Eleanor Virginia Van Dyke, of Niles
July 8, 1910 – March 24, 2017

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:32 am Monday, March 27, 2017

Eleanor Virginia (Martin) Van Dyke, 106, passed away on Friday, March 24, 2017 in her home.
Eleanor was born July 8, 1910 in Yukon, Pennsylvania to the late Thomas G. and Nellie M. (Bollinger) Martin. On July 8, 1941 in Sewickley Presbyterian Church, Yukon, Pennsylvania, Eleanor married Edwin Nelson Van Dyke, and he passed away on May 18, 1978.

Eleanor Virgin

She was the oldest of twelve children. She is survived by sisters, Matilda Marvin and Mary Jane Landis. She was preceded in death by siblings, Marie Leasure, Hazel Sterner, John Martin, Oliver Martin, Byron Martin, Ralph Martin, Fannie Hileman, Miriam Kropar, and Helen Dwyer.
Eleanor is survived by her children, Benton (Jacqueline) Van Dyke, Heather Pletcher, John Van Dyke, and Jenny Chapla. She is survived by grandchildren, Thomas VanDyke, Jonas Van Dyke, Elsa Hoon, Nora Pletcher, Molly Pletcher, Dr.David VanDyke, Daniel VanDyke, Jacob VanDyke, Erin Chapla, and Craig Chapla. She is survived by great-grandchildren, Samson Hoon, Kathlin Batson, Ella Batson, Mya Batson, Jacob VanDyke, Madelyn VanDyke, Eva Van Dyke, June Paavo, Ruth Paavo, and Malcolm Chapla.
Eleanor described her childhood as “rich” with the experience of growing up on her family’s farm. Life was filled with shared duties, church activities and school. She often expressed a reverence for rural life. She was a life-long learner and educator.
After graduating valedictorian of her high school class, she went to Park College in Parkville, Missouri. She was a teacher in Wyano and Yukon, Pennsylvania. She returned to McCormick Seminary in Chicago to earn her masters’ degree in Christian Education. She was the first woman in the Redstone Presbytery of Pennsylvania to be commissioned as a Christian Educator. She became director of Christian education at First Presbyterian Church in Niles.
She was an elementary teacher at Electric Light, Fairland and Eastside schools in Niles. Eleanor was involved in church work throughout her life. As a young girl she began helping her grandmother who established the Waltz’s Mill Sunday School and was still teaching adult Sunday school classes into her late 90s. Eleanor logged more than 10,000 volunteer hours leading programs in children’s literature, poetry and biblical literature at Berrien General Hospital and sewing thousands of lap robes for extended care patients.
Eleanor loved to read. She read the Bible, memorized poetry, studied genealogy and kept current with events. She played piano and loved classical music. Many happy hours were spent accompanying her father’s violin on piano. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, gardening, nature and birds.
Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 29, 2017 in the First Presbyterian Church, 13 South Fourth Street, Niles, where family and friends may gather one hour prior. Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.
Memorial Contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, 13 South Fourth Street Niles, MI 49120.
Condolences for the family may be made at hablritterfunerals.com.

Dale Wiars, of Niles
Sept. 27, 1933 — March 9, 2017

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:52 am Monday, March 13, 2017

Dale Wiars

Dale M. Wiars, 83, formerly of Niles, died peacefully at 4:10 p.m. Thursday, March 9, 2017, at his home in Three Rivers, following an extended illness.
He was born Sept. 27, 1933, in Niles, to Myrtis and Helen (Renz) Wiars. He graduated from Niles High School, earned a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo) and a master’s degree in architecture from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. His firm, Dale M. Wiars Architect and Facility Planner, designed schools, college facilities and other public buildings.
Dale was a member of Saint Joseph Catholic Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan and of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Three Rivers. His devotion to the Catholic church led him to spend his retirement learning more about it. He also found comfort and retreat at the Holy Love Ecumenical Ministry and Shrine in North Ridgeville, Ohio. He enjoyed walking, and reading a great variety of subjects, usually with a cup of coffee. His greatest joy was caring for his family, especially his grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents. He was and was previously married to Carolyn L. Gardner.
Surviving family includes his children, Mark (Pamela Sweet) Wiars of Boise, Idaho, Eric (Leanne) Wiars of New Hartford, New York, and Anna (John) Mabry of Lincoln, Nebraska; and grandchildren Samantha Wiars, Caitlin Wiars, Ian Wiars, Jeffrey Briere and Ashley Briere.
Committal rites for Dale Wiars will be read at 2 p.m. Monday, March 13, 2017, at his graveside in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles by the Rev. Donald G. Potts, pastor emeritus of Saint Ann Catholic Church in Cassopolis.
Contributions in memory of Dale Wiars may be made to the Holy Love Ministries, 37137 Butternut Ridge Road, North Ridgeville, OH 44039.
Arrangements were made at Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Service in Niles.
halbritterfunerals.com

Jeanne Hipshear, of Niles
May 20, 1926 — March 10, 2017

Niles Daily Star Published 8:37 am Monday, March 13, 2017

Jeanne Edna (née Clay) Hipshear, 90, of Holland, Michigan, and formerly of Niles and Detroit, died peacefully in her sleep, following a short illness, on Friday, March 10, 2017, at Vista Springs Holland Meadows in Holland.
Born May 20, 1926, in Detroit, she was predeceased by her parents, Kate and Clarence Clay, brothers William and Junior Clay, sister Margerie Clay Owen and her husband of 63 years, Harold “Huck” Hipshear.

Jeanne Hipshear

Jeanne was a secretary during her high school years in Detroit. She married and moved to Niles, where she was a homemaker, involved in 4-H activities with her children and volunteered at what was then Pawating Hospital. She held the hearts of many children and was influential in their lives. She was known for her kindness and was always ready with a cup of tea and a listening ear for whoever walked in her door.
Jeanne’s special gift was her beautiful singing voice. She would spread music wherever she went. She often sang at St. John’s Church, where she was a member. Jeanne also directed the chapel choir there for many years. She was a true believer and worked in her church and women’s organization.
Survivors include her sister, Betty Clay-Coon of Franklin, Tennessee, and her children, Diane (Daniel) Jackson of Bristow, Virginia, Mark and Linda Hipshear of Elkhart, Indiana, Fred and Janie Hipshear of Dowagiac, and Marcia and Edward Wirth of Zeeland, Michigan. Her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren include Christopher and Amanda Wirth (Noah Wirth) of Hudsonville, Michigan, Rick and Krista Rivera (Preston Rivera) of Indianapolis, Alec Hipshear and Katelyn Dinkgrave of South Bend, Indiana, Nora and Brett Mason (Merrick Mason) of Colchester, Vermont, Lauren Hipshear of Elkhart, Brooke and Dustin Calhoun (Caroline and Carson Calhoun) of Noblesville, Indiana, JR Joers of South Bend, Adam and Desi Jackson (Blakely and Cameron Jackson) of Tom’s River, New Jersey, Allyson and Paige Hanger (Finnegan and Sullivan) of San Antonio, Texas, and Ashlee Jackson of Washington, D.C. Jeanne was also blessed by many nieces and nephews whose lives were touched by her love.
Visitation was from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, March 12, 2017, at Halbritter Wickens Funeral Home in Niles, and a funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Monday, March 13, 2017, at St. John’s United Church of Christ in Niles, with burial immediately following in Silverbrook Cemetery. A luncheon will follow in the fellowship hall of St. John’s Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to St. John’s Church, 601 Sycamore St., Niles, MI 49120, and Holland Hospice, 270 Hoover Blvd., Holland, MI 49423.
The family wishes to extend thanks for the support felt by family and friends as well as the staff at Vista Springs during their mother’s illness.
Condolences for the family may be made at halbritterfunerals.com.

Sally A. Clements, of Niles
Jan. 9, 1960 — Dec. 26, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 6:00 am Thursday, December 29, 2016

Sally Ann Clements, 56, of Niles, died peacefully at 9:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 26, 2016, with family around at her home at the end of a long battle against cancer.

She was born Jan. 9, 1960, at home in Niles, to Donald J. Sr. and Elvira Mae (Cutler) Riley.

She attended Brandywine Community Schools and has lived here all of her life. She was an employee of 0-1 Bovo Bail Bonds.

Sally Clements

Sally enjoyed fishing for salmon at the Pucker Street Dam in Niles, and boating. She was well known for her landscaping and decorating, for immaculate housekeeping and for her homemade chicken and noodles. She loved her pets, especially the Chihuahuas, Kipper and Cena.

She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Angela Riley, who died Sept. 7, 2013; and sisters Eldonna Riley and Mary Sowers.

Survivors include her long-time companion, Gene Wayne Robertson; her children, Jacquelyn Ruth (Larry Joe) Kirk of Niles, William J. Riley of South Bend, Indiana, and Kellie Gene Robertson of Buchanan; grandchildren Austin Liebetrau, Jacob Liebetrau, Kaitlyn RayAnn Cox, Kenny Bowling, Taiten Polly, Jocelyn Dymond, Blayn Riley, Brooklyn Kirk, Gracelyn Kirk and Angelyn Kirk; and siblings Sandy (Floyd) Neldon of Niles, LouAnn Miltenberger of South Bend, Gerald Riley of Edwardsburg and Donald J. Jr. (Pauline) Riley of Niles; and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service for Sally Ann Clements will be at 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, at Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles, with Phillip Murphy of The Movement Ministry of Brooklyn, New York, officiating. Committal will be private at a later date in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Kenneth Gross, of Niles
April 25, 1939 - March 5, 2017

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:24 am Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Kenneth Gross, 77, of Niles, passed away Sunday, March 5, 2017. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services in Niles.

Judy French, of Niles
Oct 24, 1942-March 5, 2017

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:22 am Monday, March 6, 2017

Judy French, 74, of Niles, passed away Sunday, March 5, 2017, at the Center for Hospice Care in South Bend, Indiana. Arrangements are pending with Brown Funeral Home in Niles.