Obituaries

Sep 12, 2014

Donald F. Riggs, age 74 years of Niles died on Friday, September 12, 2014 at his home. He was born July 4, 1940 in Sedgwick, Arkansas to Andrew Jackson and Lucille (Fortner) Riggs. Donald worked for the meat department at Hanks Grocery Store in Roseland for over 35 years. He was a regular for coffee at the Bell Plaza restaurant...

Sep 11, 2014

Angeline Marie “Angie” Bowers, age 79 years of Berrien Center, Michigan died at 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 11, 2014 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan following a brief illness. She was born on July 5, 1935 in Niles, Michigan to Arthur J. and Virginia T. (Wechnerowski) Handley. She attended Niles schools, and has lived in this area all...

Sep 10, 2014

Esther Pilot, age 91 years of Berrien Springs, Michigan died at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 following a brief illness. She was born on April 8, 1923 in Chicago, Illinois to Antonia and Carmela (Molito) Garritano. She has lived in Dowagiac, Niles, and Berrien Springs most of her life. She was employed for many years in the bakery...

Sep 9, 2014

Miles Stephen Cooper August 30, 1948 - September 9, 2014 Miles Stephen Cooper, age 66 years of Niles, Michigan died Tuesday morning, September 9, 2014 at his home following an extended illness. He was born on August 30, 1948 in Zanesville, Ohio to Victor E. and Elinor R. (Thomas) Reed, coming to Niles as a child, and living here...

Sep 8, 2014

Janite Lee Ernsberger, age 77 years of Niles, Michigan died surrounded by her family at 11:27 a.m. on Monday, September 8, 2014 at her home on Barron Lake. She was born on August 4, 1937 in Truman, Arkansas to Frank and Carmen (Sutfin) Lenox. She was graduated from Niles High School, and has lived in Niles most of her life....

Sep 3, 2014

Velma May “Val” Racht, age 81 years of Niles, Michigan died at 5:55 a.m. on Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville, Michgian following a brief illness. She was born on May 23, 1933 in Mississippi County, Arkansas to Peter Franklin and Bessie Ida (Ashley) Green. Val worked for the Krajci Drug Store in the 1950-1960’s. She...

Sep 2, 2014

Willadean Mervine, age 62 years of Niles, Michigan died at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles following an extended illness. She was born on August 26, 1952 in Niles to Walter D. and Joan Marie (Thomas) Linn, Sr. She was graduated from Niles High School in 1972, and has lived in Niles all...

Sep 1, 2014

Biography

James Dillard Crocker, age 89 years of Niles, Michigan died at 11:50 p.m. on Monday, September 1, 2014 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles following a brief illness. He was born on January 19, 1925 in Coffee County, Tennessee to John Thomas and Sarah Madge (Haley) Crocker. He came with his family to Niles as a young child,...

Sep 1, 2014

Dorothy Hartranft Bunker, 87, of Scottsdale, AZ passed away September 1, 2014 with her family by her side. Born March 2, 1927 in Cassopolis, MI she was the daughter of the late Harry and Isabel Hartranft. She graduated from Niles High School and attended Western Michigan Univiersity. She was a long time resident of Scottsdale where she met her husband...

Sep 1, 2014

Mabel Elizabeth Nietch, age 97 years former long-time resident of Niles, Michigan died on Monday, September 1, 2014 in Austin, Texas. She was born on March 2, 1917 in Evansville, Indiana. She lived many years in South Bend, Indiana where she was employed at the former Robertson’s Department Store. Mabel came to Niles in 1960, and owned and operated The...

Aug 31, 2014

Donald Ralph Severeid passed away on Sunday evening, August 31, 2014 surrounded by his family in the home he built. He was born May 22, 1938, in LaPorte, Indiana, the first of six children to Ward and Grace (Hall) Severeid. Don graduated from South Bend John Adams High School in 1956 and married his Junior High sweetheart, Jeannine R....

Aug 30, 2014

Biography

Kristene “Kris” Smith, age 54 years of Niles died on Saturday, August 30, 2014 at Riveridge Manor in Niles following an extended illness. Kris was born June 11, 1960 in Niles, Michigan to Max Utah and Kaye (Livings) Smith. Surviving family includes two daughters, Arielle Peel of Colorado Springs, Colorado and Rhiannon (& James) Yoder of Goshen, Indiana;...

Aug 29, 2014

Tristie Ann (Reichanadter) Coleman, age 46 years of Niles, Michigan died Friday, August 29, 2014. She was born on September 21, 1967 in South Bend, Indiana into the love of George Leon and Janelle Ann (Bybee) Reichanadter, of Niles. She graduated from Niles High School in 1985, and has lived in Niles all of her life. Tristie enjoyed walking her...

Aug 27, 2014

Edward Pollock, age 90 years of Niles, Michigan died at 1:15 p.m. on Wednesday, August 27, 2014 with his family gathered at his bedside at The Timbers of Cass County in Dowagiac, Michigan following a brief illness. He was born on August 12, 1924 in Howard Township, Michigan to Smires Roy and Eva (Lakoda) Pollock. He was graduated from Niles...

Aug 23, 2014

Joan Marie Kish, of Bonita, CA, passed away peacefully on August 23, 2014. She was 81 years of age, and was born on September 10, 1932 in South Bend, IN. She moved to San Diego in 1969. She worked 12 years for Teledyne-Ryan, before starting her own business providing care for the elderly in 1981. This became not only her...

Aug 20, 2014

Jacob Charles Jernigan, Sr., age 38 years of Niles, Michigan died at 9:43 p.m. on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles. He was born on December 30, 1975 in South Bend, Indiana to William John and Judy Ann (Anderson) Jernigan, Sr. He attended Brandywine Schools, and had lived in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina for thirteen...

Aug 20, 2014

Biography

Michael Scott Allen, age 63 years of Niles, Michigan died unexpectedly at 7:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 20, 2014 at his home, of natural causes. He was born on March 20, 1951 in Niles to Russell James and Isabella Wilda (Kettles) Allen. He was graduated from Lakeshore High School in Stevensville, Michigan and earned a double-major Bachelor’s degree...

Aug 19, 2014

Ruth E. Wolf, age 91 years formerly of Almaugus Drive in Niles, Michigan died at 10:10 p.m. on Tuesday, August 19, 2014 at West Woods of Niles following an extended illness. She was born on September 2, 1922 in Niles to Clarence and Margaret Eliza (Cornwall) Benjamin. She attended Niles Schools, and has lived here all of her life. Most...

Aug 18, 2014

Anna Mae Fletcher, age 87 years of Niles, Michigan died on Monday, August 18, 2014 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana. She was born on January 25, 1927 in Niles, Michigan to Dominick J. and Antonette “Trina” Frucci. She was graduated from Niles High School in 1945 and has lived in Niles all her life. Anna was a...

Aug 15, 2014

Kimberly Jo Focht, age 47 years on Niles, Michigan died Friday, August 15, 2014. A Memorial Service for Kimberly will be at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday, September 28, 2014 at the First Church of Christ - Christian in Niles, with Pastor David Szymczak of the church officiating.