Ivan Leroy ‘Lee’ Allen, of Niles
Sept. 6, 1940 — Jan. 23, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:51am Monday, January 25, 2016

Ivan Leroy “Lee” Allen, 75, of Niles, Michigan died on Saturday morning, Jan. 23, 2016, at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana following an extended illness.

Ivan Leroy “Lee” Allen

He was born on September 6, 1940 in Benton Harbor, Michigan to Theo Richmond and Ollie Ruth (Meyers) Allen. He was graduated from Benton Harbor High School, and completed the program for ordination at the Aenon Bible College in Columbus, Ohio (now moved to Indianapolis, Indiana). He has pastored a home church for twenty years.

Lee’s passion was the ministry, but he also formerly owned and operated the Allen Maintenance Services, and was a union employee at the D. C. Cook Nuclear Plant in Bridgman, Michigan. He enjoyed fishing, usually in Lake Michigan, was an avid fan of many sports, and enjoyed playing cards and dominoes with his family and friends. He also enjoyed reading, especially studying the Bible.

On Oct. 3, 1970 ,in Niles he married the former Wilma Lois (Samples) Evans with whom he celebrated last year the 45th anniversary of their wedding.

Surviving family includes his wife, Wilma Allen and their daughter, Angela (Brad) Williams of Niles; step-children Kim Yvonne Evans of Niles and Steven (Monique) Evans of Lint, Belgium; grandchildren Emma Williams, Bradley Evan Williams, Rick (Nicole) Evans, Sharon (Kevin Nuhs) VanDyck, Marcie Evans, and Alex Evans; great-grandchildren Dylan Evans, Nick Russo, Aleah Evans, and Zane and Chase Nuhs; and Lee’s siblings, Devonna (Mitch) Mitchell of Canton, Michigan, Ioma Davis, Wesley (Pat) Allen, Cathy Unsicker, and Joseph Allen, all of Niles, Patty (Wayne) Cooper of Florida, and Rita Faye Allen of Niles; and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral for Ivan Lee Allen will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2016 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with members of the home church sharing. Interment will be private on Wednesday at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday at the funeral home beginning at 5 p.m. Contributions in memory of Lee may be made to the donor’s choice.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Rowan Matthew Bridges, of Berrien Springs
June 6, 2015 — Jan. 8, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:32am Monday, January 11, 2016

Rowan Matthew Bridges, 7 month old son of Kaley Williams and Richard Bridges died Friday morning, Jan. 8, 2016, at his home in Berrien Springs, Michigan.

Rowan Matthew Bridges

He was born on Saturday, June 6, 2015, at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana to Kaley Allison Williams and Richard Ewing Bridges. He was born a month earlier than the doctors predicted — adding 30 days to his brief life — but even though premature, he started at a sturdy 6 pounds, 3 ounces.

Rowan continued to thrive, anxious to experience as much of the world as he could, and enjoy it all with a great smile. He welcomed pets that invaded his space, and as he gained strength and skill liked to invade our space with a “face-to-face” when least expected. If he saw a meal, he was ready to try it, and at Christmas he was already trying to crawl with his usual concentration evidenced by his tongue showing. He had also mastered the verbal skills needed to indicate which of his parents or grandparents should hold him.

Surviving family includes his parents, Kaley & Richard; his grandparents, Diane Williams of Niles, and Betty Bridges-Potter and Phil Potter of Berrien Springs; great-grandparents Harold Butterworth of Niles, Sandra (Larry) Miller of Crown Point, Indiana, and Mary Lou Potter of Benton Harbor, Michigan; a half-brother, Aiden Bridges; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins including Anna Thibault of Niles, Amanda Williams, and Angela Williams, both of Saint Louis, Missouri, and Samantha (Adam) Meyer of Niles.

The funeral service for Rowan Bridges will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Parson Paul A. Mueller — Rowan’s great-uncle — of Buchanan, Michigan officiating. Committal will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 until 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. A GoFundMe account has been established to assist with the cemetery and other expenses.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Gregory Dean Crouch
Sept. 3, 1945-Jan. 13, 2016

Gregory Dean Crouch, age 70 years of Rochester Hills, Michigan died on Wednesday, January 13, 2016 at Providence Hospital in Southfield, Michigan following an extended illness.

He was born on September 3, 1945 in Niles, Michigan to Dillard and DeLoris (Behm) Crouch.He was graduated from Niles High School, and earned a Bachelors Degree in Education from Michigan State University (East Lansing).  He was employed by the Detroit Public Schools for thirty-two years teaching in elementary schools.

Dean enjoyed travelling through the United States as a hitchhiker. He was a musician with a certain proficiency in piano and guitar, and had composed songs about his adventures on the road, and about his students including the music for a video about his students visiting the Detroit Zoo.  He wrote and published – along with the illustrator Jane M. Donovan - the bookChildren’s Stories in Rhyme for School and Bedtime: Volume 1, and offered an entire line of resources for children on the website “Gregory Dean Crouch Productions” atwww.deancrouch.com.  One of his greatest joys was taking students from the inner-city to truefield trips with lessons on nature, and experiences with a quiet, calm environment.

Surviving family includes his siblings, Doug (& Viola) Crouch of Luneburg, Germany, David (& Jerie) Crouch of Niles, Dan Crouch (& Melody Rockwell) of Niles, and Diane (& Tom) Blackstone of Rochester Hills, Michigan; and several nieces and nephews.

The memorial service for Gregory Dean Crouch will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 23, 2016 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of First Presbyterian Church officiating. The family will receive relatives and friends on Saturday at the funeral home beginning at 1:00 p.m.  Contributions in memory of Dean may be made to the Detroit Public Schools’ Fine Arts Program, Albert Kahn Building, 7340 Second Avenue, Detroit, Michigan  48202.

 http://www.halbritterfunerals.com/sitemaker/sites/HALBRI1/memsol.cgi?user_id=1735121

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Betty Arthola East, of Niles
Nov. 11, 1923 — Jan. 13, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:25am Friday, January 15, 2016

Betty Arthola East, 92, of Niles, Michigan died on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2016, at her home following a brief illness. She was born Nov. 11, 1923, in South Bend, Indiana to Albert and Dessie (Morris) Replogle.

Betty Arthola East

Betty was a longtime member of Northway Church of Christ in South Bend and was part of the church from its founding. She worked for Dr. Thompson’s office in Tyner, Indiana, for Wells Aluminum Corporation in South Bend and then for K-Mart in Niles. Betty was always active in her children’s school activities like PTA and scouts and was active in many clubs.

On July 4, 1947, in Globe, Arizona, Betty married Albert J. East with whom she celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary. He preceded her in death on November 2, 1999.

Surviving family includes three daughters, Dorothy East, Becky (Bill Mead) East and Peggy (Terry) VanKirk, all of Niles; one son, James (Liz) East of Ludington, Michigan; seven grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Wilma Parr and Leila Poor, both of South Bend and one brother, George Replogle of Florida.

She was preceded in death by eight siblings.

The funeral service for Betty Arthola East will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 18, 2016, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles and burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home.

Donations in memory of Betty may be made to the Niles Senior Center.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Geraldine C. Echevarria
Sept. 29, 1939 — Jan. 19, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:43am Thursday, January 21, 2016

Geraldine C. Echevarria, 76, of Niles, Michigan died at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016, at Hospice House in South Bend, Indiana following an extended illness.

She was born on Sept. 29, 1939, in McDougal, Arkansas to Otto G. and Edith E. (Harmon) Carter. She was graduated from Niles High School, and has lived in Niles most of her life. She was employed by Niles Community Schools for thirty years, and was an active member and officer of the Service Employees International Union local #517M.

Geraldine
C. Echevarria

Gery attended Portage Road General Baptist Church and its former church on Chicago Road in Buchanan. She enjoyed travelling with her husband to his origins in Puerto Rico. They had also toured South America, had several Caribbean cruises, and visited the penny slots in Las Vegas. Although she loved to travel, her greatest interest was here at home with her family.

On Oct. 25, 1958, in Buchanan she married Celestino F. “Tino” Echevarria with whom she celebrated last year the 57th anniversary of their wedding.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and by a brother, Otto “Dewayne” Carter in 2003.

Surviving family includes her husband, Tino and their children, Patricia (Philip) Bianchini, David (Tonia) Echevarria, and Steven Echevarria, all of Niles, and Robert (Patricia) Echevarria of Katy, Texas; grandchildren Shawn Echevarria, Christopher (Coreana Frampton) Dunnem, Michael (Bekah) Echevarria, Amanda Echevarria, Brian Echevarria, Dena Dunnem, Denise (Nathan) Ford, Kc Dunnem, Haley Echevarria, and Joey Echevarria; seven great-grandchildren; Gery’s sister-in-law Avis (Mrs. Dewayne) Carter and Tino’s siblings, Isabelle Echevarria, Patila Rodriguez, and Joe Echevarria; and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Geraldine Echevarria will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 23, 2016, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Pastor Lonnie Rhodes of the Portage Road General Baptist Church officiating. Interment will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Friday from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

James A. Kubiak, of Niles
Sept. 13, 1935 — Jan. 5, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:34am Friday, January 8, 2016

James A. Kubiak, 80, of Niles, passed away at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016.

James A. Kubiak

James was born on September 13, 1935 to the late Leo and Mary Jo (Wiatrolik) Kubiak in South Bend. After graduating from Niles High School, class of 1954, James attended ACME School of Tool and Die. He worked as a machinist for CNC Products in Niles, where he retired in 1997. On May 2, 1959, James wed Kathleen Haskins at a ceremony in Niles. He was an avid Notre Dame Football and NASCAR fan, enjoyed playing poker with friends and family and many years of bowling in various leagues in Niles. He also had a passion for cars, including his Corvettes. Many years ago, James and Kathleen could be found at the Osceola Drag Strip where he raced cars. He also liked to build model airplanes and automobiles. He was a lifelong member of Saint Mary Catholic Church, in Niles, where he also attended grade school. His greatest love was time spent with family, especially his grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughters; Danielle Kubiak, Denise Kubiak and Nina Bradley; and a brother William Kubiak.

James is survived by his wife of 56 years, Kathleen of Niles; children; Brent Kubiak of Niles, Dean (Lynn) Kubiak of Aurora, Illinois, Tricia (Richard) Bonne of Niles and Shelley (Jason) Lietz of Buchanan; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A time of visitation will be on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016, from 3 until 5 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home in Niles, with recitation of The Rosary at 5 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles on Monday at 11:00 a.m. An interment will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in James’ memory to St. Mary’s Catholic School, 217 S Lincoln Ave., Niles, Michigan 49120.

Those wishing to leave a message for the family or upload a photo of James may do so, on our website, at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or on our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/BrownFuneralHomeNiles.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles.