Obituaries

Lois Jean Crocker, formerly of Niles
July 11, 1934 — Aug. 10, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:04am Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Lois Jean Crocker, 81, former longtime resident of Niles, Michigan died at 12:47 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 10, 2015, at her home in Apache Junction, Arizona following an illness.

She was born on July 11, 1934, in Niles to Fred and Florence (Unley) Kater. She graduated from Niles High School, and attended Southwestern Michigan College. She was retired from the Niles Community Schools, having served for 12 years as a teacher’s aide. She and her husband moved to Apache Junction in 2004.

Lois Jean Crocker

Lois was a founding member of Saint Mark Catholic Church in Niles. She was also a member and volunteer at Fernwood Botanical Gardens and Nature Center. She enjoyed arts and crafts, and was accomplished in various textile arts.

On Jan. 19, 1952, in Niles she married Thomas H. Crocker with whom she celebrated last January the remarkable 63rd anniversary of their wedding.

Surviving family includes her husband, Tom Crocker and their children, Tammalia “Tammy” (Steve) Sapmaz of Edwardsburg, Michigan, Bridget Perry of San Tan Valley, Arizona, and Brenda (Tom) Vokal of Nunica, Michigan; grandchildren Jennifer (Tyler) Young, Kimberly Kujawa, Brian Holmes, Jr., Sgt. Jason (Renee) Holmes, U. S. Army, and Andrew Sapmaz; and sixteen great-grandchildren.

Lois was preceded in death by her parents, by a grandson, Brian Kujawa, and her siblings, Alma Weaver and Fred, Bill, Walter, and Richard Kater.

The Catholic Funeral Liturgy for Lois Crocker will be read at 2 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 14, 2015 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles by the Rev. Thomas King, C.S.C. of Saint Mark Catholic Church. Committal Rites will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday from 5 until 7 p.m. at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. Contributions in memory of Lois may be made to Saint Mark Catholic Church.

Marvin F. Fuller, of Niles
March 5, 1940 — Aug. 12, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:49am Friday, August 14, 2015

Marvin F. Fuller, 75, of Niles, Michigan died on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2015, at Wellbrooke of South Bend following a brief illness. He was born March 5, 1940, in Smith County, Tennessee to Halbert and Harriett (Enoch) Fuller.

Marvin F. Fuller

Marvin graduated from DuPont High School in Old Hickory, Tennessee. He was a United States Army Veteran, serving his country as a radar technician in both Korea and Japan. He was a diesel mechanic for the former Shippers Dispatch/Preston Trucking Company and retired in 1997 after 31 years there.

Marvin was happiest when he was on Lake Michigan with a fishing rod in his hand and enjoying the company of the crew on “Break Time”. He had many hobbies, including wood working, gardening, “tinkering” on engines and helping others. He was a great family man, loving husband, father, grandfather (D’Amps), neighbor and friend. His pride and joy were his two sons and he was very proud of the men they had become.

On Sept. 9, 1961, in Gleason, Tennessee Marvin married the former Sue Stewart who survives, along with their sons, Mike (Nancy) Fuller and Brad Fuller, all of St. Croix, Virgin Islands; one granddaughter, K’Anna Fuller of Charleston, South Carolina; a brother, William (Sharon) Fuller of Stateville, North Carolina; sisters-in-law Peg Stewart of Gleason, Tennessee, Barb (Fred) Wright of Niles and Linda (Reg Baker) Lenox of Niles; brother-in-law Tom Stewart of Port Charlotte, Florida and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews who he loved dearly.

The funeral service for Marvin will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 17, 2015, at First Baptist Church in Niles with the Rev. Jim Wing of the church officiating. Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 2 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2015, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. Donations in memory of Marvin may be made to the First Baptist Church in Niles or to the Pregnancy Care Center in Niles. www.halbritterfunerals.com

Mary Mark Anseth, of Niles
July 28, 1940-July 28, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:56am Thursday, August 6, 2015

Mary Mark Anseth, 75, died July 28. Services at 11 a.m. on Friday at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Niles. Visitation Thursday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home. www.halbritterfunerals.com

Williston Herald (Williams Co., N.D.), Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Mary Joyce Mark Anseth, age 75 years, former longtime resident of Williston, died on her 75th birthday, 28 July 2015 at the Rose de Lima Hospital in Henderson, Nevada following an extended illness. She was born on July 28, 1940 in Niles, Michigan to Herbert and Marie Sands where she was raised and graduated from high school. She moved to Williston in the early 1970’s where she met and married Galyn Anseth.Mary enjoyed the church, gardening, outdoor activities, and travel. Her greatest interest was her family. She was a former member of Concordia Lutheran Church of Williston and a former employee of the Williston Public School system.On February 28, 1960 she married Peter E. Mark of Niles Michigan, who preceded her in death on April 9, 1970. In November, 1972 she married Galyn Anseth of Williston who preceded her in death on April 20, 1976.Surviving family includes her children, Douglas (& Katie) Mark of Fargo, North Dak! ota, Stacey Mark of Henderson, Nevada, Wayne (& Kim) Mark of Chesapeake, Virginia, Melissa (& Robert) Jacks of Henderson, Nevada, and Matthew (& Jennifer) Anseth of Virginia Beach, Virginia; grandchildren Douglas Mark, William Mark, Peter Mark, Mary Catherine Mark, Ronald Mark, Ashlynn Anseth and Sophia Anseth, and Mary’s siblings Caroline Flanagan of Buchanan, Michigan, Judith (& Leon) Mitchell of Niles, Michigan, Joan Goble of Tucson, Arizona, and Herbert Sands; and many nephews and nieces.

Patricia Shank, of Niles
Dec. 15, 1941 — Aug. 11, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:19am Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Patricia Ann Shank, 72, of Niles, passes away at Silverbrook Manor in Niles, following a lengthy illness.

She was born on Dec. 15, 1941, in Berrien Center, Michigan and raised there by her loving parents Paul and Stella Iris Regenos.

Patricia Shank

Patricia was a dedicated employee of Pawating Hospital where she assisted in the laundry area for many years. She was a member of First Missionary Church in Niles and had been active for many years in the Daughters of the American Legion Post 26 in Niles. She enjoyed bargain hunting at local garage sales, caring for her animals, especially her dog Snoopy, and spending time with her family. She also treasured her family photos and memorabilia.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Patricia is survived by her sons; James Huntman (Angela Elrod) of Niles, Daniel (Jerri) Huntman of Niles and Rodney “Rod” Shank of Lafayette, Indiana, six grandchildren; Jacob, Jenny Nicholas, Bradley, Emma Huntman and McKenzie Shank, a sister Cathy Mayo of Arizona and a step-brother Jack Luse of Niles.

A time of visitation will be held on Monday, Aug. 17, 2015, from 10:30 a.m. until Noon with funeral services beginning at noon at Brown Funeral Home in Niles. Patricia will then be interred at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in Patricia’s memory to the American Cancer Society.

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.brownfuneralhomeniles.com

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Niles.

Edmund William Schadler
Jan. 9, 1895-July 3, 1977

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 5, 1977, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES—Edmund William Schadler, 82, of 200 Wright Rd., died at 6 p.m. Sunday at his home.

A member of the Four Flags Barracks of the Veterans of World War I, he was a retired farmer. Mr. Schadler was born Jan. 9, 1895, in Princeton, Wis.  and had lived here since 1908, coming from St. Joseph.

On June 12, 1922, in South Bend, he married Freida B. Albrecht, who survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Edward and John, both of Niles; two daughters, Mrs. Roy (Helen) Peters and Mrs. John (Lorraine) Armitage, both of Niles; two brothers, Harry O., of N. Ft. Myers, Fla., and Arnold of Niles.  Another brother, Carl, preceded him in death.

Also surviving are a sister, Mrs. Marie Villwock of Niles and nine grandchildren. 

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Pifer chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home with the  Rev. Joe R. Johnson of the First Church of Christ, Christian officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are calling at the Pifer Chapel.

Ruth Schaen
Oct. 10, 1897-April 16, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 17, 1977, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral Thursday for Mrs. Ruth Schaen, Aged 47

Mrs. Ruth Schaen, 476, of rural route four, died at 6 p.m. Monday in the Pinecrest sanitorium, Oshtemo, following an illness of two months.

A member of St. Paul's Lutheran church, she was born in Logansport, Ind., on Oct. 10, 1897, and had lived in Niles 23 years.

She is survived by her husband, Paul Schaen; six children, Paul Schaen, radio technician third class, Navy Pier, Chicago; Mrs. Peter Van Dyke, Niles; Mrs. John P. Hardy, Mishawaka, and Clara, Doris and Frederick Schaen, at home; a brother, E. Williams, Fort Wayne, Ind.; four sisters, Mrs. James Welsh and Mrs. Henry Ulrich, Logansport, Ind.; Mrs. Frank Luscy, Columbus, O., and Mrs. Myra Martin, Kalamazoo and two grandchildren, John Hardy and Ruth VanDyke.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home. Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday in St. Paul's Lutheran church where the body will lie in state from 1 p.m.  until time of the rites. The Rev. Theodore Laesch will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.