Leona “Lee” J. Lancaster, of Niles
Oct. 13, 1943 — March 4, 2018

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:00 am Thursday, March 8, 2018

Oct. 13, 1943 — March 4, 2018

Leona “Lee” J. Lancaster, 74, of Niles, passed away on Sunday, March 4, 2018, at The Center for Hospice in South Bend.

Lee was born on Oct. 13, 1943, in Springfield to the late, Vyrl D. and Gracie (Jepma) Clark.

Leona “Lee” J. Lancaster

Lee married the love of her life, Willie on Feb. 22, 1964, at a ceremony on the McClelland AFB in California. Throughout their 54 years of marriage they traveled to 49 of the 50 states, and all over Europe. Lee enjoyed wildlife of all types, including camping and fishing, to caring for all of God’s little creature’s. She loved to socialize with her neighbors and spending time with her family.

Lee is preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her husband, Willie Lancaster of Niles; sons, Joe D. (Tina) Lancaster of Grayling, Michigan; Terry L. (Tami) Lancaster of Franklin, Wisconsin; daughter-in-law, Deborah Lancaster; four grandchildren, four step-grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; brother, Delmar (Becky) Clark of Nevada; and a sister, Juanita (Al) Lee of Niles; along with a large extended family.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, March 12, at the Niles First Church of God, 33180 US 12, with Rev. Robert Jackson officiating. Atime of visitation will begin one hour prior to the service.

Those wishing to make a memorial donation in honor of Leona may do so to the Center for Hospice Care in South Bend or to the Niles First Church of God.

Condolences, photos and memories may be left for Lee at BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles.

Leia AnnMarie McGee, of Niles
Feb. 4, 2017 — March 19, 2018

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:27 am Wednesday, March 21, 2018

Feb. 4, 2017 — March 19, 2018

Leia AnnMarie McGee, 1, of Niles, passed away unexpectedly at Lakeland Hospital in Niles on Monday, March 19, 2018.

Leia was born on Feb. 4, 2017, to Kyle McGee and Shayla Lemna in South Bend, Indiana.

Leia AnnMarie McGee

Leia is preceded in death by her great grandparents, Willis and Virginia Lemna.

She is survived by her parents, Kyle and Shayla; siblings, Kayleigh McGee, Addison McGee, Mia’lee Lemna and Eli’jah Lemna; maternal grandparents, Yolanda Lemna and Kent Lemna; paternal grandma, Dawn Hojara; great granparents Robert and Phyllis Grice and Janice and John Emery; and countless extended family members.

A time of visitation will be held on from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, March 22, 2018, at Brown Funeral Home in Niles, with a closing prayer at 1 p.m.

Arrangements entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Niles.

Judith Correa, of Niles
Nov. 7, 1953 — Dec. 22, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:00 am Friday, December 23, 2016

Nov. 7, 1953 — Dec. 22, 2016

Judith Ann Correa, 63, passed away at 1:58 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2016, at West Woods of Niles.

Judith was born Nov. 7, 1953, in Niles, to the late Jose and Edna (Vetter) Correa.

Judith was preceded in death by a nephew, Scott Seidner, in 2006.

Judith Correa

Judith is survived by her sisters, Clara (David) Singleton and Susan Correa, both of Niles; brothers Joseph Correa of Crown Point and William Correa, of Niles; nieces Tammy Kennedy ,of Niles, Dawn (David) Van Dyke of Buchanan, Beth (Jason) Adkins of South Bend, Indiana, and Jeri Lea (Michael) Fields of Niles; nephews Richard (Patti) Seidner, of Niles, Robert (Sarah) Seidner, of Poali, Indiana, Matthew (Amanda) Correa, of Indianapolis and Joseph (Michelle) Correa, of Dyer, Indiana; great-nephews Trey Horner, Kyle Horner, Jacob VanDyke, Kahlyn Seidner, Hudson Fields, Davis Fields and Bradley Correa; great-nieces Jennifer Sturgis and Taya Seidner; and her beloved dog, Charlie Parker.

Jerry Adler, formerly of Niles
Aug. 4, 1934 – Dec. 17, 2017

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:13 am Thursday, January 25, 2018

Aug. 4, 1934 – Dec.  17, 2017

Jerry Adler, 83, formerly of Niles, passed away in his sleep on Sunday, Dec. 17, 2017, while a patient at The Villages Regional Hospital in Florida. Jerry’s wife of 32 years, Jackie, was at his side.

Jerry was born Aug. 4, 1934, in Niles, the son of Orville and June Adler. He attended Niles schools from kindergarten through high school and remained friends with many classmates throughout his life.  He was a proud member of the NHS Class of 1952, attending every class reunion except the 65th  (in 2017), when illness prevented him from travelling.  Jerry excelled in football, basketball, and baseball while at NHS, and he remained an avid sports enthusiast all his life. Following high school, Jerry attended Michigan State University, graduating with a business degree in 1956. Jerry served with the U.S. Army Reserves and was stationed in Waxahachie, Texas, where his children were born.  The family moved back to Niles in 1963.

Jerry Adler

Jerry married the former Judy Bacon of Niles, in 1957, and together they raised two children, Caryn and Jeff. The couple divorced in 1975.

In 1985, Jerry married Jackie Terrell in Stuart, Florida, and resided in Florida until his passing.  In business, Jerry will be remembered for his 42 years in the financial services industry, where his commitment to integrity, hard work, and client satisfaction won him the respect and admiration of all who knew him, both personally and professionally.

Jerry was predeceased in death by his parents; his son, Jeff Adler in July of 2017; and Jeff’s son, Chase Adler in 2014.  Left behind to mourn Jerry’s passing are his wife Jackie Adler, of The Villages, Florida and her son, Kenny; his daughter Caryn “Cary” Adler, of Niles, and her four children and four grandchildren; his brother Dick Adler and family, of Fort Smith, Arkansas; his daughter-in-law, Donna Adler and her son, Mitch, both of  Jupiter, Florida, and cousins, Dave Adler, of Idaho, Mike Adler of Florida, and Carolyn (Crawford) Paulsen of Berrien Center, along with a myriad of friends, classmates and business associates across the country.

In keeping with Jerry’s wishes, cremation has taken place.  A celebration of Jerry’s life will take place from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 14, at the Niles District Library.  No flowers, please.  Friends are asked to bring a special memory or photo to share with the family. Private interment will be at the Columbarium at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

A scholarship is being set up in Jerry’s memory which will send two NHS athletes to a sports camp at Michigan State each summer. Those wishing to contribute to the scholarship may send a check to Caryn Adler, 1734 Regent St., Niles, MI 49120; please write “Jerry D. Adler Memorial Scholarship Fund” on the check. 

“However, as it is written, no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those that love him.” (1st Corinthians 2:9)

Edward Martin, of Niles
March 5, 1929 — Dec. 26, 2017

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:45 am Thursday, December 28, 2017

March 5, 1929 — Dec. 26, 2017

Dr. Edward H. Martin, a retired Niles dentist, passed away the morning of Dec. 26, 2017, at the Center for Hospice Care in South Bend, Indiana.

Edward was born March 5, 1929, in Niles, Michigan to Dr. Warren Franz Martin and Margaret Genevieve (Hamilton) Martin. He grew up in Niles to a loving family with an older sister, Catherine Alice (Mack) who preceded him in death on Dec 20, 2000. His father passed on April 30, 1959, his mother passed on Feb 20, 1971.

As Edward grew up, he enjoyed a wonderful father who was a prankster, bird and rabbit hunting, his mother’s wonderful baking and many trips to Indian Lake and eventually Smith Lake, where the family purchased a cottage. He also enjoyed pinball and told stories of how he and his lifelong friend Bob Adler, would play pinball for hours at the local gas station on only two nickels, ultimately revealing how he was cheating the machine.

Edward Martin

Edward was a big sports enthusiast, playing on the Niles High School basketball team. Later in life he continued to play volleyball at the YMCA and then coached all of his kids in one sport or another. He continued to watch Niles High School sporting events throughout his life and often went to playoff games of both boys and girls sports. He also enjoyed and attended Notre Dame ladies sports on occasion. Edward also volunteered for a time at the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend which he enjoyed and talked about a great deal.

Edward was a dog lover. He learned this from his father who had raised many English setters. He continued this tradition of bird hunting and enjoyed many great hunting trips with his dog Marty and another lifelong friend Dr. Laverne Blank.

After graduating high school, Edward went on to attend Michigan State College being an ROTC member. After a year he transferred to his grandfather’s alma mater, Michigan. He then went on to graduate from U of M’s dental school in 1953. Upon graduation, he fulfilled his ROTC requirements at Sturgate Air Force Base in Lincolnshire, England, where he met the love of his life, Mary Ellen Ogle.

They were married Feb. 25, 1956 in her hometown of Charleston, West Virginia. They then returned to Niles where Dr. Martin practiced dentistry with his father and Mary Ellen became a mother to four children, John (Cheri) Grand Blanc, Michigan, Laura (Scott) Miller of Niles, Catherine (Charles) Ross of Novi, Michigan and Leslie (Neale) Behm of Lancaster, Kentucky.

Ed and Mary had many close friends in Niles. Their social life included camping with the kids in Decatur, Michigan to hosting 4th of July pool parties at their home north of Niles. They also got together with friends for cards, dancing, and always for a New Year’s Eve Party somewhere. Later on, during retirement they travelled in their motorhome with the Hobo Camping Group all over the country, including Alaska.

Dr. Martin continued to give back to Niles. Not only supportive of Niles sports he also had many Niles High School co-op students work for him in his practice. He was also a member of the Niles School Board and volunteered with Mary for Meals on Wheels in Niles. Chicago professional sports were important to him and he was lucky enough to see the major sports each win a championship in his lifetime!

Along with his four children, Dr. Martin is also survived by seven grandchildren (Joseph, Laura and Elizabeth Sheeran; Colin and Anna Smith; Andrea and Michelle Behm) and one great-grandchild Landon Ransbottom.

A time of visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Dec 28, 2017. Funeral Service will be held on at 11 a.m. Friday at Brown Funeral Home in Niles. Interment will take place at a later date.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Center for Hospice Care in South Bend, 111 Sunnybrook Ct South Bend, Indiana 46637.

Memories of Dr. Martin may be shared with his family at BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral home & Cremation Service, Niles.

Rachel Hathaway (Winborn)
April 27, 1873-Feb. 27, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Friday, February 27, 1948, page 2 col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

RACHEL HATHAWAY DIES

Mrs. Rachel Hathaway, 1616 North Fifth street, passed away at 12:30 a.m. Friday in her home after an illness of 10 years, becoming serious two days ago.

She was born April 26, 1873, the daughter of George and Rachel Winborn, Decatur, and was married to John Hathaway in Niles on Dec. 25, 1895. She was a member of the Second Baptist church, Niles and had lived in this community for the past 50 years.

She leaves her husband, John; a son, John, Jr., at home; one niece and three nephews.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral home. Service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday by the Rev. Richard Alexander. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.