William “Bill” F. Alford Jr., of Niles
Feb. 3, 1944-Sept. 14, 2017

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:35 am Monday, September 18, 2017

William “Bill” F. Alford Jr., 73, of Niles, passed away peacefully at his residence on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017, following a hard fought battle with cancer.

Bill was born on Feb. 3, 1944, to the late William Sr. and Betty L. (Schau) Alford in Buchanan, Michigan.

After graduating from Niles High School, Bill went on to attend Murray State University. Afterward, he returned home to assist his father with the budding family business, Kentucky Fried Chicken. In an endeavor that would last more than 50 years, Bill and his father successfully built a strong KFC business in southwest Michigan, which culminated in 19 restaurants and a distribution operation. 

During his 50-year legacy as a franchisee, he would proudly serve as president of the Great Lakes KFC Association as well as first vice president of the AKFCF. Bill was devoted to and loved his KFC family.

Bill also had another passion in life; his love for horses. From a very young age and throughout his life, he rode, trained and competed in equestrian events. He often enjoyed relaxing and just watching the horses run. Bill took great pride in the horse farm and training complex he and his wife ,Nancy built together.

Bill had a very strong work ethic. It was important to him to instill that into his family and work associates. Bill also found it important to contribute. He proudly but privately carried on his family’s legacy of philanthropy work, giving to many local charities and causes. But, above all, Bill cherished the time he was able to spend with his family.

On Feb. 8, 2010, Bill wed Nancy Lane at a ceremony in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Betty Lou Alford; father, William Alford Sr.; and sister, Martha Alford-Rudoni. 

Bill is survived by his wife, Nancy Alford; children, William (Martha) Alford III of Topanga, California, Richard (Kari) Alford of Edwardsburg, Ashley (Jeremy) Courtland of Buchanan, Allison and Wyatt Alford, Jerika Eskander, Jacklyn Sullivan and Katie Grubner, all of Niles; 10 grandchildren; and many extended family members and close friends. He will also be remembered by his father’s wife, Florence Alford, whom he had kept a close friendship with; as well as Nancy’s mother, Marilyn Lane.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 20, at Brown Funeral Home in Niles, with a time of visitation beginning at noon. Immediately following the funeral, an interment will be held in the family estate at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in Bill’s memory to Shriners Hospital for Children or to the Niles Scream Park.

Condolences, photos, and memories may be left for the family at BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles.

Dan Lee Bucha, of Niles
March 13, 1937-Aug. 26, 2017

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:22 am Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Mr. Dan Lee Bucha, 80, of Niles, died peacefully at 5:49 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26, at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka, Indiana following a brief illness.

He was born on March 13, 1937, in South Bend, Indiana Epworth Hospital to Jerry and Ruth H. (Baker) Bucha. He was graduated from the former Niles Central High School, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Technology from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo.

Dan Bucha

He enlisted in the United States Army, serving a tour of duty before being honorably discharged. He was employed at the Bendix Corporation Aerospace Division in South Bend for thirty years prior to retirement, and has lived in Niles all of his life.

Dan was a member of the American Society of Tool Engineers.

His greatest interest was nature. He was interested in a tropical “raintree” (Saman) which closes its leaves in rainy weather, and had carefully cultivated several in his woods. He enjoyed fishing, and was a member of the American Casting Association where he taught classes in casting and angling, and won several competitions. Those credentials led him to teaching about casting and angling to classes at the University of Notre Dame. He also enjoyed hunting waterfowl at Christiana Lake, and trap shooting.

When not pursuing nature, Dan enjoyed music, beginning in high school where he played cornet in the marching band. He regularly attended the concerts of the Saint Joseph (Michigan) Municipal Band, and always listened to the classical music broadcast on Andrews University’s radio station, WAUS. He also enjoyed dancing, and had recently won a polka contest at The Whitcomb.

Dan was preceded in death by his parents, Jerry and Ruth Bucha; and is survived by his sister, Becky Lynne Bucha of Saint Joseph, Michigan and a brother, Douglas Don (& Janis) Bucha of Niles.

The funeral service for Dan Bucha will be at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 31, at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles with Pastor Michael Willis of Niles Avenue Baptist Church, Saint Joseph officiating. The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 5 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Contributions in memory of Dan may be made to The Salvation Army of Niles.

Owen L. Buck, of Niles
July 7, 1932-Sept., 2017

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:21 am Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Owen L. Buck, 85, of Niles, passed away in Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph after a brief illness.

Owen was born on July 7, 1932, in South Bend to the late Warren and Helen (Ernsberger) Buck, Sr. He is also preceded by his son Bruce, his sister, Phyllis Harris and brother Warren Buck, Jr.

Owen Buck

On Aug. 24, 1957, he married Helen “Jean” Freeze, who survives. Owen is also survived by a son, Charles (Tiffany) of Berrien Springs, a daughter Loni (Steve) Baker of Bluffton, Indiana, grandchildren Devon and Collin Buck and Nathan (Whitney) Baker and Amy (Johnathon) Baddley.

Owen honorably served in the Army. He worked for Niles Glass as a Glazier.

Visitation will be hosted for Owen from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 6, in Halbritter Wickens Funeral Home, 615 E. Main St. Niles, Mi. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7, in the funeral home. Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorial Donations made in Owen’s memory may be directed to Church of Christ 1515 Huron St. Niles, MI 49120 or Paralyzed Veterans of America 801 Eighteenth Street NW, Washington, DC 20006.

Online condolences may be made at halbritterwickens.com

Aaron James Sanders, formerly of Buchanan
July 28, 1993-Aug. 27, 2017

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:31 am Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Aaron James Sanders, 24, formerly of Buchanan, died unexpectedly at 7:21 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2017 at his home in Bristol, Indiana.

He was born on July 28, 1993, in Niles to Christopher Wayne Sanders and Mary Ann (Williams) Sanders. He was graduated from Marcellus High School, and enlisted in the Michigan Army National Guard. He was currently employed at Coachman Industries in Middlebury, Indiana.

Aaron enjoyed fishing, was a fan of the University of Michigan football team and the Pittsburgh Steelers football team, and of Chevy Trucks. He loved his pet dogs, and – even more – loved his family.

On Feb. 14, 2017, at his mother’s house, he married Nicole E. Wilkins who survives. Also surviving are his mother, Mary (& Ray Ott) Sanders of South Bend, father, Christopher (& Linda) Sanders of West Virginia, step-father, Lee Erdman of Saint Joseph, Michigan, grandmother, Mable Sanders of West Virginia, and Aaron’s brothers, Christopher Williams and Andrew Sanders, both of South Bend; and nieces and nephews, Isiah and Noah Reyes, Gage Shuler, and Dakota Kinser.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Kayla Miller on July 16, 2016.

The funeral service for Aaron Sanders will be at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 1, 2017, at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Jeffrey L. Whittaker of the Michiana Christian Embassy in Niles officiating. Committal will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at Noon on Friday at the funeral home.

halbritterfunerals.com

John Lewellen, of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
Sept. 13, 1950 — June 9, 2017

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:26 am Friday, June 30, 2017

John Andrew “Captain John” Lewellen, 66, of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, passed away Friday, June 9, 2017, at Hilton Head Hospital.

John was born Sept. 13, 1950, in Niles, to James H. and Florence Ranft Lewellen.

He attended elementary school at St. Mary’s Catholic School and graduated from Niles High School in 1968. He earned his Michigan captain’s license in 1975 while living in Michigan.  He worked in property management with Harbourside III during his years on Hilton Head Island.

He loved fishing and being near the water, before and after moving to Hilton Head Island in 1979. He lived near the Atlantic Ocean and the beach for almost all of his years at Hilton Head Island. The fisherman’s adage, “any day on the water is a good day,” epitomized John perfectly. He knew many, many people and had many friends on Hilton Head Island. He was uniquely talented at bringing people together. Once a person became a friend of John, he or she would soon have many friends that were met through John.

John is survived by his brothers, Jim L. (Laura) Lewellen of Niles and Jerry E. (Charona) Lewellen of Medina, Ohio; his uncle, Captain Robert L. (Jane) Lewellen, USN (Ret.) of Contoocook, New Hampshire; his nephews, Jim S. (Tamee) Lewellen of Niles, J.A. (Melissa) Lewellen of Medina; nieces Laura (Kerry) Payne of Niles, Rachel C. Lewellen of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Kathryn (Jeffrey) Lewellen of Cary, North Carolina; and great-nieces and great-nephews Adam Payne and Aaron Payne of Niles, Abby Payne of Grand Rapids, Alex Lewellen of Austin, Texas, and Chris Lewellen of Lemont, Illinois.

Friends of John are invited to a celebration of life at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 1, 2017, on the beach at the end of the Firethorn Lane beach-walk on South Forest Beach. There, John’s ashes will be committed to the Atlantic Ocean that he loved so much.

Irene Bradford Willis, of Niles
Feb. 12, 1925-Sept. 7, 2017

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:38 am Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Irene Bradford Willis, 92, of Niles, died peacefully at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017. She was surrounded by family.

She was born on Feb. 12, 1925, in Enid, Mississippi to John Robert and Mandy (Buckley) Bradford. She attended school in Enid, and lived in Charleston, Mississippi before coming to Niles in 1950.

Irene kept an immaculate home and was an avid gardener, and she found great joy in the kitchen. Everything that came out of her kitchen was enjoyed by all, especially her dinner rolls, fried corn, dressing, and peach cobbler.

Irene Bradford Willis

Friends and family quickly learned that she could fill everyone’s plate, no matter how many stopped by. Irene was very active until she was called home to be with the Lord. Just last week, she was canning pickled pears (the old-fashioned way) and making fried pies. Her greatest joy was caring for her family, to whom she devoted her life. Homemaking was secondary to the importance of raising nine children to be respectful, responsible, and successful, a labor of love that she faithfully completed.

On May 15, 1946, in Charleston, she married Willie Lee Willis, Sr. Willie preceded her in death on Jan. 25, 1997. They were also sadly preceded in death by a son, Robert, and by Irene’s siblings, Ora Johnson, Henry Buckley, Willie Hoskins, Wardell Bradford, Sr., and Robert Bradford; and two special sisters, Nannie Redding and Asie Lee Laws.

Surviving family includes her children, Willie Lee Willis, Jr. (Yolanda) of Goshen, Indiana, Barbara Gamble of Bristol, Indiana, Lorraine (Roger) Outlaw of Niles, Clara (Paul) Taylor of Elkhart, Indiana, Rosie Willis of Niles, Kathy Willis of Freemont, California, Vivian (Bruce) Wilson of Fredericksburg, Virginia, and Gloria (Real) Daniels of Rahway, New Jersey; eighteen grandchildren, thirty great-grandchildren, eleven great-great-grandchildren; and the many who considered her mom or grandma; special sisters, Virginia Brown and Betty Perry; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles beginning at noon on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2017. The funeral service will commence at 1 p.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Kisha Jones officiating. Committal will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Irene Bradford Willis may be made to The Salvation Army of Niles.

halbritterfunerals.com