Patricia L. Treesh, of Niles
Jan. 6, 1942 — Nov. 4, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:20 am Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Patricia L. Treesh, 74, of Niles, died following a brief illness at 8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, 2016, at Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville.
She was born Jan. 6, 1942, in Hammond, Indiana, to Raymond and Elsie (Sandberg) Bowman.
She graduated from Crown Point (Indiana) High School, and continued her education at Lake Michigan College. She has lived in Niles since 1960, and was employed for several years at the former Amelia’s Flowers and Gifts on North Saint Joseph Avenue in Niles.
Pat was an accomplished artist, working mostly in charcoal and pastels and focusing on portraiture. Her work has been exhibited in solo shows hosted by the Niles District Library, Fernwood Botanical Gardens and Nature Center, and at the former Riverfront Café. Her work has also been presented at juried exhibitions with her charcoal on sepia earning an award.

Patricia Treesh

She enjoyed sharing her interest in art, and was a volunteer artist at the former Westside Elementary School in Niles. She always decorated her house for the holidays in preparation for entertaining friends and family. She was also an avid walker, having a daily morning circuit for the past 25 years — a familiar and welcome sight to many commuters. Her greatest interest was her family.
On June 11, 1960, in Crown Point, she married Dennis E. Treesh, with whom she celebrated the remarkable 56th anniversary of their wedding.
Surviving family includes her husband, Dennis, and their son, Carey Treesh of South Bend, Indiana; Pat’s brother, Tom (Dorothy) Bowman of Nicholasville, Kentucky; several nieces and nephews; and a great circle of wonderful neighbors and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and by a brother, Robert Bowman.
The funeral service for Pat Treesh will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 14, 2016, at Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles, with the Rev. Ron Smith of Hope Community Church officiating. Committal will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 10 a.m. Monday at the funeral home.
Contributions in memory of Pat may be made to the Niles District Library. halbritterfunerals.com.

Landyn L. VanLaecke of Niles
Aug. 21, 2016 — Nov. 21, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 6:00 am Thursday, November 24, 2016

Landyn Lee VanLaecke, the 3-month-old son of Alexis Clark and Tyler VanLaecke of Niles, died at 2:16 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21, 2016, at Lakeland Hospital – Niles, following a lifelong battle with a congenital heart issue.

He was born Aug. 21, 2016, at Lakeland Hospital – Niles to Alexis Nichole Clark and Tyler Ray VanLaecke. He enjoyed sharing the home of his parents and extended family.

Landyn was happy from day one, he was already playful and enjoyed meeting new people. His presence created happiness in every situation, and he smiled on each of his 93 days.

Landyn VanLaecke

Surviving family includes his parents, Tyler and Alexis; grandparents Chris and Denise Norris of Niles and Jenny and Alex Dudley of Dowagiac; great-grandparents Terri and Art VanLaecke of Niles, Martha Merrill of Benton Harbor and Trudy Dudley of Dowagiac; great-great-grandparents Elaine and Robert Clark of Benton Harbor; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

His great-grandparents, Susan Miller, Mac Merrill and John Dudley, preceded him in death.

A funeral service for Landyn Lee VanLaecke will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 28, 2016, at Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles, with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of First Presbyterian Church of Niles officiating. Committal will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. The family will receive relatives and friends at the funeral home beginning at 10 a.m. Monday.

Contributions to assist Landyn’s family with the cemetery expenses may be made through GoFundMe at goo.gl/r3kLqe.

halbritterfunerals.com

Christopher Mark Wagner, of Niles
Sept. 30, 1967 — Oct. 20, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:13 am Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Christopher Mark Wagner, 49, of Niles, died unexpectedly Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016, in his home.
He was born Sept. 30, 1967, in Niles, to Walter William and Linda Mae (Settle) Wagner.
He graduated from Niles High School, and earned a Bachelor of Science in building construction management from Michigan State University in East Lansing. He was a member and master carpenter at Local 413, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America.
He had been employed at Gibson-Lewis Construction, Gough Construction and Verkler Construction, and worked on several major projects including AM General, Schmucker Middle School and Lakeland Hospital – Niles. The project which gave him the greatest satisfaction was his house, which he built with the help of his father, Walt, and friends, Reynold, Curt Cricket, Joe, Tom and Brian.

Christopher Wagner

Recently, he earned certification as an arborist, and was first employed at Super Tree of Niles.
Chris enjoyed the outdoors, including hunting, fishing and the beaches of South Carolina. He also enjoyed the fellowship of friends, usually sharing time, food, beverage and stories in his garage.
Surviving family includes his children, Olivia Christine Wagner and Ian Joseph Wagner, both of Union; his sisters, Lorry Wagner of Brighton and Angela Joy Wagner of Westminster, Colorado, and their children, twins Nick and Aiden Wagner and Malia Wagner; several aunts and cousins; his life companion, Karla Coar; and a great circle of wonderful neighbors and friends.
The family of Chris Wagner will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016, at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. The family will gather privately for committal rites at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles, which will be read by the Rev. Christian Johnston of Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles.
Contributions in memory of Chris may be made to Habitat for Humanity.
www.halbritterfunerals.com

Eugene Stephenson Flint, of Niles
Oct. 9, 1941 — Oct. 20, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:22 am Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Mr. Eugene Stephenson Flint, 75, formerly of Niles, died Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016, in Centre, Alabama, following a long battle with cancer.
He was born Oct. 9, 1941, in Niles, to Walter and Velma (Harris) Flint.
He graduated from Niles High School in 1960, and enlisted in the U.S. Army from which he was honorably discharged as a veteran of the Vietnam era.
After his discharge, he was employed by the Michigan Department of Transportation for 18 years inspecting new concrete road construction. He then moved to Atlanta, where he was employed for 24 years by the Federal Aviation Administration as a regional civil engineer overseeing the construction of airport control towers. When retirement finally seemed right, he settled in Centre, where he lived the rest of his life with more time for deer hunting and fishing.

Eugene Flint

He was first married to the former Maxine Johnson.
Later, he married the former Lois (Washington) Sly, who survives.
Also surviving are his children, Jayson (Nancy) Flint, Tonja (Zacharia) Rumph and Kurt (Brandy) Hankerson; stepchildren Jason Sly and Angelique Gastonia; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; Eugene’s siblings, Jerry Flint and Beverly Austin, both of Niles, and Sharon Hill of Sturgis; and a host of family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Cynthia Fox-Giddens; and his siblings, including a 3-year-old brother, and Bill, Joe, Duane, Richard, Shirley and Catherine.
The family of Eugene Flint will receive relatives and friends from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, 2016, at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. Committal rites will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles, as read by the Rev. Rebecca R. Mitchell of Franklin A.M.E. Church in Niles. The ceremony will conclude with a veteran’s flag presentation and the playing of taps by the U.S. Army Honor Guard.
www.halbritterfunerals.com

Joseph F. Karstens
May 28, 1963 - Dec. 4, 2008

South Bend Tribune, December 08, 2008

SOUTH BEND - Joseph Frederick Karstens, 45, died Dec. 4th in his residence. He is survived by his mother, Susanna M. Lee of South Bend; his grandmother, Majorie Lee of Niles; uncles, John J. (Jannine) Lee of Niles and Frederick G. Karstens of Denver, CO; and an aunt, Mary Jane (Jerry) Clifton of Sun City, FL. The family will receive friends and share memories of Joe from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11th, in the McGann Hay, Forest G. Hay Funeral Home, 435 S. Ironwood at Jefferson.

Judith L. McLean, of Niles
Oct. 3, 1942 — July 28, 2016

NIles Daily Star, Published 5:23 pm Thursday, July 28, 2016

Judith L. McLean, 73, of Niles, passed away Thursday, July 28, 2016, at Westwoods of Niles.

In Niles, Michigan on Oct. 3, 1942, Joseph and Evelyn (Day) Barrett welcomed a new daughter in to their home.

Judith L. McLean

As Judith grew older she married William Jann and to this union was born five children.

Those who knew Judith remember her as a woman fiercely strong and independent and perhaps even a little set in her ways. She enjoyed the outdoors, hummingbirds and monkeys, and was very talented when it came to woodworking; her love of these could be seen in her handcrafted wishing wells and birdhouses that she fashioned herself. While Judith enjoyed these things, she was passionate about her family and adored spending time with them.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her daughter, Sherry Northrop; her grandson, Joseph Worrell; her great-grandson, Christopher Northrop; and her two sisters, Jean Wolfinger and Joann Johnson.

Judith will be missed by her children; Vicki Orrick , Brenda (Roger) Lintz, William “Junior” Jann, and Bryan (Brenda) Jann and her beloved dog, Pooch. She is also survived by 15 grandchildren, several great-grandchildren and great great-grandchildren and her sister Claire Pierce of Grand Haven, Michigan.

Those wishing to make a memorial donation may do so to the American Cancer Society.

Services celebrating Judith’s life will be held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016, with visitation one hour prior. An interment will follow Judith’s service at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles.