Obituaries

Mrs. Amalie Wernicke
Jan. 6, 1869-Jan. 26, 1950

Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 27, 1950, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

(Illegible text) Market Street, died at 11:45 p.m. yesterday in her home after an illness, (illegible text) husband, Charles, preceded her in death, having died in 1934.

Surviving are their children, Mrs. Lucy Lee, of Akron, Ohio; Robert Wernicke, of Elkhart, Ind.; Mrs. Esther Park, of Niles; Miss Elsie Wernicke, of Niles, and eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Wernicke was born in Germany on Jan 6, 1869 and moved to Niles from Roscommon in 1916.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home. Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday at the First Evangelical United Brethren church by the Rev. G.A. Steebs. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Linda L. Cantwell
April 8, 1948-August 12, 2014

Linda L. Cantwell, age 66 years of Lowell, Michigan died at 2:47 a.m. on Tuesday, August 12, 2014 at Metro Health Hospital in Wyoming, Michigan following an extended illness.

She was born on April 8, 1948 in Lansing, Michigan to Richard E. and Delores Jean (Martin) Newman. She graduated from Farmington Hills (Michigan) Northern High School, and has lived in Fishers, Indiana and Lowell most of her life.

As a young mother, Linda enjoyed supporting the school and scouting activities of her daughters. Her interest in children led her to operate a daycare center for several years. More recently, she has participated in a Bible Study of the Impact Church in Lowell, enjoyed yardwork and gardening, and reading, especially the novels of James Patterson. She has also enjoyed exercising her mind through a variety of computer game challenges.

Linda was previously married to Dennis Cantwell. She was preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Delores Newman.

Surviving family includes her daughters, Jennifer (& Akiko Tamamuri) of Japan and Rebecca (& Chris) Harris of Otsego, Michigan; grandchildren Christopher Richard Harris, Jr, Isabelle Grace Harris, and Aubrey Faith Harris; Linda’s brother, Rich Newman of Angola, Indiana and his children, Andrea and Aaron, and their children Tyler and Addison, and Mitchell and Connor.

Services for Linda Cantwell will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, August 22, 2014 at the graveside in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles, Michigan with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of First Presbyterian Church in Niles officiating.

Contributions in memory of Linda may be made to the Weekday Preschool of First Presbyterian Church in Niles. 

(This memorial provided by: HALBRITTER FUNERAL SERVICES)

Kenneth E Davis 
January 11, 1936 - August 6, 2014 

Kenneth E Davis came into this world on Jan 11, 1936. He passed on August 6, 2014, in Christus St. Patricks Hospital in Lake Charles, LA. His wife Patsy and sister in law, Betty were by his side until the end. For almost the last five years, he made his home in DeRidder, LA. Kenneth was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church in DeRidder, He will be missed by all that have ever met him. Funeral services will be held at 12 p.m. on Tuesday, August 12, 2014 at Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan with Bill Gibson of the Church of Christ in Dowagiac officiating, Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Viewing will be two hours prior to the service from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Kenny loved to hunt, fish, play the guitar and sing country music. He shot Archery for many years and won Michigan State in 1968. Ken retired from Manchester Tank at the age of 62 after working there for 15 years. He was a man of many things. Ken married Phyllis, his first wife in 1953 and they had six children. In later years, he married his second wife Dorothy in 1985 and they had one child. In 2009 he married his third and last love, Patsy Spotts. He is preceded in death by his wife Phyllis in 2013; second wife, Dorothy in 2006; son, Edward in 2010; daughter Theresa in 2008; mother, Bessie, father, Harold; five brothers, Lyle, Marion, Harold, Charles, and Jack and six sisters, Margaret, Shirley, Helen, Elma, Dorothy and Mary. Ken is survived by his third wife, Patsy Spotts-Davis of DeRidder, LA; children, Kristi Davis of Breman, IN, Dawn Brewer of Bremen, IN, Richard Brewer of South Bend, IN, Debbie Sied of Howard City, MI, Diane Davis of Niles, MI, Sally Hunt of Cassopolis, MI, Linda Pierson of Niles, MI and Kenneth Lee Davis of Niles, MI; step-children, Allen Spotts of DeRidder, LA, Richard Spotts of Mausery, OH, and Rhonda Lewis of Harrisburg, PA; many gradchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, too many to name.

Richard Ernest Dickeson, of Niles
Aug. 4, 1937 — March 24, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:53am Thursday, July 31, 2014

Richard Dickeson

A brief Committal Service for Richard Ernest Dickeson, 76, will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery (near the Bell Tower) in Niles, on his birthday, Aug. 4, at 1 p.m. Monday. Dickeson was born in Niles in 1937, to the late Ernest and Sara College Dickeson. He served in the US Army in Germany, and worked for 36 years at National Standard Co. of Niles until he retired as the plant manager in Corbin, Ky. Dick had committed his heart to Jesus, and was a member of Adriel Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Bobbie Jo Dickeson, Dawson Springs, Ky., a son, Mike Dickeson, Denver, Colo., a daughter, Jill Schoeplein, St. Joseph, Mi., a sister, Shirley Hanke, Brandon, Florida, and six grandchildren.

Dickeson died March 24th, 2014 in the hospital near where they lived in Ky., and a Memorial service was conducted, but his wishes were to be buried next to his parents in Niles. All are welcome.

Les Allen Holt, of Niles
July 21, 1956 — Aug. 4, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:56am Tuesday, August 5, 2014

Les Allen Holt, 58, of Niles passed away on Sunday, Aug. 4, 2014, at Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles.

Funeral Services will be held at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2014, at Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan. Visitation will be 2 hours prior from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. and burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

He was born on July 21, 1956, to George M Holt and Yvonne “Bonnie” Olson in Niles, MI. Les started L.H. Enterprise Recycling, Inc. in Niles.

Les is survived by his children, Les Holt II, and Lanie Holt; mother, Yvonne “Bonnie” Olson; brother, G. Michael (Marlene) Holt and sister, Debra Holt-Heckathorn.

He is preceded in death by his father and sister, Melody Kay Holt.

Omer ‘Ray’ Herschberger, of Niles
Oct. 4, 1941 — July 26, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:51am Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Omer ‘Ray’ Herschberger

Omer “Ray” Herschberger, 72, of Niles, passed away Saturday, July 26, 2014, at Riveridge Manor with his family by his side.

Ray was born to the late Annanias and Drusilla (Yoder) Herschberger in Douglas County, Illinois on Oct. 4, 1941.

He served his country proudly in the U.S. Army, and after receiving his Bachelor degree worked as an electronic engineer, retiring after many years of service for the City of Niles. After Ray’s retirement he enjoyed more time doing the things that made him smile. Ray loved to travel anywhere the road would take him.

When he was home you could find him gardening, or attending all of the Notre Dame basketball and hockey games, to which he was a season ticket holder. He also worked as an usher for Notre Dame football. You could also hear him cheering on his favorite teams, the Chicago Bears and Cubs. He also found pleasure in the times he spent on Lake Michigan, fishing with friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his two brothers Henry and David Herschberger and his two sisters Laura Diener and Verna Herschberger.

He is survived by his best friend of 42 years, Lois Stethem of Niles and her children, Nina (Doug) Ditsch of Niles, Bryan (Darlene) Stethem of South Bend, Larry Stethem of Mishawaka, and Kristi (Matt) Brazo of Niles; his brother Ura (Sarah) Hershberger of Arcola, Illinois and his sister Fannie Mae (Jacob) Helmuth of Lovington, Illinois. He is also survived by Lois’ seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren whom he treated as if they were his own.

Services for Ray will take place at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church on Monday, August 4th at 11 a.m. with visitation one hour prior. An interment will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Those wishing to make a memorial donation in honor of Ray may do so to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church 51490 Laurel Road, South Bend, IN 46637 or to the Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail in care of Michigan Gateway Community Foundation 111 Days Avenue, Buchanan, MI 49107.

Condolences, photos, and memories may be left for Ray’s family and friends at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or Facebook.com/BrownFuneralHomeNiles.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles.