun 19, 2018

Betty Jane Cooper, age 91 years formerly of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 2:38 p.m. on Tuesday, June 19, 2018 with family gathered around at Lenawee Medical Care Facility in Adrian, Michigan following an extended illness. Her family is grateful to the staff at Lenawee Care and Hospice of Lenawee for their compassionate and dignified attention. She...

Jun 15, 2018

Ruth Mary Vassar, age 93 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 5:55 p.m. on Friday, June 15, 2018 with family gathered at West Woods of Niles following a brief illness.

She was born on April 1, 1925 in Memphis, Tennessee to Theoda and Sarah (Poston) Emmons, and was raised by her aunt,...

Jun 12, 2018

Margie Lee Ernsperger, age 81 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 1:10 p.m. on Tuesday, June 12, 2018 with family gathered around at her home, ending a courageous battle against cancer. She was born on May 19, 1937 in Niles to William C. and Vivian M. (Robbins) Ferris. She graduated from Niles High School in 1954,...

Jun 8, 2018

Jerry Lee Hover, age 81 years of Niles, Michigan died unexpectedly at 7:43 p.m. on Friday, June 8, 2018 at Lakeland Hospital, Niles of natural causes.

He was born on June 4, 1937 in Niles to Frank Elvis and Bonnie “Helen” Pearl (Foster) Hover.  He was graduated from Niles High School, and enlisted in the United States...