Obituaries

Mar 17, 2018

Niles – Daniel E. Blake, 60, passed away at 5:27pm on Saturday, March 17, 2018 in Lakeland Hospital, Niles. Dan was born on February 12, 1958 in Nashau, New Hampshire, to the late Franklin E. and Rita A. (Ravenell) Blake. Dan was also preceded in death by a brother, Donald Blake; and son-in-law, Jessie King. Dan is...

Mar 17, 2018

Jack J. Smith, 92 of Niles passed away at home on his birthday, March 17, 2018.

Jack was born on March 17, 1926 in Dowagiac to the late Robert and Calla (Lillie) Smith.  On March 5, 1949 in Niles, he married Phyllis Kocher who preceded him in death on February 18, 2018.  He...

Mar 15, 2018

Samuel W. Burge, Jr. August 5, 1945 – March 15, 2018 Berrien Springs – Samuel W. Burge, Jr., 72, passed away at 1:30pm on Thursday, March 15, 2018 in his home surrounded by his loving family. Sam was born on August 5, 1945 in Niles, MI to the late Samuel W. and Dorothy M. (Deitrich) Burge, Sr. Sam was...

Mar 13, 2018

Haskel Taylor Inman, age 95 years of Niles, Michigan died at 1:42 a.m. on Tuesday, March 13, 2018 at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka, Indiana following a brief illness. He was born on June 2, 1922 in Russell, Arkansas to Robert Taylor and Mary Jane (Clark) Inman. He was graduated from Russell High School in...

Mar 12, 2018

Kenton “Ken” L. Fisher, 90, of Niles, Michigan died Monday, March 12, 2018, in St. Charles, Missouri following a brief illness.

Ken was born on August 17, 1927, in Niles to Clarence and Martha (Bachman) Fisher.  He graduated from Niles High School in 1945, and lived in this area all of his life. ...

Mar 9, 2018

Mary K. Kelly, PhD August 3, 1925 – March 9, 2018 Niles - Mary K. Kelly died peacefully on March 9, 2018 following a brief illness. Although she was 92, she remained young at heart, engaged and interested in everyone. She could and did reach out to every person she met. Mary was born in 1925 the daughter of...

Mar 6, 2018

Earlene (Pankey) Allen, 89, passed away at 3:15am on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 in Buchanan Meadows. Earlene was born on February 4, 1929, in Arkansas to the late Ivor and Blanche (Taylor) Pankey. On February 28, 1946 in Searcy, Arkansas, Earlene married Buster O. Allen and he passed away on October 26, 2003. Earlene was also preceded...

Mar 5, 2018

Lillian Judy, age 91 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 6:45 a.m. on Monday, March 5, 2018 with her family gathered around at her home following a brief illness. She was born on August 22, 1926 in Trilby, Florida to Alex Carl and Ethel Mae (Levins) Williams. She was raised in Oklahoma, and settled in Niles...

Mar 1, 2018

Timothy Edward Rucker II, age 52 years of Niles, Michigan died at 11:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 1, 2018 at Lakeland Medical Center in Saint Joseph, Michigan following a brief illness.

He was born on May 10, 1965 while his mother, Jacque Ellifritz was serving in the United States Army in Stuttgart, Germany. ...

Feb 27, 2018

John F. “Jack” Young, Jr., after a long illness, died at his home in Niles on Tuesday, February 27, 2018 at the age of 87 years.

He is survived by his wife, Judy (Pritchard) Young; his daughter, Margaret Susan and her husband, Tom of Tucson, Arizona; his granddaughter, Sarah Elizabeth of Dallas, Texas;...

Feb 23, 2018

L ydia E. Baker, age 99 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 12:55 p.m. on Friday, February 23, 2018 at Riveridge Manor in Niles following a brief illness.

She was born on August 6, 1918 in Dowagiac, Michigan and was graduated from Dowagiac High School.  She was employed for thirty-two years at...

Feb 20, 2018

Julio C. Sanchez, 70 of Niles passed away on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at Lakeland Hospital in Niles. Julio was born on May 22, 1947 in Puerto Rico to the late Pasquale and Lisa Concepcion Romero Sanchez. Julio is survived by his children; Benjamin, Miguel, Michael, Adrian, Emilio and Julio all from the Michiana area. He is...

Feb 18, 2018

Michele “Micki” Rene DeLay Bowman passed into the next phase of existence on February 18, 2018 in Muskegon, Michigan surrounded by loved ones at the age of 57. She was a mother, daughter, sister, and breast cancer warrior with a fiercely loving presence who will forever be cherished.

Micki...

Feb 18, 2018

Phyllis Jean Smith, 87, of Niles, passed away in Memorial Hospital South Bend after a brief illness. Phyllis was born on October 21, 1930 in Niles to the late Fred and Mary Kocher. On March 5, 1949 in Niles, she married Jack J. Smith who survives. She is preceded in death by her parents, a grandson Jacob...

Feb 17, 2018

Thomas Jerry Tedder 75, of Niles passed away after being injured in a house fire.

Jerry was born on October 29, 1942 in Carrizo Springs, TX to the late Elbert Murl and Velma Estelle Tedder, he is also preceded by eight brothers and sisters; Mildred, Murl, Jackie, Lilburn, Patricia, Edith, Leon and Ronny.

On November...

Feb 15, 2018

Lorraine M. Shafer 95 of South Bend passed away at home on Thursday, February 15, 2018.

She was born on August 28, 1922 in Baroda, Michigan to the late Sherman and Helen (Unruh) Davis.

On February 21, 1942 she married John Shafer who passed away on June 14, 2011.  She is also preceded in death...

Feb 13, 2018

Tommy E. Thompson, age 75 years, formerly of Niles, Michigan died peacefully on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at Hope Hospice in Fort Myers, Florida following an extended illness.

He was born on March 11, 1942 in Niles to Elton and Helen (Hardebeck) Thompson, and was graduated from Niles High School in 1960.  He...

Feb 12, 2018

Gloria Jean Eckstein, age 74 years of Niles, Michigan died unexpectedly on Monday, February 12, 2018 at Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana. She was born on March 5, 1943 in Fort Wayne, Indiana to Carl E. and Mable F. (Giant) Waikel. She was graduated from Niles High School, and has lived here most of...

Feb 10, 2018

Helen M. Crawford, age 94 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 4:39 a.m. on Saturday, February 10, 2018 at the Arcadia (Florida) Hospice House following a brief illness.

She was born on July 31, 1923 in Detroit, Michigan to Peter and Gertrude (Himmelwright) Kroeg.  She was graduated from Decatur (Michigan) High School, earned a...

Feb 8, 2018

Robert F. Bailey, Jr., age 51 years of Niles, Michigan died Thursday morning, February 8, 2018 at this home following an extended illness.

He was born on June 3, 1966 in San Antonio, Texas to Robert F. and Maryam (Demir) Bailey, Sr., and was graduated from Niles High School.  He was an automobile...