Robert E. Hoese, of Niles
Nov. 28, 1932-Dec. 31, 2020

Niles Daily Star, Published 11:53 am Thursday, December 31, 2020

Nov. 28, 1932 — Dec. 29, 2020

Robert E. Hoese, 88, of Niles, passed away at Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020.

Robert was born on Nov. 28, 1932, to the late Glen and Myrtle (Nichols) Hoese in Stewardson, Illinois.

After graduating from Niles High School, class of 1951, Robert went on to enlist in the U.S. Navy and served his country proudly in 1952. In August of 1963 Robert wed Marilyn Hegedus at a ceremony in Niles.

Bob was retired from the former Pawating Hospital (now Lakeland Community Hospital) in Niles where he had worked in maintenance for more than 20 years.

He was an avid University of Michigan fan and always kept up with the Niles Vikings. Bob was a great boxer and enjoyed watching it as well, especially Joe Lewis. Bob cherished his family and was always a faithful provider. He will be remembered for his generosity and his kindness, as he never met a stranger.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Marilyn Hoese; a great-grandchild, Julian Anglin; siblings, Walter, Glen, Donald and Carol Hoese.

Robert is survived by his children, Pamela (Frank Jr.) Anglin, of Plattsburgh, New York, and Robert B. Hoese, of Cass County; his grandchildren, Melinda (Lucas) Blaise, of Plattsburgh, New York, Frank Anglin III, of Chesterfield, Massachusetts, Robert Hoese of Niles and Jamie Hoese of South Bend; great-grandchildren, Lily and Eva Blaise; siblings, Virgil Hoese and Herschel (Helen) Hoese, all of Niles; and many extended family members and close friends.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, January 2, 2021 at 11 at Brown Funeral Home in Niles with a time of visitation beginning one hour prior. Full Military Honors will be performed at Silverbrook Cemetery by the U.S. Navy as well as American Legion Post 51 in Buchanan.

Due to COVID, seating is limited however; the funeral service will be available for viewing on our website.

Memorial contributions may be made in Robert’s memory to Caring Circle Hospice at 4025 Health Park Lane, St. Joseph, MI 49085.

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

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

John Lardner
29 Jan 1851-1 Oct. 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, October 1, 1930, page 1, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

JOHN LARDNER, 79 PIONEER PRINTER, DIES
Passes Away at Bertrand Home After Short Illness

John Lardner, 79, a pioneer resident of this section and one of the oldest printers of southwestern Michigan, died suddenly this morning about 8 o'clock at his home at Bertrand from a heart attack. He had been apparently in his usual health yesterday and until last night when he complained of slight illness. This morning he was stricken with the fatal heart attack soon after he arose.

The body is at the Troost and Augustine chapel and the funeral services will be held there on Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Burial will be held there on Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery.

William Lardner, father of the deceased, was born in Philadelphia county, Pennsylvania in 1804. He spent his youth and young manhood in Philadelphia. He was confirmed in the Christ Episcopal church in Philadelphia, one of the oldest Episcopal churches in America. After coming to Niles in 1838 William Lardner served as vestryman of Trinity Episcopal church and was for five years a junior warden and for five years a senior warden. He was married in Niles to Julia Lewis. Of the four children born to them, Margaret, Frances, John and William, none are now living.

John Lardner has been for many years the sole survivor of that family of Lardners. When a youth he learned of the printers trade under the tutelage of Major L.A. Duncan, one of the early publishers of Niles and he continued to work at that trade until he retired. Most of his work as a printer was done in the South Bend Tribune printing plant in South Bend and he has long represented soley[sic] the printers craft of more than a generation ago in this section. Mr. Lardner is survived by a widow. He was particularly interested in the cultivation of flowers and his home at Bertrand attracted the eyes of many travelers.

Friends may call at the Troost & Augustine chapel to view the body.

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, October 2, 1930, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: FUNERAL IN CHURCH

Funeral services for John Lardner, who died on Thursday morning, will be held in Trinity Episcopal church on Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock instead of in the Troost and Augustine chapel as had been planned. The Rev. A. Freeman Travers of St. Paul's church in St. Joseph will officiate. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery.

Donald E. LaPointe
June 12, 1924-March 6, 1989

Niles Daily Star(Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, March 7, 1989, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Donald E. LaPointe, 64, 725 Chippewa Tr., Niles, died at 9:23 p.m. Monday, March 6, 1989 at Pawating Hospital following an extended illness.

LaPointe, who managed the Dowagiac Airport, was a member of St. John's United Church of Christ and a retired major from the United State Air Force. He was born June 12, 1924 in Niles and lived here all of his life. He married the former Gloria Kettlehut, May 8, 1943 in Davidson, N.C. She survives.

Other survivors include two sisters, Genneil Gammill of Fort Smith, Ark. and Shery Suddeth of Redland, Calif; and a step-mother, Frances LaPointe of Niles.

Services are 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the Halbritter Funeral Home. The Rev. Louie Schweppe of St. John's United Church of Christ will conduct the services. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 20 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Mary J. Lambert
Sept. 17, 1847-June 4, 1927

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, June 6, 1927, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

News in Brief: FUNERAL TODAY

Funeral services for Mrs. M.J. Lambert were conducted this afternoon. Rev. John Sheehand, of Three Rivers, formerly pastor of the Methodist church in Niles, conducted the services. Burial took place in Silver Brook cemetery. Miss Lambert died on Saturday morning at the home of her niece, Mrs. Eugene Meyers, North Third street.

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, June 7, 1927, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

News in Brief: HERE FOR FUNERAL

Among those from out of the city who attended the funeral services here on Monday afternoon for Miss Mary J. Lambert were Mrs. Edward Moritz and C.E. Snoke, of South Bend, Mr. and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hatch, Benton Harbor, Mrs. J.W. Kempton, New Troy, Mrs. C.L. Weaver, Glendora, Mr. and Mrs. Everett Kempton, of Buchanan. Rev. John Sheehand, of Three Rivers, conducted the services and Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Bair sang.

Albert Henry Leach
Feb. 9, 1917-June 30, 1927

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, July 7, 1927, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

FIND BODY OF LEACH BOY ABOUT 8 MILES DOWN THE RIVER
Police Patrolman After Constant Search Sees Portion of Body in Stream
FLOATED UNDER WATER
Think Youth was Carried Away From Fatal Spot Immediately

The body of Albert Leach, 10, son of Mr. and Mrs. Adrian Leach, drowned last Thursday in the St. Joseph river, was found last evening about 7 o'clock, floating in the river eight miles below the spot where he went down. The body was found by Police Officer Carl Voelkers and Walter Simmer. The body was floating toward the dam at Buchanan about a mile above the dam, and would probably have soon gone over the dam had it not been discovered by the police officer and Mr. Zimmer.

It is thought that the body was immediately carried down stream by the current, rather than that it was lodged in the weeds near where the lad went down. The condition of the body indicated that it probably had come to the surface yesterday. Marks on the body indicated that it had come in contact with heavy objects which broke the flesh.

The body was brought back up the river by the police officer and Mr. Zimmer in the motor boat they were using and which belonged to Dr. J.G. Brodie. When they reached Niles about 8 o'clock an ambulance was called and the body was taken at once to the vault in Silver Brook cemetery. This afternoon a committal service was conducted by Rev. John Schurman, pastor of the Evangelical church.

Each day since the search and dragging work was abandoned at the scene of the drowning near the sandbar in the river almost directly across the stream from the foot of Marmont street, members of the Niles police department have been patrolling the river between Niles and Buchanan in motor boats, in an attempt to locate the body as soon as it came to the surface.

This morning Officer Voelkers stated that when the body was discovered, floating along the stream Wednesday evening, only a small portion of it was above the surface. That lead him to believe that the body had not risen to the surface earlier than Wednesday afternoon, possibly only an hour or less than before it was found.

Albert was one of the eight children of Mr. and Mrs. Leach. He was born in Niles in February 1917. Besides his parents and brothers and sisters he is survived by his grandmothers, Mrs. Rachel Leach, Grant street, and Mrs. William Pierce, 615 N. Third street.

Note:  There were additional articles in the Niles Daily Star, page 1, on July 1, 2 and 5, 1927, regarding the drowning and search efforts.

Lawrence J. Leidy
Aug. 1 1929-March 11, 1989

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, March 13, 1989, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Lawrence J. Leidy, 59, 1434 Sheridan Ave., Niles, died at 7 a.m. Saturday, March 11, 1989 at his home after an extended illness.

A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, Liedy was retired from Clark Equipment Co. and was also a member of Trinity Episcopal Church. He was born Aug. 1, 1929 in Niles and lived here all of his life.

He married the former Marjorie Starr, Nov. 4, 1949 in Niles. She survives.

Other survivors include three daughters, Cheryl Frantz of Niles, Terri Karnes-McFadden of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. and Marie Potokar of Buchanan; three brothers, Fred of Niles, Richard of Galien and George of Okinawa, Japan; and three grandchildren.

Services ate 11 a.m. Wednesday at Trinity Episcopal Church. The Rev. Steven Schuneman of Trinity Episcopal Church will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call after 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to the Berrien County Cancer Service.