Obituaries

Dec 19, 2013

Michael Jay Burks, age 59 years of Niles, Michigan and formerly of Buchanan, Michigan died at 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, December 19, 2013 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles following an extended illness. He was born on January 3, 1954 in Niles to Thomas J. and Lois J. (Purucker) Burks. He was graduated from Buchanan High School, and has...

Dec 17, 2013

Maxine Jane Dillon, age 94 years of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota and formerly of Niles, Michigan died at 8:50 p.m. on Tuesday, December 17, 2103 in Brooklyn Center. She was born on May 13, 1919 in Kalamazoo, Michigan to George and Ruth (Fawley) Kilgore. She was graduated from high school in Kalamazoo, and was employed in the offices of the Kalamazoo...

Dec 13, 2013

Peggy M. Leak, age 67 years of Niles, Michigan died at 9:45 a.m. on Friday, December 13, 2013 at her home following a brief illness. She was born on May 21, 1946 in South Bend, Indiana to Robert and Blanche (Seniff) Berkheiser. She was graduated from South Bend Riley High School, and has lived in Niles since 1967. She...

Dec 11, 2013

Bruce A. Zalai, age 60 years of Niles, Michigan died on Wednesday evening, December 11, 2013 at his home, suddenly, but of natural causes. He was born on December 2, 1953 in Niles to Mike and Mary (Paul) Zalai, Jr. He graduated from Niles High School in 1972, and was a lifetime area resident. He was formerly employed at...

Dec 10, 2013

Shirley May Bruecks, age 67 years of Niles, Michigan died on Wednesday, December 10, 2013 at her home, unexpectedly but of natural causes. She was born on November 3, 1946 in Watervliet, Michigan to Percy H. and Elizabeth O. (Stelter) Wigent. She was graduated from Watervliet High School, and has lived in Niles since 1966. She was employed at Simplicity...

Dec 4, 2013

Lucille J. Reynolds, age 85 years of Niles, Michigan died at 1:56 p.m. on Wednesday, December 4, 2013 at her home following an extended illness. She was born on August 24, 1928 in Shiawassee County, Michigan to Joseph and Sarah (Roome) Wickenhiser, and attended school in Cohoctah Township. She has lived in Niles for thirty years. Lucille enjoyed vegetable...

Dec 3, 2013

David A. Lehman, Sr., age 73 years of Elkhart, Indiana died at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at Hospice House of Elkhart following an extended illness. He was born on April 16, 1940 in Elkhart to Merrill Dwight and Mary Alice (Hick) Lehman. He was graduated from Concord High School, and lived in Elkhart most of his...

Dec 3, 2013

Biography

Eddie Ray Lee, age 75 years, of Niles, Michigan died on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend. He was born June 29, 1938 in South Bend to Oren & Dorothy (Vandygriff) Lee. Eddie worked for Wheelabrator-Frye Incorporated in Mishawaka for 23 years and as a returning student, graduated from Niles High School in 1977....

Dec 2, 2013

Biography

Gordon R. Detwiler, age 63 years of Niles, Michigan died at 5:55 a.m. on Monday, December 2, 2013 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles following an extended illness. He was born on July 15, 1950 in Middlebury, Indiana. He attended school in Middlebury, and has lived in Niles since 1993. He was employed at the former National Store...

Nov 28, 2013

Robert E. “Bob” Brooks, age 80 years formerly of the Allouez Drive neighborhood of Niles, Michigan died at 11:10 a.m. on Thursday – Thanksgiving Day – November 28, 2013 at West Woods of Niles. His death was unexpected, but of natural causes. He was born on July 13, 1933 in Circleville, Ohio to Elzie R. and Fannie M. (Rowe)...

Nov 26, 2013

Arrangements are pending.

Nov 25, 2013

Biography

Margaret I. “Marge” Wenger, age 86 years of Niles, Michigan died at 1:55 p.m. on Monday, November 25, 2013 at Woodland Terrace of Longmeadow in Niles following an extended illness. She was born on October 18, 1927 in Ionia, Michigan to Alfred and Ruby (Cantine) Kosbar. She was graduated from Benton Harbor (Michigan) High School, and was first...

Nov 24, 2013

Send Flowers Joseph Simko February 15, 1922 - November 24, 2013

Joseph Simko, age 91 years, of Berrien Center, beloved husband and father, passed away Sunday, November 24, 2013 following a long illness. Joseph was born February 15, 1922 in Vahovce, Slovakia to John & Margaret (Kiacz) Simko. His parents, like many before them, longed for a better life...

Nov 21, 2013

Call to Order Flowers by Phone 1-877-212-3610 Code: 31637

Patricia Ann Cramer, age 63 years of Buchanan, Michigan died at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 21, 2013 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles following a brief illness. Pat’s family is grateful for the special care provided by Lakeland, and by Hospice at Home. She was born on November 19,...

Nov 17, 2013

Ron “Big Ron” Grahl, age 49 of South Bend died on Monday, November 17, 2013 at his home, following a brief illness. He was born December 26, 1963 in Niles to Leo William and Violet (Skidmore) Grahl. Ron was the well-known cook and bartender for the Linebacker Lounge in South Bend. He was an all-around sports fan but loved...

Nov 14, 2013

Jerry W. Thomas, age 67 years of Edwardsburg, Michigan and formerly of Niles died at 12:05 p.m. on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at Saint Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis, Indiana following an extended illness. He was born on September 27, 1946 in South Bend, Indiana to Walter B. and Mary L. (Hall) Thomas. He graduated from Niles High School in 1965...

Nov 12, 2013

Juanita Phillips, age 79 years, of Niles, Michigan died at 6:40 p.m. on Tuesday, November 12, 2013 at her home following an extended illness. She was born on March 13, 1934 in Niles to Albert and Grace (Brubaker) Schrader. She was graduated from Niles High School, and lived here all of her life. She was employed for many years by...

Nov 11, 2013

Bobby Wayne Quick, age 60 years of Niles, Michigan died at 12:07 a.m. on Monday, November 11, 2013 at the Regional Burn Center at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan following an accident. He was born on September 18, 1953 in Gideon, Missouri to Elgy R. and Eva Joyce (Williams) Quick. As a two-year-old, he came with his parents to...

Nov 10, 2013

Biography

Shummy Allen Cochran, age 57 of Dowagiac, formerly of Niles, died on Sunday, November 10, 2013 at his home unexpectedly, but of natural causes. He was born June 5, 1956 in Niles to Robert Allen and Dorothy “Dutch” (Schanbacher) Cochran. Shummy was a 1974 graduate of Niles High School. He was the former owner of A & J...

Nov 9, 2013

Margaret Lucille Albert, age 93 of Niles, Michigan died on Saturday, November 9, 2013 at Cass County Medial Care Facility following an extended illness. Margaret was born June 16, 1920 in Mishawaka to Jesse James & Frances (Cheney) Wood. In 1939, Margaret married Elbert Scott. Later, on May 19, 1956, she married Frederick Albert, with whom she celebrated their 57th...