Obituaries

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

Harold John Leach, formerly of Niles
Aug. 19, 1925 — Jan. 9, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:37am Thursday, January 14, 2016

Harold John Leach, 90, formerly of Niles, Michigan died at 7:25 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016, at the Thompson-Hood Veterans Center in Wilmore, Kentucky following a brief illness.

He was born on Aug. 19, 1925, in Niles to Adrian F. and Hazel (Pierce) Leach. He was graduated from Niles High School and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps, eventually being discharged as a veteran of World War II.

He was employed at the Bendix Corporation in South Bend, and was a member of the UAW Local #9 for his entire career.

He and his wife retired to Naples, Florida.

John was a member of the Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church in Niles. He was also a member of the American Legion Post #26 in Niles, and AARP. He enjoyed vegetable gardening, and traveling, especially with his wife in their recreational vehicle, throughout most of the U.S.

On March 11, 1946, in Mishawaka, he married the former Doris Eileen Mann with whom he celebrated the remarkable 65th anniversary of their wedding prior to her death on Sept. 27, 2011.

He was also preceded in death by his siblings, Elizabeth Leiler, Annabelle Betz, Evelyn Burnham, Gertrude Johnson, Joyce Backus, Frank Leach, Fred Leach, and Robert Leach.

Surviving family includes his children, Karen Gale (Charles) Richards of Anniston, Alabama, Carrol Lee (Stanley) Rouch of Georgetown, Kentucky, and John H. (Evelyn) Leach of Cythiana, Kentucky; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and Harold’s sister, Wilma Pyburn of Niles; and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Harold John Leach will be at 2 p.m. on Friday, January 15, 2016, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Wayne Shearier of Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church officiating. Committal will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and will conclude with the Full Military Honors by the United States Marine Corps Honor Guard and the American Legion Post #51 of Buchanan.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday at the funeral home from 6 until 8 p.m. Contributions in memory of Harold John Leach may be made to the Salvation Army in Niles.

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Jerry V. Limbert
Oct. 3, 1933 — Jan. 25, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:48am Thursday, January 28, 2016

Jerry V. Limbert, 82, passed away Monday, Jan. 25, from cardiac arrest at St. Joseph Medical Center in South Bend, Indiana. He is preceded in death by his beloved sister Joan Bonnell, brother Jack Limbert, and his parents Victor and Cordelia Limbert.

Jerry V. Limbert

Jerry was born Oct. 3, 1933, in Muncie, Indiana, the youngest of the family. He graduated from Muncie Central High in 1951, earning prize money for his senior class trip by winning a jingle-writing contest for a local radio station. Next to Titanic lore and playing the piano, radio would soon become his life’s obsession.

While earning his B.S. degree at Ball State Teachers College (later Ball State University), Jerry got an offer to run the school’s WBST. He stayed on long enough to not only update the station’s antenna system, but to additionally earn his M.A. in 1956. In addition, he was a frequent performer in the summer seasons of Ball State’s Little Shoestring Theatre during the 1950s and early 1960s.

In Oxford, Michigan, he met his future wife Mary Murrish, Oxford High’s Secretary, while teaching the school’s seventh and eighth grades from 1957 to 1964, building lifelong friendships with many of the students he taught. Jerry and Mary soon began dating while co-directing the high school and junior high plays and musicals, as well as publishing the school’s newspaper “The Oxford Echo.”

They eventually married in February 1964, and remained married for over 50 years. Interviewed in 2014 by C.J. Carnacchio for the Oxford Leader, Jerry said the secret to his happy marriage was dedication. “Look out for each other and be considerate.”

In 1964, Jerry accepted a dream position in South Bend, Indiana at WETL-FM, the newly created (and quite experimental) radio branch of the South Bend Community School System.

For 35 years, he combined the passions of teaching and radio production by creatively interpreting K through 6th grade lessons into series broadcasts for school system teachers. As the writer, producer, director and recording engineer, Jerry also produced and directed extended radio dramas for WETL’s “Radio Workshop”. In addition, Jerry also recorded radio and TV commercial voice-overs for local and national markets. He joined the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers in 2010.

Jerry retired in 1999, beginning a glorious and well-earned phase of relaxation, full of piano playing, record buying, music listening, movie watching and antique-shop-frequenting. He also gave lectures on the HMS Titanic and radio history at libraries and care centers in the area.

Jerry is survived by wife Mary Limbert, daughters Mary Beth (Vince) Dominello & Jennifer (Bruce) Lundeen, son Michael (Jennifer) Limbert, and grandchildren Emily and Matthew Lundeen. He is also survived by many loving nieces, nephews and relatives, as well as former students and colleagues from a life dedicated to teaching, education and mentorship.

A celebration of his life and humor will be planned for this upcoming spring, so don’t touch that dial, folks…

For those preferring a memorial gift, donations are requested in his name to Pet Refuge, 4626 S. Burnett Dr., South Bend, Indiana 46614 (574-231-1122).

Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles, Michigan.

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