William Maxey ‘Bill’ Rucker, formerly of Niles
Dec. 4, 1944 — June 19, 2019

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:43 am Monday, June 24, 2019

Dec. 4, 1944 — June 19, 2019

William Maxey “Bill” Rucker, 74, formerly of Niles, passed away Wednesday, June 19, 2019, in his home.

Bill was born in Munfordville, Kentucky to the late Johnny Clifton Rucker and Lucille Russell Warder. He was a roofing contractor and the city code enforcement officer for Munfordville.

Bill was a Vietnam veteran of the U.S. Army, a member of the Munfordville Church of God, the Munfordville Volunteer Fire Department where he served as Chaplain, the Hart County Rescue Squad and the KY Federation of Fire Chaplains.

Irene Messenger
Nov. 25, 1941-April 15, 2015

Irene was born on November 25, 1941 and passed away on Friday, April 17, 2015.

Irene was a resident of Niles, Michigan at the time of passing.

Irene was married to Richard.

The funeral service for Irene Messenger will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 21, 2015 at the First Baptist Church with Pastor Jim Wing of the Church officiating. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Monday at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. Contributions in memory of Irene may be made to the First Baptist Church

Richard Duane Messenger
JULY 3, 1936-JUNE 17, 2019

Richard Duane Messenger, age 82 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, June 17, 2019 at Riveridge Manor in Niles following an extended illness.

He was born on July 3, 1936 in Jefferson Township, Michigan to Harold and Marie (Anderson) Messenger, and attended Niles Community Schools.  He enlisted in the United States Army, and was Honorably Discharged as a Veteran of the Korean Conflict.  He was then employed at the former Berrien County Road Commission (now Berrien County Road Department), clearing the snow and maintaining the shoulders and berms of the county roads in northeast Niles Charter Township and eastern Berrien Township.  In retirement, he enjoyed several odd jobs, including Enterprise Rent-a Car, and Shelton’s Market.

Dick was a member of the First Baptist Church in Niles, and when his boys were younger, he was a volunteer adult leader for Boy Scouts of America.  He enjoyed camping throughout the United States, and locally at Rodgers Lake, and could have the travel trailer set-up and a pot of stew ready to share before everyone else was parked.  After dinner around the campfire, Dick would pull the cast iron lid off of his famous peach cobbler, only to be topped with a fresh scoop of his homemade ice cream.  He also enjoyed fishing around the area, had practiced “dip netting” at Berrien Springs, and was known on the C.B. radio by the ‘handle’ “Big Fish”.

On May 14, 1971 at the Church of the Brethren in Middlebury, Indiana he married the former Irene Elizabeth Whirledge, with whom he celebrated the forty-third anniversary of their wedding prior to her death on April 18, 2015.  He was also preceded in death by his parents, and by his aunt and uncle, Nettie "Belle" and Richard Anderson who raised Dick and his siblings after the untimely death of their parents.

Surviving family includes his sons, Richard J. Messenger and Keith (& Valerie) Messenger, both of Niles; grandchildren Naomi Stevenson, Elizabeth Stevenson, and Eric Messenger; and Dick’s siblings, Harold Messenger, Jr. of Missouri, Larry (& Ann) Messenger of Big Rapids, Michigan, and Shirley Connell of Jackson, Michigan; and several nieces and nephews.

Services for Richard Messenger will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 21, 2019 at the First Baptist Church, 1446 East Main Street in Niles with Pastor Mark Youngberg of the church officiating, assisted by Pastor Jim Wing of Niles.  Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, and will conclude with the Veteran’s Flag Presentation and “Taps” offered by the United States Army Honor Guard.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the church on Friday beginning at 10:00 a.m.  Contributions in memory of Dick Messenger may be made to First Baptist Church, 1446 East Main Street, Niles, Michigan, 49120; http://fbconnection.org/~fbcniles/.  Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles.  

Donations may be made to:,/p>

First Baptist Church
1446 East Main Street, Niles MI 49120
Tel: 1-269-683-2847
Web: http://fbconnection.org/~fbcniles/

Source: https://www.halbritterwickens.com/notices/Richard-Messenger

Mrs. Vera Mae ‘Rose’ Norris, of Niles
Aug. 27, 1931 — June 1, 2019

Niles Daily Star, Published 7:33 am Friday, June 7, 2019

Aug. 27, 1931 — June 1, 2019

Mrs. Vera Mae “Rose” Norris, 87, of Niles, passed away at 5:50 p.m. on June 1, 2019, with family gathered around her at Brentwood Assisted Living of Niles, following an extended illness.

She was born on Aug. 27, 1931, in Buchanan Township, to Martin and Katherine (Thierbach) Altergott.

She graduated from Central High School in South Bend; however, attended Buchanan High School prior to that. She was first employed at S.S. Kresge’s Dime Store in downtown South Bend. After graduating she worked at Electro-Voice in Buchanan for 18 years, retiring in 1967. She was then a homemaker and worked part-time at the former Ned’s Meat Processing in Niles.

Rose was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Niles, the Moose Lodge Auxiliary #449 in Buchanan, the What-so-Ever group at the First Presbyterian Church. Rose and Francis were snowbirds, traveling to Lakeland, Florida every winter where she enjoyed playing bingo, shuffleboard, was a “Red Hatter” and meeting and making many new friends which last her lifetime. Rose liked to go to the casinos. She was an avid reader and enjoyed to cross stitch, do needle work, and crochet. She crocheted many dishcloths, doilies, and hats. She donated the hats to various charities and the Niles Community Schools for those in need. But, her greatest joy was her family.

Mrs. Vera Mae “Rose” Norris

On Jan. 9, 1954, in the First Presbyterian Church, in Niles, she married Francis Lee Norris who preceded her in death in 2016. Together they celebrated 62 years of marriage and had three children.

Surviving family includes their children Gary L. (Marian LaBo) Norris, Nancy (Jerry Pollay) Lowery-Pollay, and Scott Norris, all of Niles; grandchildren, Shaun (Carly) Norris, of Niles, and Mikael (Seven Kelly) Norris, of Hockley, Texas; great-grandchildren, Marshall Wismer, Ava Hoskins, and Finn Norris; god-daughter, Jamie Janke of Niles; brothers, Rienholdt “Curly” Altergott and Elmer R. Altergott, both of Niles; sister-in-law, Sandra Altergott-Raber, of Niles; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by her parents; Francis’s parents, Dick and Bertha Norris; a son-in-law, Mahlon L. Lowery; and brothers, Ruben, Fred, and Larry Altergott.

The family would also like to extend a heartfelt “THANK-YOU” to the entire staff at Brentwood Assisted Living for all their exceptional care, support and Love they gave our mother while she resided there for the last 2 1/2 years.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Brentwood Assisted Living of Niles, First Presbyterian Church, of Niles, or the Parkinson’s Foundation.

A memorial service will be at noon on Monday, June 10, 2019, in Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 E. Main St., Niles, where family and friends may gather two hours prior to the Service. Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Condolences for the family may be made at halbritterwickens.com.

Roy Calvin Brown
March 18, 1939-Feb. 15, 2019

Roy Calvin Brown, 79, of Berrien Springs, MI, passed away on Fri., Feb. 15, 2019.

He was born March 18, 1939 in Braggodocio, MO to the late Ralph and Laura “Dolly” Brown. Roy was a U.S. Army Veteran.

Roy is survived by his brother, Denny Brown; Sisters, Linda Marlin, Joyce Brown.

Cremation has taken place. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan. Online condolences may be made at www.hovenfunerals.com.

Source:  https://www.hovenfunerals.com/obituary/roy-brown

Adah V. Steiner Goodhand
Sept. 28, 1920-Dec. 16, 2018

Niles - Adah Steiner Goodhand passed away December 16, 2018 peacefully surrounded by her family. Adah was a vibrant member of the Niles community. She was born on September 28th,1920 to Velma Moore Steiner and William Justice Steiner. She had three siblings, Ollie, William, and James who all preceded her in death. She has been a current resident of Brentwood, as she enjoyed coffee, happy hours, and deep discussions about Niles.

Adah briefly left Niles for California to work as the founding secretary of the newly created AFL CIO and did factory work on airplanes during the war.

She returned to Niles where she met and married Neil Goodhand who preceded her in death. She is survived by a daughter Sharon Goodhand Curiel, and a grandson Neil Brandon Curiel, both of Florida. She is survived by a niece and nephew Jami And Craig VandenBossche of North Liberty Indiana, and their daughter Kate.

Adah worked at Niles City Hall for the City Engineer for 25 years, where she developed many lifelong friendships. She was a member of the Niles Elks Club, Orchard Hills Country Club, and the Niles American Legion Post, where she worked endlessly to plan many social events.

She was an avid gardener who resided at Eagle Lake for 30 years taking over her mother’s cottage in 1967. She devoted the last chapter of her life volunteering at the Edwardsburg American Legion Post 365 serving on variety of committees. Adah so loved life had a quick wit. Adah was a true spirit and known for expressing her opinions on her beliefs. Today we are taking with us the golden memories of her impact on many lives. She will be deeply missed.

Family and friends may gather from 3-5pm on Thursday, December 20, 2018 in HALBRITTER WICKENS FUNERAL HOME, 615 E. Main St., Niles, to share memories of Adah. Pastor Jeff Whitaker will say concluding prayers at 5pm. Condolences for the family may be made at www.halbritterwickens.com.

https://www.halbritterwickens.com/notices/Adah-Goodhand