Justena Batson Putnam
Sept. 29, 1861-Dec. 29, 1945

News-Palladium, Monday, December 29, 1945, page 14, col. 6

Mrs. Justena Putnam Taken By Death At 84

Mrs. Justena Batson Putnam, 84, 172 Lake avenue, died at Mercy hospital at 8 p.m. Saturday. She had been in failing health for the past year.

She was born in Bertrand, Sept. 29, 1861 and lived in this vicinity her entire life.

Mr. Putnam, who was accidenty[sic] killed in a flour mill in Fremont, which he operated, had the ownership and manager of other mills in Shanghai, Baroda and engaged in the milling business in Benton Harbor with the firm of H.P. Boehm & Co.

Mrs. Putnam lived from 1913 to 1939 with two sons in South Have, when she moved to her her Lake avenue residence here.

She leaves three sons, Harold and Frank of Benton Harbor and Albert, South Bend; two sisters, Mrs. Gertrude Estes, Benton Harbor, and Miss Lena Batson, Chicago; three grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Florin funeral home, the Rev. Glenn M. Frye, Methodist church pastor officiating. Burial will be in silver Creek cemetery, Niles.

Betty Viola Colcord-Jewell, of Buchanan
April 5, 1940-Dec. 6, 2018

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:35 am Thursday, December 6, 2018

Betty Viola Colcord-Jewell, 78, of Buchanan, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles.

She was born April 5, 1940, in South Bend, to Ralph K. and Edith McHone. Betty attended and graduated from Niles High School.

Betty Viola Colcord-Jewell

On Dec. 18, 1959, she married Norman D. Colcord; later in life she married Jim Jewell, whom both preceded her in death.

Betty is survived by her children, Diana (Robin) Herwick, David (Janice) Colcord, Melody (Mark) Mercado; sister, Virginia (Herbert) Yost; brother, Ralph Jr. (June) McHone; grandchildren, Brianne (David), Justin (Stephanie), Anthony, Ronnie (Amanda), Annieta, Arielle, Blake, Sarah, Alannah; and 12 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph K. and Edith; and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral service for Betty will be at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7, 2018, at Hoven Funeral Home Inc., Buchanan.

Visitation will be two hours prior to the service. Burial will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, PO Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142. Online condolences may be made at hovenfunerals.com.

Thomas DeForest, Sr.
June 17, 1934-Dec. 23, 2018

Thomas O. DeForest, 84, of Niles, passed away at The Chalet of Niles on Sunday, December 23, 2018.

He was born on June 17, 1934 in Plymouth, Indiana to the late Garold and Thelma DeForest.

 On August 29, 1954 he wed Donna Belle Robbins at a ceremony in Niles and to that union three children were born. Thomas enjoyed hunting, golf, bowling and was an avid Notre Dame and Chicago Cubs fan.

 Thomas was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Donna Belle DeForest; a grandson, Nick Hansen and a sister, Sharon Holmes.

 He is survived by sons, Thomas (Fawn) DeForest Jr. and Tim DeForest; daughter, Debra (Gene) Hansen all of Niles; eight grandchildren, Thomas DeForest III, Robert DeForest, Mary (Tony) Johns, Jamie (Chuck) Stockton, Mindy Hansen, Steven DeForest, Christopher (Jaymee) DeForest and Amanda (David) Fuller; fifteen great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren; twin brother, Richard DeForest Sr; a sister, Jackie (Bob) Hess and a sister-in-law, Emma Summers all of Niles.

 Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 27, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home with a time of visitation one hour prior. An interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

 Memorial contributions in his memory may be directed to the Berrien County Cancer Services.

https://brownfuneralhomeniles.com/tribute/details/2342/Thomas-DeForest-Sr/obituary.html#tribute-start

Evelyn I. Nelson
MAY 16, 1931 ~ DECEMBER 2, 2018 (AGE 87)

Evelyn Irene Nelson, age 87 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 7:50 p.m. on Sunday, December 2, 2018 with family gathered around at The Timbers of Cass County in Dowagiac, Michigan following a brief illness.

She was born on May 16, 1931 in Mishawaka, Indiana to John A. and Pearl I. (Wordinger) Hull.  She was graduated from South Bend Central High School, and was employed as a laboratory technician at the former Valley Lea Dairies, Inc. in South Bend.  She has lived in Niles since 1957.

Evelyn enjoyed travelling, and had visited much of Europe, Egypt, Mexico, the southwest United States, North Carolina, and New York City.  She also enjoyed reading, usually mysteries, and completed many cross stitch projects.

On October 22, 1949 in South Bend she married Robert J. Nelson with whom she celebrated the thirty-ninth anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on February 22, 1989.  She was also preceded in death by their son, Kenneth J. Nelson on December 5, 2015, by her parents, and by her brothers, John Hull, Donald Hull, and Jay Hull.

Surviving family includes daughter, Deborah N. (& Kenneth) Grooms of Niles and son, Gregory A. (& Kathleen) Nelson of Williams Bay, Wisconsin; daughter-in-law Karen Nelson of Edwardsburg, Michigan; grandchildren Jason Nelson, Vincent (& Kendelle) Nelson, Jacob (& Tesha) Grooms, Jacquelyn Grooms, and Alexander Grooms; great-grandchildren Bo Nelson, Ellie Nelson, Abel Grooms, and Willow Grooms; and several nieces and nephews.

The memorial service for Evelyn Nelson will be at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 9, 2018 at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles with Pastor Jim Wing of Niles officiating.  Committal will be on Monday, privately, at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home.  Contributions in memory of Evelyn may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service, www.bccancerservice.org.  

https://www.halbritterwickens.com/notices/Evelyn-Nelson

William R. Shipperley, Sr.
MAY 27, 1936 ~ DECEMBER 21, 2018 (AGE 82)

William R. “Bill” Shipperley, Sr., age 82 years formerly of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 1:04 p.m. on Friday, December 21, 2018 at Spectrum Lakeland Medical Center in Saint Joseph, Michigan following a brief illness.

He was born on May 27, 1936 in Fort Sheridan, Illinois to George H. and Jean (diBlasio) Shipperley.  The Shipperley family followed George’s military career, moving to Texas, California, and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan before settling in Niles.  Bill was graduated from Niles High School, and enlisted in the United States Navy.  He served in the Fleet Air Service, including time onboard the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier, and was Honorably Discharged from peacetime duty.  Back in Niles he became successful in home remodeling, owning and operating Shipp’s Home Improvement.  He moved to Buchanan, Michigan in 2017.

Bill was a member of Saint Anthony Catholic Church in Buchanan, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Father Allouez Council #708 in Niles.  He was an excellent percussionist, playing drums in the country/western style most of his life, and once played in the band for a concert by Loretta Lynn.  He was also proficient on the organ and harmonica.  As a young man he enjoyed playing basketball and softball, enjoyed swimming and boating, and later coached a KC basketball team.  He lived for a while on Mackinac Island, Michigan where he was employed at the Grand Hotel Golf Course.  He collected transportation destination stickers from airlines, trucking, and shipping.

Above all, Bill was a people person.  He never met a stranger, striking-up a conversation with anyone, and genuinely enjoyed visiting with friends.  His family remembers his great example to them, and to the next generation.

On July 8, 1962 in Las Vegas, Nevada he married the former Carol Ann Johnson with whom he celebrated the fortieth anniversary of their wedding just days prior to her death on July 28, 2002.

Surviving family includes their children, William Shipperley, Jr. of Buchanan and Susan (& John) O’Brien of South Bend, Indiana; grandchildren Alexis O’Brien and Shane O’Brien; Bill, Sr.’s brother, George (& Lois) Shipperley, Jr. of Aurora, Illinois and their children, Lori, Leanne, and Lynn; and a wonderful circle of great friends.

The Mass of Christian Burial for William Shipperley, Sr. will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 24, 2018 at Saint Anthony Catholic Church, 509 West Fourth Street in Buchanan by the Rev. Fr. Leo Cartagena of the parish.  Immediately following the Mass, the United States Navy Honor Guard will perform the Veteran’s Flag Presentation and “Taps” just outside of the church entry.  Committal Rites will be read at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 26, 2018 at the graveside in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles by the Rev. Fr. Christian Johnston of Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Monday, at the church, beginning at 9:30 a.m.  Contributions in memory of Bill may be made to the Niles Veterans Memorial at Riverfront Park, c/o Niles City Hall, 333 North Second Street, Niles, Michigan 49120; http://www.nilesmi.org.  Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles

https://www.halbritterwickens.com/notices/William-ShipperleySr

Michael Joseph Wieger, 54, of Niles
Feb. 13, 1964 — Dec. 11, 2018

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:44 am Friday, December 14, 2018

Feb. 13, 1964 — Dec. 11, 2018

Michael Joseph Wieger, 54, of Niles, died at 9:20 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2018, at Spectrum Lakeland Hospital — Niles following an extended illness. His family chose to donate through Eversight to enhance the lives of others.

He was born on Feb. 13, 1964, in South Bend, Indiana to George F. and Margaret R. (Strantz) Wieger.

Michael Joseph Wieger

He was graduated from Brandywine High School, and earned an Associate’s degree from Southwestern Michigan College. He was a Quality Engineer and was employed for more than twenty years at the National-Standard Corporation in Niles.

Mike was raised in the Catholic faith, and has been attending Faith United Methodist Church in Buchanan, Michigan. He was an adult volunteer leader for the Saint Mary troop of Boy Scouts of America, and was a member of the Bend of the River Conservation Club where he enjoyed Single Action Shooting (Cowboy Action Shooting). He had hunted most of his life, usually for duck and goose. He had traveled throughout the United States, including visiting family in Washington state, and a recent trip to the southwest which included a trip to the Grand Canyon on the Grand Canyon Railway.

On July 19, 2003, at the First Presbyterian Church, in Niles, he married the former Marisa Susan Thiel with whom he celebrated this year the 15 anniversary of their wedding.

Surviving family includes his wife, Marisa Wieger and their son, Dallas George Wieger; Mike’s mother, Margaret Wieger, of Niles and his siblings, George (Kathy) Wieger, of Niles and Laura (Eric) Kraig, of Olympia, Washington; nieces and nephews, Gretchen (Mike) Turner, Frieda (Chris) Fuhrmann, Ingrid  John) Ryan, Matt (Kalie) Wieger, Brian Wieger, and Megan Wieger; and their children, Jack George, Arthur, Thomas, Adlie, and Emrie; and Marisa’s mother, Susan Thiel, of Allegan, Michigan; Marisa’s siblings Dallas (Lauren) Thiel, Christina Thiel, and Matt (Nikole) Thiel, and their children Hugh, Chapin, Logan, Allie, and Cade.

He was preceded in death by his father, George Wieger and a nephew, Jacob D. Wieger.

The funeral service for Michael Wieger will be at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, at Faith United Methodist Church, 728 North Detroit Street, in Buchanan with the Rev. Edward H. Slate of the church officiating. The family will receive relatives and friends on Saturday at the church beginning at 1 p.m.

Contributions in memory of Mike may be made to Faith United Methodist Church; or to Saint Mary Catholic Church, stmarysniles.org; or to the Bend of the River Conservation Club, borcc.org. Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles. Online condolences may be left at: halbritterwickens.com