Obituaries

Oct 4, 2012

Nicholas Peter "Nick" Bruckner, age 64 years, of Niles, Michigan, died on Thursday afternoon, October 4, 2012, while swimming in the Pacific Ocean near Boca Tomatlan, Jalisco, Mexico. He was born on February 13, 1948, in Wolfratshausen, Bavaria, Germany, to Edward and Edith (Kardoss) Bruckner. He lived most of his life in South Bend, Indiana, and Niles, and was graduated...

Oct 3, 2012

Nicholas B. Nichols, 81, of Bond Street in Niles, died at 6:12 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2012, at home, after an extended illness. He was born March 18, 1931, in Tyronza, Ark., to Burley and Ruby (Brinkley) Nichols. He was raised in Arkansas, and was known to family and friends as “Buck.” Nick was a veteran of the Korean Conflict,...

Oct 1, 2012

Thomas Roy Gulbranson, age 56 of Shawnee Court, Mishawaka, Indiana died on Monday, October 1, 2012 at his residence of natural causes. He was born December 11, 1955 in South Bend, Indiana to Roy E. & Elizabeth (Bencsics) Gulbranson. Thomas was a 1973 graduate of Clay High School and worked of Bendix for many years. He loved his grandchildren and...

Sep 30, 2012

Leslie Kay Marie Rhodes, 42, of Niles, died Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012, at her home unexpectedly, but of natural causes. She was born Feb. 17, 1970, in Buchanan to Dwight Leslie and Katharine (Arnold) Grual II, and graduated from River Valley High School. She lived in this area all of her life, and had previously been employed at FAPCO in...

Sep 29, 2012

Katherine "Kathie" Alice Clemens, age 85, of Niles, Michigan, died on Saturday, September 29, 2012, at Buchanan Meadows Living Center following a brief illness. She was born March 26, 1927, in Boston, Massachusetts, to Patrick & Alice (Cullen) Kelleher. Kathie was a 1944 graduate of Brighton High School in Boston and a 1948 graduate of the Boston City Hospital Nursing...

Sep 26, 2012

Leon Wadsworth II, 71, died Sept. 26th. In August 1957, he married Vada Jo Flynn, who preceded him in death. Surviving family includes children, Leon Richard (Amy) Wadsworth III, Trent A. Wadsworth, both of Niles, Greg L. (Tamara) Wadsworth of South Bend and Melodie Jo Lanier of Niles; grandchildren, Mariha (Scott), Lee Allen, Joshua A., Vada Jo and Annabeth Wadsworth....

Sep 19, 2012

Nancy L. Wilkinson, age 73 years of Niles, Michigan died at 2:35 a.m. Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana following a brief illness. She was born on August 8, 1939 in Benton Harbor, Michigan to Roy Lee and Virginia Kathryn (Taylor) Boyd. She attended Benton Harbor schools, and has lived in Niles since 1977. She...

Sep 16, 2012

Norma Jean Best, 80, of Huntly Road in Niles, MI, died Sunday evening at her home, unexpectedly but of natural causes. She was born August 21, 1932, in Cheboygan, MI, to Richard & Bertha (Lannoo) LaPlaunt, and graduated from Cheboygan High School. She came to Niles in 1953, and was employed at the Simplicity Pattern Company for 40 years before...

Sep 12, 2012

Mary Ann Thompson, age 87 years, former long-time resident of Niles, Michigan died on Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at her home in Baroda, Michigan following an extended illness. She was born on July 20, 1925 in South Bend, Indiana to Benjamin M. and Esther C. (Cranston) Hance and lived in Berrien County all of her life. She was graduated...

Sep 12, 2012

Mary Ann Thompson, age 87 years, former long-time resident of Niles, Michigan died on Wednesday, September 12, 2012 at her home in Baroda, Michigan following an extended illness. She was born on July 20, 1925 in South Bend, Indiana to Benjamin M. and Esther C. (Cranston) Hance and lived in Berrien County all of her life. She was graduated from...

Sep 12, 2012

Patricia L. Gallagher passed away of natural causes on Wednesday, September 12, 2012. She was preceded into death by her loving husband of 57 years, James B. Gallagher in 2008 and sister Beverly Magness in 2010. Surviving are son Jon (& Sonya) Gallagher of Niles, Michigan and daughter Jan (& John) Bralick of Union, Michigan; two sisters, Mary Robinson of...

Sep 11, 2012

Joseph Glenn Pettie, age 63, of James Street, Niles, Michigan died on Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at the home of his sister in Buchanan following an extended illness. He was born May 24, 1949 in Niles to Odis & Isabel (Underwood) Pettie. Joseph attended Ferry Street Exceptional School in Niles. He is survived by brothers Jimmy (& Dee) Pettie of...

Sep 11, 2012

Joseph Glenn Pettie, age 63, of James Street, Niles, Michigan died on Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at the home of his sister in Buchanan following an extended illness. He was born May 24, 1949 in Niles to Odis & Isabel (Underwood) Pettie. Joseph attended Ferry Street Exceptional School in Niles. He is survived by brothers Jimmy (& Dee) Pettie of...

Sep 10, 2012

Biography

Lulu May McGraw, age 81, of Berrien Center died on Monday, September 10, 2012 at her residence following an extended illness. She was born September 14, 1930 in South Bend, Indiana to George Clayton & Nellie Alice (Werz) Syson. She was a long-time area resident and worked for Simplicity Pattern. On December 31, 1982 at Berrien Center Hospital...

Sep 7, 2012

Biography

Roger A. Crowley, age 43 years of Niles, Michigan died at 5:17 p.m. on Friday, September 7, 2012 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Saint Joseph, Michigan following a brief illness. His family is grateful to the staffs of Lakeland Hospital in Niles and Saint Joseph, and especially to the staff of Southwestern Michigan Community Ambulance Service for...

Sep 6, 2012

Michael D. Alsup, age 63 years of Niles, Michigan died on Thursday, September 6, 2012 at his home unexpectedly but of natural causes. He was born on May 25, 1949 in Benton Harbor, Michigan to Dalton and Evelyn J. (Davis) Alsup. As a child, he was a poster-child for the March of Dimes. He attended Brandywine Community Schools, and...

Sep 6, 2012

Delores Loraine Cosgrove, age 76, of South 29th Street, South Bend, Indiana died on Thursday, September 6, 2012 at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka, Indiana following a brief illness. She was born April 15, 1936 in Plainwell, Michigan to Charles & Frances (Boulter) Crane. Delores graduated from Plainwell High School in 1954 and attended First Presbyterian Church of South...

Sep 5, 2012

Biography

Thomas A. Brigham, Jr., age 86 years of Niles, Michigan died at 5:20 a.m. on Wednesday, September 5, 2012 at the home of his daughter in Granger, Indiana. He was born on January 19, 1926 in Benton Harbor, Michigan to Thomas Arthur and Ethel (Wiggins) Brigham, Sr. He served in the United States Army, returning as a veteran...

Sep 2, 2012

Linda Susan Manchow, age 57, of Lincoln Avenue, Niles, Michigan died on Sunday, September 2, 2012 at Memorial Hospital, South Bend, Indiana following a brief illness. She was born March 15, 1955 in Michigan City, Indiana to Norman Jerome & Mary L. (Woods) Wagner. Linda attended First Baptist Church in Niles and was there she married her partner of...

Sep 1, 2012

Lyle Edward Mead, age 59, of Bond Street in Niles, Michigan passed away on Saturday, September 1, 2012 at his home. He was born December 14, 1952 in Niles, Michigan. Lyle was a 1976 Niles High School graduate and was a water technician for the City of Niles as well as for the City of Mishawaka. He had achieved rank...