Edith Lucille Snyder, formerly of Niles
June 28, 1917 — Nov. 18, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:07 am Friday, November 20, 2015

Edith Lucille Snyder, 98, former longtime resident of Lake Street in Niles, Michigan died at 10:45 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2015, at Wedgewood Pines Assisted Living in South Bend, Indiana following an extended illness.

Edith Lucille Snyder

She was born on June 28, 1917, in Estey, Michigan to Albert W. and Grace C. (Brubaker) Schrader. The family moved to Toledo, Ohio for a few years, and then settled in Niles in 1927. She was employed at the former Niles plant of Simplicity Pattern Company, from which she retired.

Edith was a member of Saint Mark Catholic Church in Niles, and as a younger lady was a member of its Christian Mothers. She was also a member of the Lake Street Neighborhood Club, enjoying the weekly fellowship of the other ladies. She is remembered as the ultimate homemaker – sewing clothing and Easter outfits for her family, canning the produce of her vegetable garden and arranging the blooms of her flower garden, completing beautiful quilts, and being the first in her neighborhood to notice that the weather was favorable to hanging laundry.

On Oct. 26, 1935, in Plymouth, Michigan she married Leland F. “Lee” Snyder with whom she celebrated the Fifty-fifth anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on Dec. 10, 1990. She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Natalie Coquillard and by Edith’s siblings, Peter, Richard, and Lawrence Schrader, and Virginia Stover and Juanita Phillips.

Surviving family includes her children, Norma (Jerry) Baughman of South Bend, and Janet (Fred) Smith and Robert (Tami) Snyder, both of Niles; 11 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and 22 great-great-grandchildren; and Edith’s sister, Emma Jean Schrumpf of Niles and brother, Robert (Dixie) Schrader of South Bend; and many nieces and nephews.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Edith L. Snyder will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, November 24, 2015, at Saint Mark Catholic Church in Niles by the Rev. Thomas King, C.S.C. Committal Rites will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Monday, from 6 until 8 p.m. at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with recitation of The Rosary at 7:30 p.m. Contributions in memory of Edith may be made to Saint Mark Catholic Church.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

B. Kathryn “Katie” Myers, of Niles
March 18, 1935 — Nov. 5, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:30am Tuesday, November 10, 2015

B. Kathryn “Katie” Myers, 80, of Niles, Michigan died on Thursday, November 5, 2015 at Lakeland Medical Center in Saint Joseph, Michigan following an extended illness. She was born March 18, 1935, in Summitville, Tennessee to A. Gordon and Nellie M. (Petty) Freeze.

B. Kathryn “Katie” Myers

After graduating, Katie worked for the Local Finance group in Niles and then retired from Clark Equipment after 33 years of employment. She was an avid bowler and held High Series in the womens league in Niles for many years. She was the president of the Niles WBA and her team won 1st Place in division at the WIBC National Tournament in Reno, Nevada. Katie was always busy with class reunions, following her kids, grandkids and great-grand kids’ sporting events and, of course, she loved her casinos and trips to Las Vegas with Bill.

On June 7, 1958, in Niles, Katie married William G. Myers, with whom she celebrated their 52nd wedding anniversary, before preceding her in death on October 6, 2006. Katie was also preceded in death by her parents; sister Betty Virginia Gunn; mother-in-law Rose J. Myers and brother-in-law Robert (Mickey) Myers.

Surviving family includes children, RoxAnne Holmes of Niles, Ronald (Leanne) G. Myers of Perth, Australia and Randy L. Myers of Niles; six grandchildren, Jayme L. Rutkowske, Ryan R. Rutkowske and William D. Mangold, all of Niles, Eric J. Myers of Bremen, Indiana, Joshua and Shanae Myers, both of Perth, Australia and 4 great-grandchildren, Alex Rutkowske, Austin Platz, Jaiden Mangold and Jaxton William Bonifacius-Myers. Also surviving is Katie’s sister, Carolyn (Bob) Geik and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

The funeral service for B. Kathryn “Katie” Myers will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015, at the First Church of Christ-Christian in Niles with Pastor Jim Matthews, of the church, officiating. Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 10 a.m. on Thursday until the time of service at the church. Donations in memory of Katie may be made to, “Billie Kathryn Myers Memorial Fund” care of First Source Bank.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Hildegard Krueger, of Niles
May 13, 1936 — Nov. 7, 2015

Published 9:33am Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Hildegard Krueger, 79, of Niles, Michigan died on Saturday, Nov. 7, 2015, at her home following an extended illness. She was born May 13, 1936, in a German community in Neudorf, Volinia, Poland to Emil and Else (Oelke) Skale.

Krueger

On July 7, 1957, in Angola, Indiana, she married Rolf Werner Krueger, with whom she celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary before his death in 2006. Together, they owned and operated Whites Engineering in Niles and participated in the activities of the Saint Joe Kickers Club.

Surviving family includes daughter, Sonja (Jim) Krueger of North Carolina; two sons, Bernd (Tracey) Krueger of Dowagiac and Kurt (Sharon) Krueger, of Niles; seven grandchildren, Jarimy, Nicole and Julian Springer and Rochelle and Jessica Krueger and Ryan and Andrea Krueger. Hildegard is also survived by her siblings, Erich Skale of Elkhart, Art Skale of Saint Joseph, Michigan and Angelika MacGowen of Sodus, Michigan.

The funeral service for Hildegard Krueger will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2015, at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Niles with the Rev. Carl W. Bassett, of the church, officiating and will be assisted by officiating assisted by Pastor Joseph Liss. Interment will be private at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. Donations in memory of Hildegard may be made to Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church, Niles.

Mary Ann Brothers, of Niles
Sept. 9, 1933 — Nov. 15, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:27am Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Mary Ann Brothers, 82, of Niles, Michigan died Sunday morning, Nov. 15, 2015, at her home from the effects of a house fire.

She was born on Sept. 9, 1933, on the family farm in Niles Township – which her predecessors had purchased from the Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C. — to Edward Francis and Cecelia Josephine (Pawlak) Brothers. She was graduated from Niles High School, and has lived on the farm all of her life (except for a few years that they lived in Bertrand, a mile south). She was employed in the former optometry office of Burgess D. Rathburn, and then began a career at the United States Department of Agriculture’s former Niles Biological Control Station.

Miss Brothers was a member of Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles, and she helped care for some of the graves at Saint Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery in Bertrand. She also enjoyed gardening, especially flowers.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and by her siblings, Edward P. Brothers, Agnes M. Lindgren, Walter W. Brothers, and Helen Minarik.

Surviving family includes a sister, Lucia (Ralph) Hendershott of Niles; and several nieces and nephews.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Mary Brothers will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015, at Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles by the Rev. Alphonse Savarimuthu, MSFS of the parish. Committal Rites will be read at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Monday, from 6 until 8 p.m. at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with recitation of The Rosary at 7:30 p.m. Contributions in memory of Mary may be made to Saint Mary Catholic Church or to the Niles Senior Center.

Myron George ‘Mike Gates’ Appelget
May 15, 1946 — Aug. 27, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:08 am Monday, August 31, 2015

Myron George “Mike Gates” Appelget went to be with his Lord & Savior on Aug. 27, 2015. He is now reunited with his mother, father, sister, other family members and treasured friends.

Myron George “Mike Gates” Appelget

Mike was born May 15, 1946 in Benton Harbor, Michigan. He was a 1964 graduate of Berrien Springs High School. In his working life he was employed by Whirlpool and Sears before retiring from the City of Benton Harbor after a lengthy career as a Code Enforcement Officer. In his spare time Mike enjoyed spending time with friends and family, riding his motorcycle and finding new treasures at local rummage sales. Mike was a fine drummer and had fond memories of his days on the road with the D.A. & The Witnesses band. He had a wonderful sense of humor and a giant heart. He was very caring and helpful, often assisting those in need and asking for nothing but a smile in return.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents Ervin R. and Edith Appelget, and his sister Patricia Horn. He is survived by a sister Judith Kane of St. Joseph; two brothers Richard (Faye) Appelget of Niles and Robert (Deborah) Appelget of St. Joseph; as well as many nieces, nephews, and countless friends.

Visitation will take place Monday, Aug. 31, 2015 from 4 until 7 p.m., with a celebration of life and time of sharing beginning at 7 p.m. at Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Services, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Benton Harbor Salvation Army in Mike’s memory. Those wishing to share a memory of Mike online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.

Mike will be greatly missed by all of his friends and family, especially at Sunday breakfast.

Joanne ‘Jo’ Armstrong, of Niles
Feb. 20, 1958 — Oct. 30, 2015

Niles Daily Start, Published 7:58am Monday, November 2, 2015

Joanne “Jo” Armstrong, 57, of Niles, passed away unexpectedly but of natural causes at her home on Thursday, Oct. 30, 2015.

Joanne “Jo” Armstrong

Jo was born on Feb. 20, 1958, to the late Clyde and Maria (Ostermann) Otwell in Milford, Delaware. Jo moved to Niles at a young age and considered Niles her hometown. She graduated from Brandywine High School and went on to attend Southwestern Michigan College. On March 1, 1980, Jo wed the love of her life, Day Armstrong, at a ceremony in Niles. Jo was a loving woman who always had a happy demeanor. She enjoyed a good mystery movie and wanted to spend every minute she could with her grandchildren.

Jo was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Alice Riggs and is survived by her husband of 35 years, Day; son, Shane Armstrong of St. Joseph, Michigan; daughter, Danielle Armstrong of Holland, Michigan; three grandchildren; and siblings, Donny Otwell of Buchanan, Michigan and Barb Otwell of Watervliet, Michigan along with countless extended family and friends.

A time of visitation will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2015, at Brown Funeral Home in Niles from 5 until 7 p.m.. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Nov. 5, at Brown Funeral Home beginning at 11 a.m.

Those wishing to leave a message for the family or upload a photo of Jo 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.