Dorothy Fisher, of Niles
Jan. 15, 1932 — Aug. 22, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:41am Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Dorothy’s spirit was released from her tired body on Saturday Aug. 22, 2015, after heart complications and is now resting peacefully. In her final hours she was surrounded by warmth, love, and lots of tasty food as several generations of loved ones filled her home to be with her by her bedside.

Dorothy Fisher

Dorothy was born to Jane and John Green in Harford, Michigan. She was fortunate enough to have six loving siblings. Surviving her are: Beverly J. Lundberg, Wilma J. Flickinger, and Donald L. Green. Other siblings are Mary Maxine Hansen, Robert L. Green, and Lois Priest, who preceded her in death.

Also surviving her are her five children: Wendy J. Evans, Lori A.Toney, Vickie M. Evans, Robert M. Evans, and Charles G. Evans.

Additionally, Dorothy leaves behind numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

From a young age Dorothy was taught to have an incredible work ethic and this continued throughout her life. To provide for her children and grandchildren, Dorothy worked many jobs, lastly retiring from LabCorp as a medical courier. She will be remembered by many for being an excellent cook, an avid reader, and for being happiest when she was able to give to others.

There will be no funeral or visitation, but all are welcome to celebrate Dorothy with the family on Wednesday, Aug. 26, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Niles Apple Festival grounds on the corner of Lake / Seventeenth St.

In lieu of flowers, Dorothy would hope that you do an unexpected and unsolicited act of kindness today for someone in her name.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan. Online condolences may be made at www.hovenfunerals.com.

Georgie Perkins
April 20, 1926 — July 31, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:34am Monday, August 3, 2015

Ms. Georgie Perkins, 89, of Niles, Michigan died at 11:15 p.m. on Friday, July 31, 2015, at Riveridge Manor in Niles following an illness. The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff of Riveridge for her care during the last few years.

Georgie was born April 20, 1926, in Middlesboro, Kentucky to George and Mary Ellen (Williams) Lynch. She was raised by her maternal grandparents, Bob and Lou (Bailey) Williams, along with her brother Ted and sister Marie, who have all preceded her in death. She found her way to Michigan in her 20s, and she remained until her passing.

Georgie worked at the Hydleburg Bar and at Harry’s Restaurant as a waitress for several years in Niles and also did home care for the elderly. She had a special relationship with friend Robert Waterbury and his children for nearly four decades before her diagnosis with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Georgie loved to garden and had a special knack for growing sun flowers and four o’clocks but she literally could take a stick and make it bloom. Georgie didn’t just enjoy playing BINGO, she loved BINGO.

Surviving family includes children, Roger Briney of Heathsville, Virginia, Randy Briney of Edwardsburg, Michigan, Becky Briney Lidecker of Constantine, Michigan, Rhonda Gast of Saint Joseph, Michigan, Joyce (Larry) Perkins of Niles and Cy (Tammy) Perkins of Rockford, Michigan, 19 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.

Along with her siblings, Georgie was preceded in death by three children, Bruce and Bobby and Kathy Briney.

A prayer service will begin at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2015, at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles and the family will receive relatives and friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. A dinner will immediately follow at the Fraternal Order of Eagles 34 Sycamore St., Niles, Michigan.

Donations in memory of Georgie may be made to Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Janet Goble, of Niles
Feb. 26, 1941-May 9, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:00am Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Alfred Neal Goble, of Niles
Feb. 15, 1941 — March 23, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:41am Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Alfred Neal Goble, 73, of Niles, passed away on Sunday, March 23, 2014, at Cardinal Nursing & Rehab in South Bend, Ind.

He was born Feb. 15, 1941 in Missouri to Raymond Gobble and Ethel Clark. He was a part of the first class to graduate from the new Niles High School.

Alfred is survived by his three daughters, Kelly Stewart, Christina Goble and Carrie (Ray) Adkins; son, Ted Goble; seven grandchildren, Elizabeth Goble, Sergeant Michael Stewart of the U.S. Army, Olivia Adkins, Gabby and Sarah Smith, Kennon and Jaydon Studer; and one great-grandchild on the way, Izabelle Wilson.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Ethel; daughter, Tonya Goble Studer; two brothers, Kenneth Goble, Doyle Goble, and sister; Maxine Zick.

A memorial service for Alfred will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 28, 2014, at Hoven Funeral Home in Buchanan, Mich.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Hoven Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.hovenfunerals.com

Jean Funk, formerly of Niles
May 24, 1926 — Sept. 23, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:00am Thursday, October 1, 2015

Jean Welch Funk, 89, formerly of Niles, Michigan, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015 in Vero Beach, Florida where she and her husband retired after living in Niles for 65 years.

Jean Funk

She was born to the late Dr. William H. Welch and Sylvia Pettit Welch in Lansing, Michigan. Jean attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, but transferred and graduated from Michigan State University at East Lansing, Michigan. She was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority. She met her husband Lee Funk during their college years at MSU. After graduation they married on September 25, 1948 in East Lansing and then moved to Lee’s hometown, Niles, Michigan. They celebrated over 65 years of marriage and the birth of two children, Linda Jean and Lee Welch. She was a dedicated mother and homemaker, taught lower school intermittently and was the caretaker of her mother in her later years. She later tutored children with special needs at the Assembly of God Church School. Jean was a life-long member of Wesley United Methodist Church and served as a Sunday school teacher, choir member and chaired various committees. She was a member of several clubs in Niles including the Orchard Hills Bridge Club, couples bridge club, The Methodist Bible Club, and the Four Flags Dance Club and volunteered at her children’s school during their early years. She was a member of The Niles Community Book Club and was a voracious reader.

Jean is survived by her parents and sister Wilma Young, her son, Dr. Leland Funk and daughter in law, Ruth Ann Colvin Funk, of Vero Beach, Florida and their children Haley and Leland Jack and her daughter Linda Jean Funk Vaintrub of Chicago, Illinois and Linda’s children, Isabel Lee, Amelia Mei, and Sonja Lin. Jean and Lee adored their grandchildren (dubbed Papa and Gammi) and spent weekends with them at Linda’s summer home, holidays in Niles, Chicago, and Arizona as did Lee and Ruth Anne who later blessed them with two more grandchildren.

Lee and Jean moved to Vero Beach eight years ago to be near Lee and Ruth Ann and their family. As the years passed Lee and Ruth Ann were dedicated to them and Linda and her children visited from Chicago as school vacations allowed. Jean and Sonja, were especially close and often chatted on the phone for no less than an hour gossiping about Linda and Uncle Lee’s childhood. Thankfully, Lee and Ruth Ann were close by and cared for them in their last years and even their last hours.

A memorial service to celebrate Jean’s life as well as her husband Leland P. Funk who preceded her in death last year, will be held on Sunday, October 4, 2015 at Wesley United Methodist Church at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Cathi Huvaere, officiating. Mrs. Funk will be laid to rest next to her husband at Silverbrook Cemetery as they planned long ago.

Memorial contributions may be made in Jean and Lee’s memory to Wesley United Methodist Church, 302 Cedar Street, Niles, Michigan 49120.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles. www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Clarimond ‘Jean’ Backus, of Niles
Nov. 29, 1933 — Sept. 27, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:12am Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Clarimond “Jean” LaJean Backus

Clarimond “Jean” LaJean Backus, 81, of Niles passed away on Sunday, September 27, 2015 at Lakeland Hospital, Niles.

Jean was born on Nov. 29, 1933, to the late Myrle and Ardene Grubbs in South Bend, Indiana. On May 29, 1976, she married Ernest Backus at a ceremony in Buchanan, Michigan.

She worked as a beautician for many years and owned her own shop, LaJean’s Hair Salon in Niles. Jean loved the Lord and was a devoted mother and grandmother. She mostly enjoyed being with her family, but also loved playing the piano, fishing, knitting, playing cards and games, bowling, cooking, gardening, hanging out at “the lake,” and her beloved dog Benji. Jean was very giving and active in church.

She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Ernie; children, Dan Hushower, Randy (Pam) Hushower, Roxanne (Don) Wolfram, Tammy Smith, and Deborah (Randy) Strefling; sister, Lorelei Smith; brother, Jim (Melody) Grubbs; grandchildren, Derek (Megan) Hushower, Hillary (A.J.) Hushower-Jones, Jonathan Parrott, Hunter Wolfram, Garrett Wolfram, Vanessa Wolfram, Stephanie (Casey) Brooks, Erika Smith, Matthew Smith and Miranda (Dustin) Companion; 10 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.

Jean is preceded in death by her parents, Myrle and Ardene and grandson Dameon Hushower.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday Oct. 2, 2015, at Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015, at Hoven Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service Friday from 12-1 pm at Hoven Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.hovenfunerals.com