Kenneth E Davis 
January 11, 1936 - August 6, 2014 

Kenneth E Davis came into this world on Jan 11, 1936. He passed on August 6, 2014, in Christus St. Patricks Hospital in Lake Charles, LA. His wife Patsy and sister in law, Betty were by his side until the end. For almost the last five years, he made his home in DeRidder, LA. Kenneth was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church in DeRidder, He will be missed by all that have ever met him. Funeral services will be held at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, August 12, 2014 at Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan with Bill Gibson of the Church of Christ in Dowagiac officiating, Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Viewing will be two hours prior to the service from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Kenny loved to hunt, fish, play the guitar and sing country music. He shot Archery for many years and won Michigan State in 1968. Ken retired from Manchester Tank at the age of 62 after working there for 15 years. He was a man of many things. Ken married Phyllis, his first wife in 1953 and they had six children. In later years, he married his second wife Dorothy in 1985 and they had one child. In 2009 he married his third and last love, Patsy Spotts. He is preceded in death by his wife Phyllis in 2013; second wife, Dorothy in 2006; son, Edward in 2010; daughter Theresa in 2008; mother, Bessie, father, Harold; five brothers, Lyle, Marion, Harold, Charles, and Jack and six sisters, Margaret, Shirley, Helen, Elma, Dorothy and Mary. Ken is survived by his third wife, Patsy Spotts-Davis of DeRidder, LA; children, Kristi Davis of Breman, IN, Dawn Brewer of Bremen, IN, Richard Brewer of South Bend, IN, Debbie Sied of Howard City, MI, Diane Davis of Niles, MI, Sally Hunt of Cassopolis, MI, Linda Pierson of Niles, MI and Kenneth Lee Davis of Niles, MI; step-children, Allen Spotts of DeRidder, LA, Richard Spotts of Mausery, OH, and Rhonda Lewis of Harrisburg, PA; many gradchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, too many to name.

Richard Ernest Dickeson, of Niles
Aug. 4, 1937 — March 24, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:53am Thursday, July 31, 2014

Richard Dickeson

A brief Committal Service for Richard Ernest Dickeson, 76, will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery (near the Bell Tower) in Niles, on his birthday, Aug. 4, at 1 p.m. Monday. Dickeson was born in Niles in 1937, to the late Ernest and Sara College Dickeson. He served in the US Army in Germany, and worked for 36 years at National Standard Co. of Niles until he retired as the plant manager in Corbin, Ky. Dick had committed his heart to Jesus, and was a member of Adriel Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Bobbie Jo Dickeson, Dawson Springs, Ky., a son, Mike Dickeson, Denver, Colo., a daughter, Jill Schoeplein, St. Joseph, Mi., a sister, Shirley Hanke, Brandon, Florida, and six grandchildren.

Dickeson died March 24th, 2014 in the hospital near where they lived in Ky., and a Memorial service was conducted, but his wishes were to be buried next to his parents in Niles. All are welcome.

Les Allen Holt, of Niles
July 21, 1956 — Aug. 4, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:56am Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Les Allen Holt, 58, of Niles passed away on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2014, at Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles.

Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014, at Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan. Visitation will be 2 hours prior from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. and burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

He was born on July 21, 1956, to George M Holt and Yvonne “Bonnie” Olson in Niles, MI. Les started L.H. Enterprise Recycling, Inc. in Niles.

Les is survived by his children, Les Holt II, and Lanie Holt; mother, Yvonne “Bonnie” Olson; brother, G. Michael (Marlene) Holt and sister, Debra Holt-Heckathorn.

He is preceded in death by his father and sister, Melody Kay Holt.

Omer ‘Ray’ Herschberger, of Niles
Oct. 4, 1941 — July 26, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:51am Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Omer ‘Ray’ Herschberger

Omer “Ray” Herschberger, 72, of Niles, passed away Saturday, July 26, 2014, at Riveridge Manor with his family by his side.

Ray was born to the late Annanias and Drusilla (Yoder) Herschberger in Douglas County, Illinois on Oct. 4, 1941.

He served his country proudly in the U.S. Army, and after receiving his Bachelor degree worked as an electronic engineer, retiring after many years of service for the City of Niles. After Ray’s retirement he enjoyed more time doing the things that made him smile. Ray loved to travel anywhere the road would take him.

When he was home you could find him gardening, or attending all of the Notre Dame basketball and hockey games, to which he was a season ticket holder. He also worked as an usher for Notre Dame football. You could also hear him cheering on his favorite teams, the Chicago Bears and Cubs. He also found pleasure in the times he spent on Lake Michigan, fishing with friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his two brothers Henry and David Herschberger and his two sisters Laura Diener and Verna Herschberger.

He is survived by his best friend of 42 years, Lois Stethem of Niles and her children, Nina (Doug) Ditsch of Niles, Bryan (Darlene) Stethem of South Bend, Larry Stethem of Mishawaka, and Kristi (Matt) Brazo of Niles; his brother Ura (Sarah) Hershberger of Arcola, Illinois and his sister Fannie Mae (Jacob) Helmuth of Lovington, Illinois. He is also survived by Lois’ seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren whom he treated as if they were his own.

Services for Ray will take place at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church on Monday, August 4th at 11 a.m. with visitation one hour prior. An interment will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Those wishing to make a memorial donation in honor of Ray may do so to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 51490 Laurel Road, South Bend, IN 46637 or to the Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail in care of Michigan Gateway Community Foundation 111 Days Avenue, Buchanan, MI 49107.

Condolences, photos, and memories may be left for Ray’s family and friends at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or Facebook.com/BrownFuneralHomeNiles.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles.

Helen E. Thompson, of Niles
Oct. 21, 1911 — June 27, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:12am Monday, June 30, 2014

Helen E. Thompson

Helen E. Thompson, 102, of Niles, died on Friday, June 27, 2014, at West Woods of Niles following a brief illness. She was born Oct. 21, 1911 in Lisbon, North Dakota to John and Christina (Linzbach) Hardebeck.

Helen was a member of Saint Mark Church in Niles and was active in its Christian Mothers. She worked J.C. Penny’s in Niles and volunteered many hours at the former Pawating Hospital in Niles. She retired from the Simplicity Pattern Company in Niles in 1976 after several years of employment.

Helen enjoyed playing cards, dominos, bingo and watching her Chicago Bulls and Cubs teams. She especially loved spending time with her children and grandchildren, and never missed their sporting events.

On May 12, 1940, in Niles, Helen married Elton Thompson, who preceded her in death on May 11, 1968, but from their union survives sons, Gary (Linda) Thompson of Niles, and Tommy (Jan) Thompson of Cape Coral, Florida; a daughter, Linda (Frank) Zavitz of Niles; seven grandchildren, Cheri (Danny) Kulwicki, Craig (Michelle) Thompson, James “Brad” (Beverly) Thompson, Brian Thompson, Eric Thompson, Scott (Crystal) Zavitz and Staci (Derrick) Balos; and seven great-grandchildren, Danny, Krista and Katie Kulwicki, Christopher (Holly) Thompson, Ashlyn Thompson, Bo Balos and Brody Zavitz. Also surviving are Helen’s sisters, Marjorie Turk of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Evelyn Hardebeck of Niles.

Helen was preceded in death by her siblings, Lucille “Tudy” Robinson, Elizabeth “Sis” Leonard, Albert Hardebeck, Gerhard Hardebeck, Henry Hardebeck and Harv Hardebeck.

The mass of Christian burial for Helen E. Thompson will be celebrated at 11 a.m Tuesday, July 1, 2014, at Saint Mark Catholic Church, Niles, by The Rev. Thomas King, C.S.C. of the church. Committal rites will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 4 to 8 p.m. on Monday, June 30, 2014, at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles with recitation of the rosary at 7:30 p.m.

Donations in memory of Helen may be made to Saint Mark Church, Niles or to the American Cancer Society.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Gene Sherman, of Niles
Nov. 10, 1927 — July 4, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:18am Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Gene Sherman Sherman

Gene Sherman, 86, of Niles, passed away at the Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville on Friday, July 4, 2014.

He was born on Nov. 10, 1927, to the late Clifford and Neva (Linsey) Sherman in Coldwater, Michigan.

In 1952 Gene married Ida May Meyers at a ceremony in Sidman, Pennsylvania.

In 1948 he enlisted in the Army National Guard and served for many years as a tank commander before his honorable discharge in 1957. He went on to work for Borden delivering milk, and also at Hover Trucking of Niles. Gene loved the outdoors he enjoyed traveling, camping, scuba diving, and was very gifted at woodworking. He was a great husband, father and grandfather

Gene is preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Neva; wife Ida May Sherman and sister Eva Taylor.

He is survived by three sons Robert (Kelly Weir) Sherman of Mishawaka Indiana, Ronald (Ruth) Sherman of West Bloomfield Michigan, and Russell Sherman of Bradenton Florida; two sisters Charlotte Shemel of Michigan, Sonya Marsh of California; and one brother Clifford Sherman Jr. of Michigan

In keeping with Gene’s wishes cremation has taken place, and a graveside service will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery at 11 a.m. on July 21, 2014, where he will be laid to rest next to his beloved wife of 61 years.

Those wishing to leave a message to the family or upload a photo of Gene may do so on our website at

www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com