Obituaries

Barbara J. (Ernsberger) Rhoutsong, of Niles
July 15, 1931 — Jan. 4, 2016

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:26am Wednesday, January 6, 2016

>Barbara J. (Ernsberger) Rhoutsong, 84 of Niles, but more recently of Dowagiac, passed away at A Place Called Home on January 4, 2016.

Barbara J. (Ernsberger) Rhoutsong

Barbara was born to the late James R. and Elizabeth (Shock) Ernsberger on July 15, 1931 in South Bend, Indiana.

She married Jack Rhoutsong on Jan. 10, 1950, at a ceremony in Niles, Michigan.

Barbara’s faith has always been a vital part of her life. She even served as a missions’ director for a time. In her spare time Barbara found pleasure playing games such as Tri-ominoes and especially card games such as euchre and pinnacle and she was a member of many different card clubs . She enjoyed collecting dolls and was very talented when it came to hand crafts. Her family remembers not only her happy disposition but also the love she always surrounded them with.

Preceding Barbara are her parents, her husband, Jack Rhoutsong, her daughters Nancy Cardella and Patricia Lytle, her brothers Harold Ernsberger, Eugene Ernsberger, and Bobby Ernsberger, and a sister Kay Dish.

She is survived by her daughters April (Michael) Inman, of Niles and Theresa (Craig) Martin of Fort Wayne, Indiana and her son David (Sharon) Rhoutsong of Battle Creek. She is also survived by her brothers, Jimmy Ernerberger, of Las Vegas, Nevada and Carl (Peggy) Ernsberger of Breman, Indiana, a sister Shirley Metzger of Grand Rapids, Michigan, 10 grandchildren, and 27 great grandchildren.

Those wishing to make a memorial donation in honor of Barbara may do so to A Place Called Home.

The family would also like to say a special thanks to Megan and Perin for their loving care of Barbara.

Photos, condolences, and memories of Barbara can be left at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or Facebook.com/BrownFuneralHome.

A memorial service to honor Barbara will be Saturday, Jan. 9, 2016 at Brown Funeral Home at 11 am with visitation beginning one hour prior.

Gregory Louis Bestle, of Niles
Nov. 18, 1958 — Nov. 21, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:00am Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Gregory Louis Bestle, 57, of Niles, passed away on Saturday, Nov. 21, 2015, at his home surrounded by his family.

Gregory Louis Bestle

Greg was born on Nov. 18, 1958, to Harold and Melba Bestle in South Bend, Indiana. Greg was a lifetime resident of Niles. He graduated from Brandywine High School. Greg was active in sports and broke the 8th grade Pole Vault record. In high school Greg ran track, played basketball and football. On Oct. 25, 1995 he married Lorie Ann Ashton. He worked as a machinist at Niles Precision for 30 years. Greg was an avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed hunting but most of all loved fishing.

He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Lorie; mother, Melba Bestle; mother-in-law, Judy Blake; sisters, Christina (Richard) Hoyt and Lou Ann Kendall; step son, Braddly (Motoka) Grahl; step grandson, Kayddan Grahl; several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Greg is preceded in death by his father, Harold Bestle.

The family will have a memorial service at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home, Inc. Online condolences may be made at www.hovenfunerals.com

Michael S. Sherer, of Niles
Feb. 29, 1964 — Aug. 7, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:46am Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Michael S. Sherer, 51, of Niles, Michigan died on Friday, Aug. 7, 2015, in Saint Joseph, Michigan unexpectedly.

Michael S. Sherer

He was born on Feb. 29, 1964, in Saint Joseph to R. Bruce and Vicki Jean (Worcester) Sherer. He was graduated from Saint Joseph High School, and earned a Bachelor Degree in Exercise Physiology from Central Michigan University, in Mount Pleasant. He was employed as an ACSM certified cardiac rehabilitation therapist at Lakeland Hospital — Niles for 25 years, and had also been employed at the Memorial Health and Lifestyle Center in South Bend, Indiana.

Mike enjoyed working outside, especially with his sons. He had a great desire — and ability — to help improve the lives of those around him, whether through his professional services, or using his wonderful sense of humor to make a difficult situation easier to bear. He was a former volunteer firefighter for the Coloma Fire Department.

On May 26, 2009, in Niles he married the former Nichole J. Dye with whom he had celebrated in May the sixth anniversary of their wedding.

Surviving family includes his wife, Nikki Sherer, and sons, Derrick Dye, Gunner Sherer, and Rocco Sherer, all of Niles; Mike’s parents, Bruce and Vicki Sherer of Saint Joseph; and a brother, Thomas (Wesley Perry) Sherer of Cheltenham, Pennsylvania.

The family of Mike Sherer will receive relatives and friends on Friday, Aug. 14, 2015, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Carrie Olive Unger, of Niles
Nov. 19, 2015 — Dec. 24, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 12:15pm Monday, December 28, 2015

Carrie Olive Unger, one month old, of Niles passed away at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan on Thursday, December 24, 2015.

She was born, the third in line of quadruplets on Thursday, November 19, 2015, at Memorial Hospital of South Bend, Indiana to; Lyle Jr. and Jennifer (Duncan) Unger. She was preceded in death by her triplet brothers; Lyle G. III, Kenneth and Liam Unger.

She is survived by her parents Lyle Jr. and Jennifer Unger of Niles, two brothers; Lyle IV and Greyson Unger, sister, Sophia Unger, as well as a host of family and friends; whose lives were touched during Carries short time.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, Dec. 28, 2015, at Seven O’clock in the evening with a time of visitation to begin one hour prior at Brown Funeral Home, Niles. A private burial will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2015.

Memorial contributions may be made in Carrie’s memory to House of Hopes, 20602 Antler Ct., Goshen, IN 46528.

Those wishing to leave a message for the family may do so on our website at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.comor on our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles.

David E. Hibinger, of Niles
July 29, 1936 — Dec. 3, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:39am Monday, December 7, 2015

David E. Hibinger, 79, of Niles, passed away on Friday, Dec. 4, 2015, at West Woods of Niles, surrounded by his loving family.

David E. Hibinger

He was born on July 29, 1936, in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio to the late Orville and Eleanor (Schmidt) Hibinger.

On Oct. 21, 1961, David married Rita M. Estafen at a ceremony in Akron, Ohio.

After graduating high school, David joined the U.S. Navy and served his country proudly. While in the Navy, David learned the job as press operator and began a lifetime career as a pressman working for the following companies: Freeman Studios in Berrien Springs, Dowagiac Commercial Press and Simplicity Pattern Company in Niles. In his free time David enjoyed golfing and fishing. He was a gifted singer and sang with the Barbershop Harmony Society for over 50 years. He also sang with the local Lighthouse Chorus in Niles and the Valleyaires in South Bend. David was a man of faith and a member of the St. Mark Catholic Church in Niles. He will be remembered by his family and friends for his hard work ethic and his love for his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister Mary Anne Hibinger.

David is survived by his loving wife Rita Hibinger, his children; Deborah Dvorak, Michael Hibinger, James Hibinger, Stephen Hibinger all of Niles and Joan Suski of Granger, Indiana, five grandchildren; Adam, Bradley, Christine, Spenser and Tyler and two great-grandchildren Everett and Kloey. He also leaves to remember him two sisters, Fran Robb and Rita (Bill) Binns and a brother Dan Hibinger of all of Ohio.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015 at 11 a.m. at St. Mark Catholic Church for David Hibinger by the Rev. Thomas King, C.S.C. and assisted by Brother Dennis Meyers, C.S.C. Friends and family will gather at St. Mark Catholic Church for visitation beginning at 10 a.m. The family will gather for a private interment at Silverbrook Cemetery, at a later date.

Memorial contributions may be made in David’s memory to St. Mark Catholic Church 3 N. 19th Street, Niles, Michigan 49120.

Condolences, photos and memories may be shared with David’s family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Arrangements have entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles.

Lillian Agnes Campbell, formerly of Niles
April 20, 1924 — Dec. 17, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 5:14pm Thursday, December 17, 2015

Lillian Agnes Campbell, 91, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, formerly a lifetime Niles resident, died on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015 ,at Friendship Village Senior Living Community in Kalamazoo following an extended illness. She was born April 20, 1924, in Niles to Clarence B. and Dorothy M. (Cormany) Webber.

Lillian Agnes Campbell

Lillian was a lifetime member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles and had worked for Simplicity Pattern Company in Niles for a few years. Family was very important to Lillian. She enjoyed cooking and baking and doing yardwork with her husband.

On May 17, 1947, in Niles, Lillian married James William Campbell, with whom she celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary, before his passing on March 4, 2014. Lillian was also preceded in death by a brother, Vern Webber and three sisters, Virginia Crawford, Phyllis Burney and Maxine Okonski.

Lillian is survived by her two daughters, Pamela (Daniel) Heuschele of Kalamazoo and Terri (Tom) Lane of Watervliet, Michigan; two grandchildren, Dana (Jason) Jones of South Lake, Texas and Kaleb (Stephenie) Lane of Portage, Michigan and two great-grandchildren, Mackenzie and Reagan Jones.

The family of Lillian Agnes Campbell will receive relatives and friends from noon until 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles, followed by a procession to the grave at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles for Committal Services by the Rev. Cathi Huvaere of Wesley United Methodist Church.

Donations in memory of Lillian may be made to the Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles.

www.halbritterfunerals.com