Maurice Miller Jr., 41
Jan. 12, 1971-Oct. 1, 2012

Miller

Niles Daily Star, Published online 9:27pm Thursday, October 4, 2012, print Wednesday, October 3, 2012, page 6, col. 4

Maurice Ulysses Miller Jr., 41, of Niles, went to be with the Lord Monday, Oct. 1, 2012.

Maurice was born Jan. 12, 1971, to Maurice and Fannie Miller in Niles.

After graduating from Niles High School, in 1989, Maurice joined the United States Army.

He was previously married to Leacie Miller of Benton Harbor and together they had three children.

He is preceded in death by his father, Maurice Miller Sr.; maternal grandparents, Tillie and James Anderson; and paternal grandfather, Louis Miller.
Maurice is survived by his mother, Fannie Davis-Miller; paternal grandfather, Audell Miller of Chicago; children, Maurgan “Jace” James Miller of Niles, Martell Miller of Kalamazoo, Marissa White of Phoenix, Maurice Miller III of Holland; grandchildren, Lyric White and Reese Miller; and siblings, Linda (Rodney) Kirkendoll of Niles and Marcellus Anthony Miller of Niles.

A homegoing celebration will be held Saturday, Oct. 6, at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church in Niles beginning at noon with a time of visitation one hour prior. Pastor James Hightower will be officiating.

Those wishing to leave condolences, photos or memories for the family may do so at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or on our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/BrownFuneralHomeNiles.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home.

Nicholas Nichols, 81
March 18, 1931-Oct. 3, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published online 11:08pm Wednesday, October 3, 2012, Print Thursday, October 4, 2012, page 8, col. 1-4

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, serving in the U.S. Army. He lived in Niles for 60 years and was employed by Clark Equipment in Buchanan for 29 years prior to retirement.

Nick was a member of the American Legion Post 26 in Niles. He was a winter resident of Stuart, Fla., and enjoyed fishing and walking the neighborhoods in both Michigan and Florida.

On July 10, 1954, in South Bend, he married the former Dorothy Konrath, with whom he celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary to her death Sept. 10, 1995.

Surviving family includes their sons, Richard Nichols and Steven (and Susan Hurst) Nichols, both of South Bend; and Nick’s brothers and sisters, Jack Nichols of Ocala, Fla., Sally Skelton and Barbara Grover of Little Rock, Ark., Ted Nichols of Tyronza, Merle Adams of Little Rock, Marilyn Yarborough of Pea Ridge, Ark.; and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Nicholas B. Nichols will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Cathi Huvaere of Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles officiating.

Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and will conclude with full military honors by American Legion Post 26.

The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Nick may be made to Hospice at Home or American Legion Post 26.

Catherine Nelson, 94
April 8, 1918-June 12, 2012

Nelson

Niles Daily Star, Published 5:44pm Sunday, August 5, 2012

Catherine R. Nelson, 94, of Mishawaka, passed away on Tuesday, June 12, 2012, at Bremen Health Care Center, Bremen, Ind.

Catherine was born on April 8, 1918, in Detroit to John L. and Winifred (Brahaney) Perkins. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, John B. Perkins.

On April 7, 1951, in Niles, as the former Catherine Perkins, she married Eugene E. Nelson, who preceded her in death on Dec. 25, 2004.

Surviving are two sons, Dennis J. (Shirley Walls) Nelson of Bremen, Ind., and Thomas W. (Toni) Nelson of Milford, N.H.; two grandchildren, Jason Nelson and Rae Pierson; and four great-grandchildren, Simon and Molly Nelson and Carter and David Pierson.

Catherine lived in Niles until 1951, when she moved to Mishawaka. She attended business college after high school. She was a bookkeeper. She worked for Bendix, Clark Equipment, First United Methodist Church and retired from the South Bend Tribune. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Niles, First United Methodist Church in Mishawaka, where she was a member of the choir and rang the hand bells, and the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter 332 in Niles. Catherine loved sewing, knitting and needlepoint.

There will be a memorial service for Catherine on Monday, Aug. 6, at 3 p.m. with a visitation one hour prior, in First United Methodist Church, Mishawaka. The Rev. Larry Whitehead will officiate.

Memorial contributions can be made to Lawall Scholarship Fund at First United Methodist Church.

To leave the family an online condolence or to share memories with the family, please visit our website at www.hahnfuneralhomes.com.

Joyce Sisk, 71
May 11, 1941-Sept. 30, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published online 10:18pm Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Joyce Eileen Sisk, 71, of Niles, passed Sunday, Sept. 30, 2012, at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph.

Joyce Sisk was born May 11, 1941, in Buchanan to the late Lois and Gladys (Sparrow) Carter.

In 1963, she married James Sisk at a ceremony in Niles.

She was preceded in death by her parents and husband.

Joyce is survived by her daughter, Lois (Gregg) Eslinger-Longacre of Osceola, Ind.; son, Robert (Jenny) Ellis Jr. of Niles; six grandchildren, Ben (Christina) Ellis of Groton, Conn., Tyrrell Ellis, Henry Ellis and Isaac Ellis, Brittany Eslinger of South Bend, Christopher Eslinger of South Bend; three great-grandchildren; two brothers, Richard Carter and Gary Schaffer; and a sister, Beverly Scoggins.

In keeping with her wishes, there will be a graveside service Thursday, Oct. 4, at 11 a.m. at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Friends and family may deliver flowers and plants to the funeral home.

Condolences, photos and memories may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or on our Facebook page at www.FaceBook/BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home.

Larry Biggs, 67
Dec. 2, 1944-Sept. 27, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published online 9:20pm Monday, October 1, 2012

Larry Wayne Biggs, 67, of Mishawaka, died at 4:10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012, at Hospice House in South Bend of natural causes.

He was born Dec. 2, 1944, in Buchanan. He was a U.S. Army veteran. He graduated from Buchanan High School and played basketball, football and wrestled. He was a Golden Gloves boxer and the owner of several car companies in Indiana and Florida.

Larry married Carole Biggs on Aug. 19, 2006, in Niles. She survives.

He is also survived by his sons, Larry Charles Biggs, of Buchanan, and Steven Anderson (Denise) Biggs, of Lakeland, Fla.; daughter, Kem (Brian) Simpson, of Buchanan; stepson, Paul Goodling, of Roanoke, Va.; stepdaughters, Christy (Greg) Thomson, of Freemont, Ind., Jessica (Joe) St. Clair, of South Bend, and Rachel Goodling, of Osceola, Ind.; brothers, Walter (Doris) Biggs Jr., of Niles, and Mike Biggs, of Niles; sisters, Connie “Joann” (Bill) Hunter, of Salome, Ariz., Barb (Fred) Bailey, of Niles, and Valda Skinner, of Niles; 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Virginia (Meek) Biggs.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, at Hoven Funeral Home in Buchanan. Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637.

Connie Hover, 61
April 24, 1951-Oct. 11, 2012

Hover

Niles Daily Star, Published online 4:06pm Sunday, October 14, 2012

Connie Sue Hover, 61, of Niles, died at her home surrounded by her loving family at 5:56 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, following an extended illness.

She was born April 24, 1951, in Niles to Delos B. and Marcella (Henrion) Capron.  She graduated from Brandywine High School in 1969, and lived in Niles all of her life. She was employed in the offices of the former Pawating Hospital (now Lakeland Community Hospital) for 25 years.

Connie Sue had a great passion for the late Elvis Presley and was a member of many Elvis fan clubs. She enjoyed dancing and traveling. She and her husband spent the summers at Bear Lake in Jones, where they enjoyed fishing and other outdoor activities.

On Oct. 17, 2003, in Niles, she married Jerry Hover, who survives. Also surviving are her children, Michael (Janie) Mark of Niles, Richard (Lori) Hover of Niles, Pamela (Dan) Ross of Houston, Texas, James Hover of Niles, and Steven Hover of Grand Rapids; grandchildren, Kyler Mark, Britney Lewis, Jordan Lewis, Allie Hover, Justin Cooper, Mellisa Ernsperger, Suzanne Sater, Renee Sater and Brandon Hover; great-grandchildren, Gaige, Madison, Alexis, Bryce and Cainen; and Connie’s siblings, Delos “Dee” Capron, Jr. of Niles, Alan Capron of Fort Myers, Fla., Melanie Mark of Niles, Nanette Lowery of Niles, Marueen Rouch of Dallas, Walter Sherman of Alton, Ill., Sue Clark of Niles; and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her loyal companion, “Buddy”.

Connie was preceded in death by her mother, Marcella; her father and stepmother, Delos (Lenora) Capron; and by a brother, Russell Reid.

The funeral service for Connie Sue Hover will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, at Halbritter Funeral Home in Nileswith the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of First Presbyterian Church of Niles officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the funeral home beginning at noon Tuesday.

Contributions in memory of Connie may be made to Hospice at Home.