Florentine E. Flannery
1917-2007

By Staff
Florentine E. Flannery, 90, of Stateline Road, Niles and formerly of South Third Street, died at 7:10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007, at West Woods of Niles, following an extended illness.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be said on Friday, Dec. 21, at Saint Mary Catholic Church, NIles, with the Rev. David Otto of the church officiating.
Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20 at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles, where an evening prayer service will be held at 7:30 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to Saint Mary Catholic Church or Hospice at Home.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 6:00pm Thursday, December 20, 2007 

Mrs. Billie L. Diekema
1920-Dec. 22, 2007

By Staff
Funeral services for Mrs. Billie L. Diekema, 87, of Niles, are pending and will be announced at a later date.
The Rev. Janet Van Lear of First Presbyterian Church will officiate.
Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
Diekema died Saturday, Dec. 22, at 12:20 a.m. at Lakeland Specialty Hospital, Berrien Center, following an extended illness.
Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.
Memorial contributions may be made to Lakeland Hospice or the American Diabetes Association.

Niles Daily Star, Published 6:28pm Monday, December 24, 2007

Katherine S. Courser
Dec. 30, 1952-Feb. 5, 2008

By Staff
Katherine S. "Cooky" Courser, 55, of East Main Street, Niles, died at 6:18 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008, at Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles, following a very brief illness.
Funeral services will be at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rev. Jim Wing, pastor of First Baptist Church, Niles, officiating.
Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home.
She was born on Dec. 30, 1952, in Fort Knox, Kentucky, to Joseph V. Grishaber, Sr. and Ellie L. Connor Grishaber. She lived most of her life in Niles and graduated from Niles High School in 1971.
She was currently employed at the South Bend Clinic.
A former member of the Gold Wing Road RIders Association in Benton Harbor, Courser enjoyed gardening, yardwork, cooking and baking cookies. She loved being a grandmother.
On April 3, 1971, in Niles, she married Duane O. Courser, who survives.
Additional surviving family includes, two daughters, Nichole "Nickki" (Dan) Enyeart of South Bend, Ind. and Raegan M. (Corey) Weaver of Buchanan; grandchildren, Kiah and Klay Weaver and two brothers, Gary Lee (Diane) Grishaber of Niles and Theodore J. (Dee) Grishaber of Eagon, Minn.
She was preceded in death by her father, Joseph V. Grishaber, Sr., who died March 31, 1980; her mother, Ellie L. Grishaber, Sr., who died Sept. 15, 2007 and a brother, Joseph V. Grishaber, Jr., who died in September of 1998.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society,
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Carol A. Sonnenleiter
April 13, 1937-March 31, 2008

By Staff
Carol A. Sonnenleiter, 70, of North 15th Street, Niles, died Monday, March 31, 2008, at Memorial Hospital, South Bend, Ind., of a pre-existing condition.
The family is gathering privately at the graveside in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. No public visitation will be offered.
She was born on April 13, 1937, in Niles, to Frederick Weist and Frances Hardenburgh Weist.
She lived in Niles all of her life and graduated from Niles High School in 1955.
Sonnenleiter was formerly employed by FESCO Fire Equipment in Niles.
She enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was first married in 1956 to Phillip Irwin.
Later, on Oct. 12, 1974, in Niles, she married William Robert Sonnenleiter, who died on Dec. 19, 2007.
Surviving family includes two sons, Greg (Debra) Irwin of Grandville and Scott Irwin, Sr. of Niles; her grandchildren, Britny Irwin, Krista Irwin and Scott (Suzanne) Irwin, Jr.; great-grandchildren, Alexus Irwin, Bryce Irwin and Cainen Irwin; a brother, Frederick (Jan) Irwin of Niles; a sister, Jean Henderson of Galien; two nieces, Shelia (Charles) Neuman and Marsha Huss and a nephew, Alex Henderson.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 11:13pm Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Margaret V. Farrell
Sept. 7, 1919-April 21, 2008

By Staff
Margaret V. Farrell, 88, of Rynearson Road, Buchanan, died at 6:23 a.m. Monday, April 21, 2008, at Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 23, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Pastor Karen Brugler of Westminster Presbyterian Church, officiating.
Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today, Tuesday, April 22, at the funeral home.
On Sept. 7, 1919, in Buchanan, she was born to Emlsie Huse and Ethel Starks Huse.
She graduated as valedictorian from Buchanan High School and lived in Buchanan and Niles all her life.
She retired after 20 years of service for Clark Credit Corporation.
She was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in South Bend, Ind., Business and Professional Women, the Ladies of the Moose Lodge No. 450 in Buchanan and the American Legion Auxiliary in Buchanan.
Farrell was first married to John Karl Heiermann, who died in 1973.
Later, on May 21, 1977, in Niles, she married Richard E. Farrell, who died on July 12, 2007.
She was also preceded in death by a son, John Douglass Heiermann, who died in 2002.
Surviving family includes a daughter, Margo (Ed) MacGregor of Stillwater, Okla.; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

 Niles Daily Star, Published 6:20am Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Betty Leona Baird
June 15, 1921-July 24, 2008

Betty Leona Baird, 87, of Lakeshore Drive, Niles, died at 4:30 a.m. Thursday, July 24, 2008, at her daughter's home in South Bend, Ind., following an extended illness.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rev. John Baird of St. Joseph, officiating.
Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
Friends may call one hour prior to services at the funeral home.
She was born on June 15, 1921, in Boyne City, to Clarence Willyard and Ethel V. Welch Willyard.
She has lived most of her life in Niles, coming from Boyne City.
She enjoyed living life and spending time with her family.
On July 15, 1944, in Niles, she married Norman L. Baird, who died May 15m 1973.
She was also preceded in death by a sister, Doris Eaton, who died in 2007 and four brothers and sisters.
Surviving family includes two sons, Richard N. (Vanita) Bairdof Oceanside, Ore. and James L. Baird of Dowagiac; a daughter, Sue Ann (Raymond) Baird of South Bend, Ind.; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to Hope Community church, Niles.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 5:33pm Saturday, July 26, 2008