Mary L. Wigent, 104
Nov, 1, 1907-Aug. 2, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published online 5:49pm Sunday, August 5, 2012

Mary L. Wigent, 104, of Niles, died at 6:50 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012, at West Woods of Niles following a brief illness.

She was born on Nov. 1, 1907, in Whitley County, Ind., to John and Kate (Wolford) Taylor. She graduated from Columbia City (Indiana) High School in 1925, and had lived in Niles since 1927. She and her husband owned and operated the former Garden City Cleaners in Niles for forty years, retiring in 1968.

Mrs. Wigent was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles. She was also a member of the Niles Garden Club, the Niles Business and Professional Women, and the Seepewa Club. She volunteered with the Pawating Auxiliary of Lakeland Community Hospital, and with Meals on Wheels. She enjoyed playing bridge, tatting and tending the seventy-six rose bushes in her Broadway yard.

On Aug. 25, 1925, in Coldwater, she married Philip A. Wigent, with whom she had celebrated the sixty-first anniversary of their wedding before he preceded her in death on Feb. 23, 1987. She was also preceded in death by her sister, Chloe Walter, and brother, Ben Taylor.

Surviving family includes her daughters, Linda (Dr. Robert) Burr, of Canton, Mass., and Marty (Wayne) Martin, of Niles; grandchildren, Bob Burr, Jr., Bill Burr, Ed Burr, Phil Burr, John Burr, Katie Burr, Geoff Martin and Priscilla Martin; and great-grandchildren, Eddie, Katarina, Josefina, Alina, and Brayden.

The funeral service for Mary Wigent will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, at Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles with the Rev. Cathi Huvaere of the church officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Mary Wigent may be made to the Wesley United Methodist Church, or to Meals on Wheels.

Donna Blackburn, 87
Aug. 7, 1925-Aug. 8, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:08pm online Thursday, August 9, 2012

Blackburn

Donna J. Blackburn, 87, of Niles, died at 5:55 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, at Lakeland Specialty Hospital in Berrien Center following an extended illness.

She was born Aug. 7, 1925, in Niles to Raymond and Edna (Wilcox) Goodling.

She graduated from Niles High School and lived in Niles most of her life. She was a former employee at Simplicity Pattern Co. in Niles.

Donna was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Niles. She enjoyed playing bingo at several area games, and fishing, especially at Bear Lake in Jones.

On Aug. 3, 1944, in Merced, Calif., she married Eldon R. Blackburn, with whom she celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary earlier this month.
Surviving family includes her husband, Eldon; their children, Kathy (Jeff Burrows) Malone, of Niles, Gary (Sandy) Blackburn, of Niles, and Barbara J. Speers, of St. Petersburg, Fla.; grandchildren, Tom (Becky) Kessler, Wendy (Jeromy) Hansen, Kelly (Sara Gibson) Rakowski, Erin (Dylan) Brooker and Amy (Brett) Nielsen; many great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Gail Harmon, who died March 13, 2012, and by Donna’s sisters, Shirley “Sis” Stowe, who died in 1994, and Sally Fulbright, who died in 1997.

The funeral service for Donna J. Blackburn will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 13, at First Presbyterian Church in Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence officiating, assisted by Elder Ray Fulbright, both of the church.

Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Donna Blackburn may be made to The Foundation of the First Presbyterian Church or to Hospice at Home.

John Light, 67
July 20, 1945-Aug. 8, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published online 10:09pm Thursday, August 9, 2012

Light

John Light, 67, formerly of Dowagiac, died at 8:40 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, at his home in South Bend following an extended illness.

He was born on July 20, 1945, in LaPorte, Ind., to Charles and Anne (Kowal) Light, and was graduated from Dowagiac High School in 1963.

He served in the United States Air Force Reserves and the United States Army National Guard, retiring in 2005 as a staff sergeant.

He was employed by Accu-Tech of Elkhart, Ind., retiring in 2009.

John was a member of Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles, and had been active in the Knights of Columbus council in Dowagiac.

He enjoyed home repair, and as a young man, was an avid fisherman.

John is survived by his long-time companion, Penny Dorogi of South Bend; his children, Jacqueline (James) Gregory-Garvin of Bellevue, Fla., Johnny Light of Lafayette, Calif., and Twanette (Eric) Cooper of Edwardsburg; nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; his sister, Patricia (Randy) Klock-Eustice of San Leandro, Calif.; and a nephew.

The Mass of Christian Burial for John Light will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at Saint Mary Catholic Church by the Rev. David Otto of the parish.

Committal Rites will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and will conclude with full military honors by the United States Air Force Honor Guard and American Legion Post 51 of Buchanan.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Contributions in memory of John may be made to Pet Refuge of Mishawaka, Ind., or Center for Hospice & Palliative Care Inc.

Patrick Sapmaz, 29
Sept. 14, 1982-Aug. 7, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published online 10:10pm Thursday, August 9, 2012

Patrick A. Sapmaz, 29, of Niles, died suddenly early Tuesday, Aug. 7, 2012, at his home of apparent natural causes.

He was born Sept. 14, 1982, in High Point, N.C. He graduated from high school and was a student at Southwestern Michigan College. While attending college, he helped his father, Steve, at Papa’s Pizzeria in Edwardsburg.

Patrick lived a full life with a love for music and was an accomplished rap artist, just recently recording some of his renditions. He loved his family, especially his son, Kalvin, and his companion, Valli.

Surviving family includes his mother, Kitrina Singh of Chicago, and his father, Steve, of Edwardsburg. Also surviving are his son, Kalvin, and his companion, Valli Grice. A brother, Andrew, of Edwardsburg, survives and sisters, Kiri and Jasleen Singh, both of Chicago.

The funeral service for Patrick A. Sapmaz will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 10, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rev. Randy Pearman officiating. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. The family will receive relatives and friends from noon to 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to his son, Kalvin.

Marna E. (Pethick) Briggs
June 7, 1923 – Nov. 9, 2009

Niles Daily Star, Published online 10:13am Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Marna E. (Pethick) Briggs, 86, formerly of Niles, died at 8:50 a.m. Monday, Nov. 9, 2009 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend following an extended illness.

Marna was born June 7, 1023 to Paul Robert Pethick and Mary Tinkham Pethick in Dowagiac. She attended Dowagiac Community Schools and lived in Niles most of her life. She formerly married Lee Dennis Briggs.

She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Niles, Four Flags Garden Club, Orchard Hills Country Club and Berrien County Home Economics Club. She held season tickets to University of Notre Dame football games. She loved her cats and dogs and enjoyed wildlife.

Survivors include daughters, Gayle Severance, of Niles, Cheryle (Keith) Vogel, of Stevensville, Sandra “Sue” Briggs-Hughes, of Niles; grandchildren, Jeff and Chris Linville, Michelle Ryan and Vicki (Dennis) Bassett, Shelli Knoll and Michael Gleason, Marna McIntosh; great-grandchildren, Brandon Rollins and Sarah (Rollins) Jones, Justin Bassett and Sgt. Christopher Bassett of the U.S. Marines, Pamela and Becky Bailey, Amber, Terra, Shelby and Haley Linville, Tony, Tawny and China Stockbarger, C.J. McIntosh; great-great-grandchildren, Dashawn and J.C. Jones, Carmen Bailey and D.J. Hughes, Anna-Lena (Rollins) Clunger-Klug, Page Rollins; sister, Lucene Daley, of Niles; brother, Terry Pethick, of Niles; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Denise Diane Briggs, who died in infancy; a sister, Doris Burch; and brothers, Dean Pethick and Doyle Pethick.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Niles with the Rev. Richard R. Swanson of Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church in Dowagiac officiating.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

There will be no visitation. Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society’s Berrien County Relay for Life.

Elizabeth “Betty” Marrs, 85
Jan. 29, 1927-July 25, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published 4:52pm Monday, July 30, 2012

Elizabeth M. Betty Marrs, 85, of North 14th Street, Niles, died at 8:15 p.m. Wednesday, July 25, 2012, at her home unexpectedly, but of natural causes.

She was born on Jan. 29, 1927, in Niles to Edmund C. and Martha Elizabeth (Crandall) Keck. She was graduated from Dundee (Michigan) High School, and had lived in Niles most of her life.

She was employed at the former LuAnn’s Grocery and the former G. L. Perry Variety Store, both in Niles. Betty enjoyed flower gardening, completing jigsaw puzzles, and entertaining family, neighbors. and friends at her home. But her greatest interest was caring for her family, whom she dearly loved.

On Dec. 16, 1952, in St. Joseph, she married William Charles “Chuck” Marrs, who preceded her in death on Dec. 18, 1990. She was also preceded in death by their son, Ronald E. Marrs, who died on Oct. 21, 2008.

Surviving family includes her grandson, Aaron (Meredith) Marrs, of Niles; great-granddaughter, Audrey Marrs; daughter-in-law, Dana L. (Mrs. Ronald) Marrs, of Niles; and Chuck’s mother, R.E. “Irene” Stackhouse, of Niles.

Services for Betty Marrs will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 31, 2012, at the graveside in

Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, with the Rev. Carl W. Bassett, of Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church of Niles, officiating.

Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.