Obituaries

Oct 19, 2017

Hazel Arlene Mitchell, age 97 years, former longtime resident of Edwardsburg, Michigan died peacefully at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 19, 2017 with family gathered around at the Boulevard Health Center in Rochester Hills, Michigan.

She was born on July 5, 1920 in Greensburg, Pennsylvania to William and Cecilia (McDonald) Eade.  She attended...

Oct 13, 2017

Wayne Blough, 81 of Edwardsburg passed away at his home after an extended illness. Wayne was born on July, 12, 1936 in Alaska, MI to the late LaVern and Anna (LaLone) Blough. He is preceded in death by his parents, his son Jim and his sister Wilhelmina Price. On June, 21, 1955 in New Paris, IN he married Elizabeth....

Oct 12, 2017

Niles – Doretta L. Ditsch, 84, passed away on Thursday, October 12, 2017 in her home. Doretta was born on August 3, 1933 in Palestine, IL to the late Carl W. and Cleo (Wyman) Henry. On June 17, 1950, in River Park Methodist Church, Doretta married August J. Ditsch, Sr. and “Augie” passed away on December 22, 2003. A...

Oct 8, 2017

Terri L. Musgrave, age 55 years of Niles, Michigan died at 12:32 p.m. on Sunday, October 8, 2017 with her family gathered around at Lakeland Medical Center in Saint Joseph, Michigan following an extended illness.

She was born on August 22, 1962 in Niles to Richard L. and Linda L. (Laudenslager) Califf.  She was graduated from Niles...

Oct 5, 2017

James L. Lilley, 60 of Niles passed away at his home on Thursday October 5, 2017.

James was born on August 17, 1957 in Gary Indiana to James and Rose (Sabo) McNorton.

James is preceded in death by his mother Rose.

He is survived by his wife Mary, children; Jennifer (Dan) Frey of...

Oct 2, 2017

Betty Jane Curtis, age 94 years former longtime resident of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 11:21 a.m. on Monday, October 2, 2017 at the Life Care Center of Plainwell, Michigan.

She was born on January 17, 1923 in Niles to Emil Eric and Edna Emma Lorraine (Kaiser) Johnson.  She was graduated from Niles...

Sep 30, 2017

Niles – Kenneth E. “Butch” Prenkert, 65, passed away at 9:24am on Saturday September 30, 2017 in Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph.

Butch was born on May 6, 1952 in Niles to the late Kenneth J. and Catherine L. (Rife) Prenkert. Butch was also preceded in death by his niece, Nicole (Egmer) Adams.

Butch is...

Sep 26, 2017

Mr. Gordon L. Poe, age 86 years of Niles, Michigan died at 7:50 p.m. on Tuesday, September 26, 2017 at Saint Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana following an illness.

He was born on January 4, 1931 in Dawson Springs, Kentucky to Mr. Shelly Lue and Bertha (Lampson) Poe.  He was graduated from the Charleston (Kentucky) High School,...

Sep 24, 2017

Donald C. McLean

January 3, 1934 – September 24, 2017

Niles – Donald McLean passed away on September 24, 2017 at home. Donald was born to William and Linda (Rossow) McLean in Berrien Center, MI. Donald attended Buchanan high School. He served in the Naval Reserves and then served in the US Army. On December...

Sep 23, 2017

Rev. Kenneth G. Riggenbach, age 86 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at noon on Saturday, September 23, 2017, following an extended illness.

He was born on October 22, 1930 in Bay City, Michigan to Hubert T. and Lydia L. (Sinn) Riggenbach.  He graduated from Downers Grove (Illinois) High School and Saint Paul (Minnesota) Bible College (now...

Sep 21, 2017

Nancy Kay Birdyshaw, age 63 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 1:15 p.m. on Thursday, September 21, 2017 at her home following a brief illness.

She was born on March 25, 1954 in Niles to John Henry and Nellie Rose (Weed) Bair, Sr.  She was graduated from Niles High School, and attended...

Sep 20, 2017

Josephine Ann “Josie” Bassler, age 97 years of Niles, Michigan passed away peacefully at 5:05 p.m. on Wednesday, September 20, 2017 surrounded by family at her home.

She was born on April 20, 1920 in Niles to Joseph and Pauline (Modory) Medo.  She was graduated from Niles High School, and was first employed...

Sep 9, 2017

Francis Jerome “Jerry” Lewandowski, age 65 years of South Bend, Indiana died peacefully at 8:08 a.m. on Saturday, September 9, 2017 at his home following an illness.

He was born on October 22, 1951 in South Bend to Zygmond and Helen Marie (Stefanski) Lewandowski.  He attended Holy Cross Elementary School, and was graduated...

Sep 8, 2017

Cynthia R. Johnson

December 31, 1964 – September 8, 2017

Spring Lake – Cynthia R. Johnson, 52, passed away at 12:04pm on Friday, September 8, 2017 in Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, MI.

Cindy was born on December 31, 1964 in Niles, MI to David C. and Judith A. (Barker) Vinnedge

...

Sep 7, 2017

Irene Bradford Willis, age 92 of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 7, 2017.  She was surrounded by family.

She was born on February 12, 1925 in Enid, Mississippi to John Robert and Mandy (Buckley) Bradford.  She attended school in Enid, and lived in Charleston, Mississippi before coming to Niles in 1950.

Sep 3, 2017

Gary J. Groat

February 17, 1943 – September 3, 2017

Niles – Gary J. Groat, 74, was born on February 17, 1943 in Niles to Robert and Frances Groat.  He passed away at home on September 3, 2017.

He graduated from Buchanan High School and was part of the football team...

Sep 1, 2017

Richard Lee Matthews, age 72 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully but unexpectedly on Friday, September 1, 2017 at his home of natural causes.

He was born on January 23, 1945 (1/23/45) in Niles to Jess Earl and Laura Elizabeth (Dugan) Matthews.  He was graduated from Niles High School, and has lived in Niles all of his...

Sep 1, 2017

Owen L. Buck, 85 of Niles, passed away in Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph after a brief illness.

Owen was born on July 7, 1932 in South Bend to the late Warren and Helen (Ernsberger) Buck, Sr. He is also preceded by his son Bruce, his sister, Phyllis Harris and brother Warren Buck, Jr.

On August...

Sep 1, 2017

William Warren Watson

December 24, 1948 – September 1, 2017

William ‘Wild Bill’ Warren Watson, 68 of Niles passed away at his home after a long and courageous fight with cancer.

Bill was born on December 24, 1948 to the late Warren C and Ruth H. (Zerr) Watson.  On July 3, 1971 he...

Sep 1, 2017

Niles George Scott Spence 69,died and hopefully has gone to join his mother and Frankie, Johnny and Beauregard and the many other dogs that were an important part of his life.

George was born November 17, 1947 to Jack and Gertrude Spence, who preceded him in death.

He started his teaching career as an orchestra...