Orla L. “Lee” Holcomb Jr.
Sept. 20, 1929-Sept. 16, 2023

Niles Daily Star, Published online 7:18 pm Wednesday, September 20, 2023 

Orla Leroy (Lee) Holcomb, Jr. (93) passed away peacefully at his home Saturday evening, Sept. 16th of 2023 surrounded by family. Orla was born at home in Toledo, Ohio on Sept. 20, 1929, to his parents Orla Leroy Holcomb, Sr. and Evelyn Mae (Garey) Holcomb. He had one brother, James Edward Holcomb, who passed away in June of 2016. On July 7, 1951, he married his high school sweetheart, Donna Marie Young who survives. Their children, who also survive, are Mark Holcomb, Linda (Holcomb) Kubiak, and Matthew Holcomb. Also surviving are their 5 Grandchildren: Lisa (Holcomb) Rathsack, Heather (Morris) Littlefield, Carla Holcomb, Jennifer (Holcomb) Balo, and Ryan Kubiak. 2 Great Grandchildren; Denes and Lee Balo, along with a niece; Debbie (John) Tate, and nephews; Gary (Kathy), Allen (Vicky), James (Shelley), and Kevin (Becky) Holcomb.

Orla graduated from Gibsonburg High School in Gibsonburg, Ohio in 1947 and from the University of Toledo in 1952 with a B.S. degree in Engineering (with Aeronautical Option) and was a Reserve Commissioned Officer in the U.S. Army. He was called to active duty in 1953 during the Korean Conflict. He, wife and baby Mark served in Kentucky, Georgia, and Colorado. He joined the aircraft division of The Bendix Aviation Corp. in South Bend, IN in 1955. In 1969, he joined Clark Equipment Co. in Buchanan, MI. In 1975, he returned to Bendix in the Automotive Division. He was awarded 8 U.S. Patents for military and commercial aircraft brakes, brake components, and off-highway vehicle brakes while employed at Bendix and Clark. An additional 2 patents were granted while consulting to AlliedSignal (successor to Bendix) after early retirement in 1986. From 1987 through 2009, operating as “Concept II Consulting” he was self-employed in the area of brake design, product liability defense, and an expert witness for many law firms throughout the U.S. for both the defense and plaintiff.

He was a licensed private pilot, sometimes flying for business. He and Donna flew to many places in their Skyhawk, as did family and friends. He also helped design and piloted a unique small experimental canard airplane called “The Sunray.”

Orla’s “sweetheart” Donna introduced him to Christianity in 1949 and they have been church members throughout their life, most recently of St. John’s U.C. Of Christ in Niles, Michigan. Their greatest joy has been family, grandchildren, and great grandchildren who were either close by or visited often.

The funeral service for Orla Holcomb, Jr. will be at 1 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, at Saint John’s United Church of Christ, 601 Sycamore Street in Niles with Pastor Jim Wing of Niles officiating. Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, and will conclude with the Full Military Honors by the United States Army Honor Guard and American Legion Post #51 of Buchanan, Michigan.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Monday at the church beginning at Noon. Contributions in memory of Orla may be made to Saint John’s United Church of Christ, 601 Sycamore Street, Niles, Michigan, 49120. Arrangements were completed at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles. Online condolences may be left at: www.halbritterwickens.com

Read more at: https://www.leaderpub.com/2023/09/20/orla-l-lee-holcomb-jr/

Mary Charlotte Bonine Roberts
1935-Jan. 15, 2021

Niles Daily Star, Published online 4:55 pm Monday, January 18, 2021  

Mary Charlotte Bonine Roberts, 86, died on Jan. 15 in Valdosta, Georgia from complications of COVID-19. She was the daughter of State Senator G. Elwood Bonine and Ruth Morse and grew up in the Bonine House, the Victorian home at Penn Road and M-60, built by her ancestors James E. and Sarah Bogue Bonine, stationmasters on the Underground Railroad.  

Mary Charlotte was part of the first graduating class from Cassopolis High School and returned for her 50th reunion in 2002.  It was then she saw her beloved home almost in ruins, and hoped an organization could save it.  She was thrilled when the Underground Railroad Society of Cass County purchased the Bonine House and the Bonine Carriage House across the street in December 2010.  

From 2012 to 2019, accompanied by family and friends, she visited her home during Underground Railroad Days the second weekend in July. She delighted in greeting visitors and telling them about growing up on Elk Park Farm. Over the years, she donated Bonine family photos, furniture and artifacts to the Bonine House.   

Mary Charlotte was a classical pianist, an animal lover and a sports enthusiast.  A farmer at heart she always referred to the Bonine House as “home.”  A photo tribute to Mary Charlotte can be found on urscc.org, as well as her memoir “Growing Up in the Bonine House.”  

Memorials in her name can be made on the URSCC website or mailed to URSCC PO Box 124, Vandalia, MI 49095.

Carol Chamberlin, of Niles
Dec. 29, 1946-Sept. 29, 2023

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:08 am Saturday, September 30, 2023 

Carol Chamberlin, 76, of Niles, passed away Friday, Sept. 29, 2023. Arrangements are pending and have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services, of Niles. www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com

Published on website of Brown Funeral Home and Cremation Services:

 Maj. Leon R. Bertschy II, USMC, Retired 
Jan. 13, 1961-Oct. 6, 2023

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:47 am Monday, October 9, 2023

Read more at: https://www.leaderpub.com/2023/10/09/maj-leon-r-bertschy-ii-usmc-retired/

 Maj. Leon R. Bertschy II, USMC, retired, age 62 years of Niles, Michigan; husband, father, son, brother, bird hunter, gardener, always a proud Marine “Oorah!”, and friend died peacefully at 12:50 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 6, 2023 with his family gathered around at his home following a 2-week battle against an aggressive cancer. He was born on Jan. 13, 1961, in Gravette, Arkansas to Leon Ray and Peggy Sue (Sandlin) Bertschy, Sr. He was graduated from Gravette High School in 1979, and continued his education at the University of Arkansas, earning a bachelor degree, and earned a Master of Business Administration from Colorado Technical University. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1983, beginning a military service career of twenty years active duty and reserve. He was honorably discharged in 2005, having achieved the rank of U.S. Marine Corps Major. In his civilian life, Leon was employed for many years as a manager of an animal health distribution site. For the past several years he has been a Senior Operations Specialist for the South Bend, Indiana production plant of KBR/Honeywell (formerly Bendix Aerospace). He has lived in Niles since 1999. Leon was born and raised in the Church of Christ, and was baptized in 1975 at the Bentonville, Arkansas Church of Christ. In Niles, he was a member of the Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Parish. He was a member and Past Commander of the Lt. William E. Lozier Post #10704 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Cassopolis, Michigan and has participated in the activities of the Saint Joseph Valley Marine Corps Detachment #895 in South Bend. He was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Niles Elks #1322, and earlier in his professional career had volunteered as an advisor to Junior Achievement. He enjoyed outdoor activities including annual trips for upland bird hunting in Michigan’s northwest lower peninsula, for which a detailed atlas of his most successful covers will remain with him. He raised and trained English Setters. At home, he worked to keep the yard looking nice, and maintained an amazing garden, using his engineering acumen to design an arched trellis for pumpkin vines so that he might successfully grow great pumpkins in his compact yard. He was a loyal fan of the University of Michigan football team and Detroit Tigers Baseball, which he watched on television, always with a gathering of family and friends. Leon was first married on July 26, 1986 to Barbara Helen Blake. Later, on July 11, 2009 in Bentonville he married the former Gretchen Marie (Guentert) Butler. He was preceded in death by his father, Leon Ray Bertschy, Sr. on Feb. 7, 2022. Surviving family includes his wife, Gretchen Bertschy; his sons Alexander Louis Bertschy of Post Falls, Idaho and Austin Michael Bertschy of Niles; Leon’s mother, Peggy Bertschy of Gravette and Leon’s siblings, Craig (& Patti) Bertschy, Cheryl (& Greg) Woodruff, and Shannon (& Norman) Mitchell, all of Gravette; Gretchen’s children, Catherine Morris Butler of Denver, Colorado, Abigail Louise Butler, and Erin Marie Hurley Butler, both of Indianapolis, Indiana; her parents, Norman & Victoria Guentert, and brother, Stephen (& Kelly) Guentert. He is also survived by many aunts and uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins; and a remarkable circle of great friends. The family of Leon Bertschy will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles. The visitation will conclude at 7 p.m. with a Catholic liturgy led by Deacon Roger Gregorski of Saint Mary’s. On Thursday, Oct. 12, 2023, family and friends will gather at the funeral home at 11 a.m. for a procession to the Graveside Service at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles, which will include the Burial Rite by Deacon Gregorski, and Full Military Honors for Major Bertschy by the United State Marine Corps Honor Guard, assisted by American Legion Post #51 of Buchanan, Michigan. Contributions in memory of Leon may be made to the Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery, Post Office Box 215, Niles, Michigan, 49120, https://friendsofsilverbrook.org/site5/. Online memories may be left at: www.halbritterwickens.com Leon’s life feels too short, and ended unexpectedly, but he used those sixty-two years in a remarkable manner; completing graduate education and completing a military career, serving as management in manufacturing with compassion and respect for the folks on the production line; collecting a circle of loyal friends, and loving and supporting his family, especially Gretchen. All evidence of serving others first, and following the command to love people and love God.

Read more at: https://www.leaderpub.com/2023/10/09/maj-leon-r-bertschy-ii-usmc-retired/