Randolph Stites
Nov. 10, 1806-March 30, 1880

Niles Republican, Thursday, April 1, 1880, page 3. Same appeared in Niles Democrat, Saturday, April 3, 1880, page 3, col. 5

Deacon Randolph Stites.

This most excellent citizen and venerable deacon of the Baptist Church, died at the residence of his son-in-law, Dr. A. J. Mead, at 7 o’clock Tuesday morning, March 30th, aged 73 years. He had suffered during the past year from partial paralysis, and gradually declined until he passed away. He was born in New Jersey, Nov. 10, 1806. In early life he resided in New York City, but subsequently removed to Albany, where he was married to the late Mrs. Stites, who died one year ago last January. In Albany he and his wife were members of the Pearl St. Baptist Church, of which Dr. B. T. Welch was then pastor. He removed to Buffalo and subsequently to Chautauqua Co., N. Y., where he resided some 15 years. He came to Niles 25 years ago and has since that time been one of our most upright and highly esteemed citizens. He has been a faithful, active, kind and generous Christian gentleman, seeking to promote both the temporal and spiritual welfare of those around him. He has been connected with the Baptist Church of this city for 25 years, serving as Deacon most of that time.

All who knew him will attest the uniform kindness and gentleness of his demeanor, and the purity and excellence of his character in all his relations of life, as husband and father, as citizen and Church member.

Niles Democrat, Saturday, April 3, 1880

The funeral of the late Randolph Stites was largely attended by the older portion of the community on Thursday, from the residence of his daughter, Mrs. Dr. Mead.

(Received from family member, March 14, 2016)

Bruce Alan Buck, of Elkhart
March 12, 1961 — Feb. 19, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:46am Monday, February 22, 2016

Bruce Alan Buck, 54, of Elkhart, Indiana died at 1:18 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 19, 2016 at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka, Indiana following a brief illness.

He was born on March 12, 1961 in Albuquerque, New Mexico to Owen L. and H. Jeanne (Freeze) Buck. On April 12, 1974, a bicycle/automobile accident left him paraplegic, but he continued with life, and was graduated from Niles High School in 1980. In 1983 he graduated from the Michigan Career and Technical Institute at Plainwell, Michigan and was employed for many years in Numerical Control Programing at Atlas Die, LLC in Elkhart, Indiana.

Bruce was a member of the Church of Christ in Niles. He continued to choose to live life as fully as possible, and travelled often — usually on cruises with his sister and her family. Those cruises included Alaska, and a helicopter ride which touched-down on a glacier. No matter where he visited, he never hesitated to ask for assistance from new friends when his challenges required help.

Surviving family includes his parents, Jeanne and Owen Buck of Niles; brother Charlie (Tiffiney) Buck of Berrien Springs, Michigan and sister Loni (Steve) Baker of Bluffton, Indiana and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Bruce Buck will be at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2016 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Mr. David Thompson of the Church of Christ in Niles. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles

The family will receive relatives and friends on Monday from 5 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Contributions in memory of Bruce may be made to an organization of the donor’s choice.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Paul Michael (Mike) Dreher, of Niles
Nov. 29, 1934 — Feb. 20, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 12:00pm Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Paul Michael (Mike) Dreher, former owner and chairman of Modineer Company passed away on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016, in Sarasota, Florida after an extended illness.

Paul Michael (Mike) Dreher

Mike was born to Paul and Dorothy Keller Dreher on Nov. 29, 1934, in Niles, Michigan. He lived his entire life in Niles and the surrounding area of Cassopolis.

Modineer Company was started by Mike’s father, Paul, after moving from South Bend, Indiana to US 31 in Niles, Michigan. Mike used to say he could tell you a story about every block laid on the US 31 building. He liked to brag saying Modineer was the only job he ever had. In 1973 after Mike’s parents retired, Mike and his wife Shirley, purchased Modineer Company from them. Mike, “Big Mike” as he was known to his friends, extended the building on US 31 and the growth of Modineer to the Industrial Park in Niles. Modineer Company continued to grow. When asked about the company’s growth Big Mike would say, “I didn’t do it. It was the Modineer employees who made Modineer grow.” Big Mike gave thanks to the many employees who worked at Modineer over the years. In 2000, Mike and Shirley Dreher retired to Diamond Lake in Cassopolis, Michigan and to Venice, Florida. Mike sold Modineer Company to his three children; Michael Dreher, Patricia and her husband, Doug Wyland, and Gary Dreher. Together they continue to own and operate the family business to this day. Mike’s greatest pride was; there have been four generations of the Dreher family working at Modineer, starting with Paul, to Mike, to Mike’s three children to several of Mike’s grandchildren.

Mike was a 1953 graduate of Niles High School. On Nov. 24, 1956, in Niles, Mike married Shirley Saratore. They lived in Niles and raised their three children.

Mike is survived by his wife, Shirley, their three children; Michael (Stefany (Forest)) Dreher, Patricia (Douglas) Wyland, and Gary (Diane (Curtis)) Dreher. The highlight of Mike’s life was ‘The Magnificent Seven,’ his grandchildren, as he lovingly referred to them. They are; Dallas Dreher, Benjamin (Jessica (Rai)) Dreher, Sarah (Jon) Workman, Caleda Wyland, Paul Dreher, Ryan Wyland, and Dominick Wyland. A new generation was started with the birth of Mike’s great-grandson, Eddie Dreher Workman. The family is looking forward to another great-grandson in March. Mike is also survived by his sister, Marcia Dreher Brubaker and many nieces and nephews. Mike and Shirley would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on Nov. 24, 2016.

Mike was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Niles, Niles-Buchanan YMCA, Niles Elks Club, Orchard Hills Country Club and Venice Golf and Country Club.

After retirement, “Big Mike” decided to become a farmer. He bought tractors to restore. Later he built a ‘barn’ to hold his wood workshop. He enjoyed wood working in the summer making wood products for his girls and wooden toys for his great-grandsons.

Funeral services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church in Niles on Friday, Feb. 26 at 11 a.m. with Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of the church officiating, assisted by Rev. Dr. Ron Wakeman of the First Presbyterian Church in Irwin, Pennsylvania. The final resting place will be at Silverbrook Cemetery. Visitation will be held at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles on Thursday, Feb. 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.

The family has requested memorial donations be made to: Mike and Shirley Dreher Scholarship Fund at Southwestern Michigan College in Dowagiac or to the Niles-Buchanan YMCA to support the Youth Teen Center Initiative, 905 North Front Street, Niles, Michigan 49120.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Larry Wayne Follmer, of Niles
Feb. 14, 1948 — Feb. 4, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:27am Monday, February 8, 2016

Larry Wayne Follmer, 67, of Niles, passed away suddenly at his home on Feb. 4, 2016. He was born Feb. 14, 1948 in Grand Rapids the son of Robert C. and Winifred L. Follmer and has lived in Edwardsburg and Niles all of his life.

Larry Wayne Follmer

Larry was a machine press operator and retired from Modineer Corp. He had great work ethics and Larry loved being around his family and friends. He spent three years going to Acme Tool and Die School, before entering the US Army and served his Country during the Viet Nam War.

Larry was married April 26, 1975 in Niles to Diane Joy Tebo, and she survives with their children, Daniel Steven (Tasha) Follmer of Osceola and Susan Wendy Follmer of Claremore, OK. There are two grandchildren, Cari Kulikowski and Lena Follmer and two step-grandchildren, Christopher Crosswell and Kimberly Berkshire. Also surviving are several cousins and in-laws, and two special friends, Robert Leet and Richard Ladonski.

Family and friends may gather for a Memorial Service to honor Larry on Friday, Feb. 12, 2016, from Noon to 1 p.m. at the Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home, 26863 West Main St. (US-12), Edwardsburg. The Service of Remembrance will begin at 1 p.m. with Bob Hamilton, officiating. Larry’s cremains will be laid to rest in the Veteran’s Section of Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, with Military Rites by the United States Army Honor Guard playing Taps and folding the American Flag.

The arrangements are being cared for by family friend, Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home, Edwardsburg, Michigan.

Sharon Kay ‘Shari’ Holmes, of Berrien Springs
March 6, 1939 — Feb. 11, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:58am Friday, February 12, 2016

Sharon Kay “Shari” Holmes, 76, of Berrien Springs, Michigan died at 8:48 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 11, 2016, at Lakeland Hospital — Niles, Michigan, following an illness.

She was born on March 6, 1939, in Elkhart, Indiana to Gerald Oliver and Thelma Lurene (Knoblock) DeForest. She was graduated from Niles High School, and from the Twin City Beauty College. She has lived in the same home on Scherr Road for 50 years and operated Shari’s Hair Styling from that home.

Sharon Kay “Shari” Holmes

Shari was formerly active in area bowling leagues at the former A.A. Timber-Lanes Bowling Alley as a bowler, team sponsor, and league secretary. She enjoyed hunting and fishing, usually at the trailer at Big Smith Lake. Her greatest interest was her family, caring for her children and grandchildren, and always caring first for her husband.

On Aug. 13, 1958, in Roseland, Indiana she married Alonzo James “Lon” Holmes with whom she celebrated the 54th anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on May 4, 2013. They were also preceded in death by a son, Sergeant Michael James Holmes, United States Army who was killed in action in Tay Ninh, South Viet Nam on June 15, 1967.

Surviving family includes their children, James (Angela) Holmes of Niles, Gary (Victoria) Holmes of Berrien Springs, Joyce Kerschner and Nancy (Patrick) Hemminger, both of South Bend; grandchildren, Gary Michael Holmes, Lisa Tyler Bailey, Chelssy Elizabeth Bennett, Zachary James Holmes, Katherine Joy Holmes, Michael Hemminger, Christine Hemminger, Kathy Nitz, Stephen Hemminger, Cyndee Crawford, Wendee Kerschner, Julie Layman, and Andrew Kerschner; 15 great-grandchildren, seven great-great-grandchildren, and Shari’s sister, Jacqueline “Jackie” (Robert) Hess and twin brothers, Richard L. “Dick” (Melva) DeForest and Thomas O. (Donna) DeForest, all of Niles; and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Shari Holmes will be at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 15, 2016, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Elder Maurice Burton, Co-pastor of Refreshing Fountains Outreach Ministry Church of God in Christ officiating. Committal will be private on Tuesday at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Monday at the funeral home beginning at 5 p.m. Contributions in memory of Sharon may be made to the Patient Activity Fund at West Woods of Niles.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Shirley J. Rice, of Niles
Feb. 1, 1926 — Feb. 12, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:29am Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Shirley J. Rice, 89, of Niles, Michigan died at 8:50 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 12, 2016, at West Woods of Niles following a brief illness.

Shirley J. Rice

She was born on April 1, 1926, in Bay City, Michigan to Hubert and Lydia (Sinn) Riggenbach. She was graduated from high school in Bay City, and completed several evening college courses at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois while working at Western Electric during the day. She served most of her life as the church secretary and Pastor’s Wife for the congregation of the Conservative Baptist Association being served by her husband, the late Rev. Richard L. Rice. Those congregations were in South Holland, Illinois and other Illinois communities, in Billings, Montana, and Lebanon, Indiana. They retired in 1989 and settled in Niles.

Shirley was a member of the First Baptist Church in Niles. In retirement, she took-on some part-time work as a Food Demonstrator, and was usually stationed at the Meijer store on Portage Road in South Bend. She enjoyed reading – usually biographies of famous Americans, and she also enjoyed crochet. She always enjoyed people, which suited her well in both the church work, and the grocery store, but especially caring for her family. She was a remarkable example of “Loving God, and loving people”.

On May 29, 1948, in Westmont, Illinois she married Richard L. Rice with whom she celebrated the 53rd anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on Feb. 25, 2002. They were also preceded in death by a son, Jeffrey Rice who died on Aug. 19 1983; a grandson, Michael Oct. who died on Sep.t 6, 1989; and by Shirley’s sister, Dixie Cripps who died on October 4, 2011.

Surviving family includes their daughters, Cheryl (The Rev. Leon) Hill of Tokyo, Japan, Kimberly (Paul) Kenote of West Linn, Oregon, and Beth Rice of Evanston, Illinois; grandchildren Jeffrey Hill, Abigail (Naoaki) Konno, Jennifer (Greg) Newbloom, Bryan Kenote, and Linwan Lewis; and Shirley’s brother, Ken (Wilma) Riggenbach of Niles and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Shirley Rice will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 22, 2016, at the First Baptist Church in Niles with Pastor Jim Wing officiating. Committal will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday from 2 p.m. until 4 p.m. at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. Contributions in memory of Shirley Rice may be made to WorldVenture, the Foreign Mission Society of the Conservative Baptist Association, 1501 West Mineral Avenue, Littleton, Colorado 80120.

www.halbritterfunerals.com