Shirley M. Stefani
May 4, 1932-March 20, 1993

Shirley M. Stefani
1932-1993
Worked in insurance

Funeral services for Shirley M. Stefani, 60, of 1876 Baldwin Drive, Niles, are scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Mark Catholic Church, with the Rev. Stanley E. Sulka, church pastor, officiating.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Stefani died at 11:30 p.m. Saturday at st. Joseph's Medical Center following a brief illness.

Born May 4, 1932, in Reed City, she moved to Niles in 1952, coming from Lakeville, Ind.

On June 9, 1950, she married John C. Stefani, who survives.

She worked for the former General Adjustment Bureau and for Rifenberg Insurance Agency.

She was a member of the St. Mark Catholic Church and its Christian Mothers Club.  She was an election official for Niles Township, attended Indiana University at South Bend, was an avid reading[sic], enjoyed knitting and liked to help people.

Survivors include a son, J. Michaeil Stefani of Warwick, N.Y.; a daughter, Kristy M. Quick of Niles and two brothers, Paul Rehkopf of Crystal River, Fla., Jack Rehkopf of Wyoming, Mich.

Friends may call from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Halbritter Funeral Home. A rosary service is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with Rev. Sulka officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mark Catholic Church or the Niles Community Library.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 22, 1993, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library.

Donald E. Harker
April 12, 1929-March 22, 1993

Donald E. Harker
1929-1993
Retired from Clark Equipment

Graveside funeral services for Donald E. Harker, 63, of 945 Ruth Layne, Niles, are scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Monday at Silverbrook Cemetery, with the Rev. Fred T. Smith, of South Niles Community Curch, officiating.

Harker died at 7:15 p.m. Monday at Pawating Hospital following a brief illness.

Born April 12, 1929, in Eau Claire, he had lived in Niles since 1983, coming from Jackson.

On Aug. 18, 1949, in Niles, he married the former Mary Jane Fox, who survives. He was retired from Clark Equipment Co. after 37 years, working in Berrien Springs and Jackson.  He was a World War II veteran, serving in the U.S. Army.

Other survivors include two brothers, William Harker of Niles and Jack Harker of Arkansas.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 24, 1993, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Robert Lee Benjamin
Feb. 10, 1914-March 25, 1993

Robert L. Benjamin
1914-1993
Pinkerton Security guard

Funeral services for Robert Lee Benjamin, 79, 514 Sylvan St., Buchanan, are scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday at Hoven Funeral Home in Buchanan with the Rev. Herb Wyatt of Winnamac, Ind., officiating.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Benjamin died at 12:39 a.m. this morning at Woodfield Manor in Niles.

Born Feb. 10, 1914, in Niles, he was a lifetime area resident.

On July 18, 1958, in Beloit, Wisc., he married the former Roberta White, who survives.

He worked as a security guard for Pinkerton Security.

Other survivors include a son, Ronald Keith Benjamin of South Bend; four daughters, Sue Martindale of Rockford, Ill., Elizabeth "Peggy" Lee Lockamy of Buchanan, Barbara Lee Hickman of Winnamac and Teddie Jelinek of New Buffalo; 13 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren and a sister, Deborah Lintner of Niles.

Friends may call from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday at Hoven Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Research Center.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, March 25, 1993, page 2, col. 4-5, microfilm Niles District Library.

Anna L. Ridgway
April 17, 1904-March 24, 1993

Anna L. Ridgway
1904-1993
Retired postal supervisor

Funeral services for Anna L. Ridgway, 88, of 3223 Dunning St., Cassopolis, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday at Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Stephen E. Naas, of St. Mary Catholic Church, officiating.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Ridgway died at 5:20 a.m. Wednesday at Berrien General Hospital following an extended illness.

Born April 17, 1904, in Brookfield, Mo., she moved to Cassopolis in  1983, coming from Ellenton, Fla.

In June, 1923, in Chillicothe, Mo., she married the former James A. Ridgway, who preceded her in death in January, 1982.

She was a retired post office supervisor in Dansville, Mich.

Survivors include a daughter, Barbara Davis of Cassopolis, a son, Ronald Ridgway of Huntington Beach, Calif.; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Friends may call one hour prior to the funeral services Friday at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, March 25, 1993, page 2, col. 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library.

Estella L. Williams
July 22, 1917-March 27, 1993

Estella L. Williams

1917-1993

Retired from the University of Notre Dame

Funeral services for Estella L. Williams, 75, 94 Flamingo Drive, Port Orange, Fla., are scheduled for 1:30 p.m .Monday at Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Stephen E. Nass, of St. Mary Catholic Church, officiating.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Williams died at 7:35 p.m. Thursday at her home following an extended illness.

Born July 22, 1917, in St. Louis, Mo., she moved to Port Orange in 1985, coming from South Bend.

On June 22, 1940, she married the late Hugh T. Williams, who preceded her in death on Dec. 23, 1960.

She was retired from the University of Notre Dame.  She was a member of the Epiphany Catholic Church in Port Orange, Fla.

Survivors include a daughter, Ann C. Williams of Seagrove, N.C.; a son, Jeffrey L. Williams of Arlington, Va.; one grandchild and a brother, Edwin Lork of Ponce Inlet, Fla.

Friends may call from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the donor's choice.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, March 27, 1993, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library

Charlie E. Zanders
Aug. 17, 1922-March 20, 1993

Charlie E. Zanders
1922-1993
Retired engineer

Funeral services for Charlie E. Zanders, 70, of 742 Oak St., Niles, are scheduled for 11:30 p.m. Wednesday at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. Lloyd Phillips officiating.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Zanders died at 7:15 p.m.  Saturday at Pawating Hospital following a short illness.

Born Aug. 17, 1922, in Grand Forks, N.D., he was a resident of the area most of his lifetime.

He worked for 25 years as a mechanical engineer for Voice of Music in Benton Harbor. He retired in 1985 from Clark Equipment Co. as a contract engineer.

Survivors include two sons, Patrick Zanders of Niles and Steven Zanders of Phoenix, Ariz.; five grandchildren and two brothers, Vernon Zanders of Coloma and Robert Zanders of Bradington, Fla.

Friends may call from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Billy Graham Ministries.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 22, 1993, page 2, col. 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library.