Obituaries

Ruby F. Hoese
June 1887-July 5, 1962

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 5, 1962, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Ruby F. Hoese, 75, 2292 N. 5th St., died at 8:23 a.m. today at Pawating Hospital where she [illegible].
Mrs. Hoese was born June 1887 in Niles and had lived her lifetime here.
Surviving are: her husband, Frank; two sons, Edward Losure, with the United States Navy, Washington, D.C. and James F. Rundborge, Buchanan; two daughters, Mrs. Lester Newton, Kewaskum, Wis., and Mrs. Clayton Muntz, Niles; five step-children, Mrs. Gladys Reed, South Bend, Mrs. Homer Womble, Mrs. George Loveland and Ward Hoese, all Niles, and Glen Hoese, Buchanan; 37 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Esther MacDonald, Chicago, and six step-brothers and sisters, Mrs. George Masterman, South Bend, Mrs. George Abair, Elisnor, Calif., Mrs. Scott Woodcock, Argus, Ind., and Willis, Frank and Herbert Low, all Niles.
Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home where funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Charles Swartz
June 8, 1873-July 5, 1962

Niles Daily Star, Friday, July 6, 1962, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Charles Swartz, 89, formerly of Niles, died at 2:45 a.m. Thursday at Berrien County Hospital.
Mr. Swartz was born June 8, 1873. He leaves no known survivors. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Pifer Funeral Home with Capt. William . . .[illegible]. . . Army officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.
Friends are being received at the funeral home.

Darlene Kujawa, of Niles
Jan. 4, 1927 — Feb. 6, 2018

Niles Daily Star, by Scott Novak, Published 8:17 am Friday, February 9, 2018

Darlene Kujawa, 91, passed away at 11:18 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018

Darlene Kujawa

Darlene was born on Jan. 4, 1927, in Niles, to the late Glenn and Doris May (Walter) Jones. On Nov. 30, 1946, Darlene married Zymonth “Zig” Kujawa and he passed away on Jan. 22, 2004. Darlene was also preceded in death by a son, Joseph Kujawa on Sept. 22, 2017.

Darlene is survived by her children, Linda Logalbo, Steve (Linda) Kujawa, Frank (Janet) Kujawa, Rita (Joe) Bumgardner, and Scott Kujawa; grandchildren, Carl Carrico, Jeff Carrico, Jill Swartz, Carey Wickler, Nikki Kujawa, Erin Kujawa, Derek Kujawa, Cody Kujawa, Joshua Kujawa, Dori Prange.

Darlene always wanted to be a writer, and even had a short story published in the newspaper. She had many pen pals that she wrote to for years. She loved to write.

She was a 1945 graduate of Niles High School and worked at Simplicity Pattern Company. She belonged to the Cassopolis Senior Center and the Altar-Rosary Society at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church. She collected stamps since childhood and enjoyed Bingo and garage sales. Zig and Darlene were charter members at St. Mark’s Catholic Church.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2018 in Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 E. Main St., Niles. Family and friends may meet at St. Mark’s Catholic Church beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday Feb. 12, 2018 for visitation prior to the 11am Mass of Christian Burial. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Condolences for the family may be made at halbritterwickens.com.

Willie Briggs, of Niles
April 7 1940-Feb. 11, 2018

Niles Daily Star, Published 6:50 am Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Willie Briggs, 77, of Niles, passed Feb. 11, 2018. Funeral services will be at noon on Feb. 16, 2018 at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Niles, with visitation beginning at 11 a.m. BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

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Published at Brown Funeral Home https://brownfuneral.funeraltechweb.com/tribute/details/2099/Willie-Briggs/obituary.html#tribute-start

Obituary of Willie Briggs

Willie B. Briggs, 77, of Niles left this earthly home to be with her Savior Jesus Christ, on Sunday, February 11, 2018 surrounded by her family.

Willie was born to the late Roosevelt and Mattie (Cofey) Washington in Hayti, Missouri on April 7, 1940.

She was known for her brains, and at the age of 16 graduated from Niles High School.  Soon after graduating from high school, Willie met Ossie Briggs.  Ossie married Willie at a ceremony in Niles on November 2, 1956.

Willie also owned and operated Tina’s Tavern for over a decade and retired from Dexter Axle.  When her health permitted Willie enjoyed playing softball and was an avid Cubs fan.  Willie always enjoyed time in the kitchen, and was known for her delectable lemon cakes.

She is preceded by her parents; her husband, Ossie Briggs; her grandson Michael W. Briggs;  her brother, Lloyd Washington; her sisters, Earlene Murray, Mary Nichols, and Irene Washington; stepson, Tony Briggs; nephew, Tony Briggs.

Willie is survived by her children, Craig Briggs of Illinois, Gwendolyn Briggs of Niles, Ronald Briggs of New Orleans, Michael Briggs of Niles, Diane Stone of Saginaw, and Tonja Wade Farrow of Niles.  She is also survived by her grandchildren, Katina Briggs, Elbert Briggs, Amber Briggs, LaTanya Briggs, Jennifer Briggs, Mikeya Briggs, Milyne Briggs, Stacia Briggs, Regina Hackney, DiJonna Williams, and Elijah Williamson; a host great-grandchildren; one sister, Rose Harvey; a brother, Roosevelt Washington, Jr.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, February 16, 2018 at 12:00 pm at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, 601 Ferry Street in Niles. A time of visitation will begin on Friday at 11:00 am at the church. An interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Condolences, photos, and memories may be left for Willie’s family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home.

Robert F. Bailey Jr., of Niles
June 3, 1966 — Feb. 8, 2018

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:13 am Monday, February 12, 2018

Robert F. Bailey Jr., 51, of Niles, Michigan died Thursday morning, Feb. 8, 2018, at this home following an extended illness.

He was born on June 3, 1966, in San Antonio, Texas to Robert F. and Maryam (Demir) Bailey Sr., and was graduated from Niles High School. He was an automobile glass technician, and was self-employed for many years, but also worked at John’s Glass in Niles.

Robert F. Bailey Jr.

He has lived in Niles all of his life.

Bob enjoyed working on cars and motorcycles, tuning them to a higher performance and ready to show. He also enjoyed working-out at the YMCA, including the weightlifting exercises. His greatest joy was his family, and especially his sons of whom he was very proud.

He was sadly preceded in death by one of his sons, Brooke Robert Bailey on Aug. 23, 2008, and by his parents, Bob and Maryam Bailey Sr.

Surviving family includes his sons, Jordan (Casey) Bailey and Derek Shufelt, both of Niles; and Bob’s siblings, Margie Butler and Jackie Younger, both of Niles, Wilma (David) DiManna of Sylvania, Ohio, and William (Lisa) Bailey of Edwardsburg, Michigan; several nieces and nephews; and a wonderful circle of caregivers and friends.

The family of Bob Bailey will gather to honor his life and share memories at 2 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16, 2018, at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main St. in Niles. Committal will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 1 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Contributions in memory of Bob may be made to the Niles-Buchanan YMCA, 905 North Front St., Niles, MI 49120. Online condolences may be left at: halbritterwickens.com

Gloria Jean Eckstein, of Niles
March 5, 1943 — Feb. 12, 2018

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:08 am Thursday, February 15, 2018

Gloria Jean Eckstein, 74, of Niles, died unexpectedly on Monday, Feb. 12, 2018, at Indiana University Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana.

She was born on March 5, 1943, in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to Carl E. and Mable F. (Giant) Waikel. She was graduated from Niles High School, and has lived here most of her life. She was employed in the offices of SPI Molded Parts in South Bend, Indiana, serving for 24 years prior to her retirement. She had also worked in the offices of the former Tyler Refrigeration and Thornton Electric, both in Niles.

Gloria Jean Eckstein

Gloria was an avid reader of novels. She was well-known for her efforts in the kitchen, cooking and baking, especially cakes and pies from scratch.

Her greatest interest – and joy – was her family. In her words: “Her most grand passion was her grandchildren and watching them in their many activities, which included a lot of ball games. She was known to say that their ballgames was her summer social life.”

On Feb. 23, 1963, in Niles, she married Richard G. Eckstein with whom she would have celebrated next week their 55 anniversary.

Surviving family includes her husband, Richard Eckstein and their children, Anthony Richard “Tony” (Terri) Eckstein and Jeanne Lynn Peel, both of Niles; grandchildren Kari (Cameron) Thompson, Andrew Eckstein, Kassi (Gregg) Dodd, Denise (Nathan) Ford, Ciara Peel, Lucas Stover, and James Stover; great-grandchildren Kaylen, Noah, Ethan, and Gaby; step great-grandchildren Liam, Lyric, Gavin, and James; Richard’s sister, Joan Robinson of Windsor, Ontario; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Carl Waikel and Mable Waikel Webber, and by a sister, Shirley Bauer and Shirley’s husband, Norman.

The funeral service for Gloria Eckstein will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 19, 2018, at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Jeffrey Whittaker of the Michiana Christian Embassy officiating. Committal will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 10 a.m. on Monday at the funeral home. Contributions in memory of Gloria may be made to an organization of the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be left at: halbritterwickens.com.