William J. Whisenant, 70, of Niles
Dec. 27, 1943 — Feb. 4, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:05am Thursday, February 6, 2014

William J. Whisenant, 70, of Niles, died at 1:25 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014, at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles following an extended illness.

He was born on December 27, 1943, in Benton Harbor, Mich. to Lloyd Burley and Mozelle Gladys (Barnwell) Whisenant. He attended Eau Claire, Michigan schools and Southwestern Michigan College. He has lived in Niles since 1964. He was employed at the National-Standard Corporation for twenty-eight years, and then for several years at Berrien Metal Products, Inc. in Buchanan.

Bill loved God, and prior to his illness was active at the Community Evangelical Free Church in Niles. He was an accomplished artist, practicing in oil painting and photography.

On Aug. 2, 1963, in Eau Claire he married the former Pat M. Prillwitz with whom he celebrated last year the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding.

He was preceded in death by their son, William T. Whisenant on March 6, 2002 and by Bill’s parents and brother, Dave Whisenant.

Bill is survived by his wife, Pat Whisenant and by their son, Rob (Carrie) Whisenant of Niles; grandchildren William Charles Whisenant and Charles Franklin Whisenant; and Bill’s sister, Sandy Whisenant of Dowagiac, Mich. and brothers Jim Whisenant of Niles and John Whisenant of Dowagiac and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Bill Whisenant will be at 3: p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014, at the Community Evangelical Free Church with the Rev. Collin D. Seitz of Crossroads Evangelical Free Church in Plymouth, Ind. officiating. Interment will be private, next week at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Saturday at the church, beginning at 2 p.m. Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Celia M. Webber, of Niles, Mich.
May 5, 1935 — Jan. 26, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:20am Thursday, January 30, 2014

Celia M. Webber, age 78 years of Niles, Mich. died at 1 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Ind. following an extended illness.

Webber

She was born on May 5, 1935 in Virginia, Ill. to Emmett Lee and Audrey Anita (Edwards) Revis. She spent some of her childhood in Wisconsin, was graduated from Niles High School, and has lived in Niles and in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula communities of Rapid River and Trenary. In Niles, she was employed for many years at the former U.S.D.A. Biological Laboratory, and at MRC Tech in South Bend.

Celia was a devout Christian, and a loyal supporter of the Ernest Angley Ministries. She enjoyed outdoor activities, mostly in the U.P. including hunting, fishing, sport shooting, and keeping a farm with horses, dairy goats, and chickens. She was proficient in art as a painter using all media, and other crafts; and she loved her dog, Tito.

She had formerly been married to Daniel Haley and then to Rodrick Webber. She was preceded in death by a son, Edison Vance Haley on July 4, 1999 and by her brothers, Roland and Gerald Revis.

Surviving family includes her daughter, Annitta (Alan) Hostetler of Niles; grandchildren, Clayton Hostetler, Chaney Hostetler, and Audrey Hostetler; great-grandchildren Haley, Nicholas, Destiny, Deena, Douglas, and Taylor; and Celia’s brothers, Commander James Revis, U.S.Air Force, Retired of Escanaba, Michigan and Theodore Revis of Wilmington, Ill. and sisters, Rossella (Pat) Yokeum of Security, Colorado, and Noretta Stevens of Niles; and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Celia Webber will be at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, 2014 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. Interment will be private on Monday at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 5 p.m. at the funeral home.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Nila June Phillips, 79, of Niles
Dec. 9, 1934 — Feb. 13, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:10am Friday, February 14, 2014

Nila June Phillips, 79, of Niles passed away at Memorial Hospital in South Bend on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014.

Nila was born on Dec. 9, 1934, to the late Harvey and Bernice (Michelson) Andress in Niles. After graduating from Niles High School, in 1953, Nila wed Harry Phillips Jr. on March 21, 1959. Together they had three children. She enjoyed camping and spending time outdoors. She also loved to travel, especially to Las Vegas.

She is preceded in death by her father, Harvey Andress; mother, Bernice Green; husband, Harry Phillips Jr. and brother Richard Myers.

Nila is survived by her children, Kevin (Chris) Phillips of South Bend, Ind., Pamela (Gary) Fisk of Edwardsburg, Mich. and Timothy (Kim) Phillips of Niles; grandchildren April, Joshua, Angelina, Tyler and Trenton; great-grandchildren Jonathan, Lexi, Ashlynn and Autumn and siblings Basil (Bessie) Andress of Plainwell, Mich., Carla Collmer of Niles, Marcille Jochem of Kalamazoo, Mich. and Susan (Jeff Palmer) Andress of Kalamazoo.

A time of visitation will be held on Monday, Feb. 17, 2014, at Brown Funeral Home from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Services to honor Nila’s life will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014, at Hope United Methodist Church in Edwardsburg at 11 a.m. with pastor Jeffery Reese officiating.

Those wishing to make memorial donations may do so in Nila’s name to the National Parkinson Foundation located at PO Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD 21741 or Hope United Methodist Church located at 69941 Elkhart Road, Edwardsburg, MI 49112.

Those wishing to leave a message for the family or upload a photo of Nila 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 & Cremation Services of Niles.

Pamela G. Pompey, 55, of Niles
Sept. 9, 1958 — Feb. 6, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:33am Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Pamela G. Pompey, age 55 years of Niles, Mich. died at 11:06 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Saint Joseph, Mich., unexpectedly but of natural causes.

She was born on Sept. 9, 1958 in South Bend, Ind. to Dale D. and Betty S. (Roberts) Davis. She was graduated from Brandywine High School, and has lived in Niles all of her life. She was employed at the former Printco plant in Niles for 27 years.

Pam attended the First Baptist Church. Gardens were her sanctuary where she loved spending countless hours. Her greatest interest was her children and all of their friends. She supported Dominique’s pursuit of baseball and academics and Danielle’s interest in pageantry and theater shows.

She also loved supporting her husband. They were a match made in heaven. She also enjoyed spending time caring for her parents and mother-in-law, and, of course her best friends, especially Debi. She loved her “other child,” the cat, Murray.

On Sept. 5, 1992, she married Anthony Lee “Tony” Pompey, who survives. Also surviving are their children, Dominique Paris Pompey and Danielle Marie Pompey, both of Niles; Pam’s parents, Dale and Betty Davis of Niles; her sister, Doris (Gary) Schoenleber of Niles; half-brother, Joe (Leslie) Davis of Fort Wayne, Ind. and many nieces and nephews including her Godson, A.J. Moore.

The funeral service for Pamela G. Pompey will be at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 15, 2014, at the First Baptist Church with Pastor Jim Wing of the church officiating. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Saturday at the church beginning at 2 p.m. Contributions in memory of Pam may be made to the donor’s choice. Arrangements announced by the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Ryan Anthony Hartman, 26, of Niles
Sept. 28, 1987 — Feb. 4, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:41am Friday, February 7, 2014

Ryan Anthony Hartman, 26 passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014, from complications from DSRCT, a rare, pediatric cancer. He was born on Sept. 28, 1987, to Julie and Ray Hartman. He graduated in 2006 from Brandywine High School and attended Southwestern Michigan College.

Ryan is survived by his parents, Ray and Julie, his three brothers, Eric, Tyler and Evan, his grandparents Wava Hartman and Barb and Johnie Rodebush, aunts and uncles Donna and Ray Corum, Merva and Jim Zaleski, Bob and Toy Young, Brad and Becky Young and Joe and Carol Young, his girlfriend, Kailee Checkley and her son Karter, along with many extended family members and friends. He will be missed by his cats, Lilly and Lizzy and family pets Misty and Breezy. He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Mervin Young and Charley Hartman and his uncle, Charles Hartman.

While in school, he played percussion in the band and was a member of the basketball team and the track and field team. Ryan’s proudest accomplishment was breaking his high school’s discus record. When his record was broken, he was even prouder of his younger brother, Evan, when he succeeded in getting the record back in the family and in the process, became a two-time state champ. Ryan was a Michigan State University fan and he was very pleased when Evan made the MSU track team. Ryan enjoyed coaching his brother in the discus and also helping his dad through the years coach little league baseball and midget basketball. He also played little league baseball himself and when older, he umpired for the same league. Ryan was a big sports fan, with the Detroit Tigers being his favorite team. He also loved disc golfing, fishing, cooking and visiting casinos.

Ryan was an inspiration to many during his four-year battle with cancer. His ‘never give up’ attitude was awe-inspiring and showed how much he wanted to live. He never complained and endured all the treatments with bravery, strength and determination to beat his invisible enemy. Many thanks go to his care providers at I.U. Simon Cancer Center, University of Michigan Sarcoma Center, St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Michiana Health and Rehab and especially Michiana Hematology Oncology.

Ryan was a gentle giant who was always more concerned about others’ well being, than his own. He will be dearly missed. Gone too soon, but never forgotten. Team Ryan: Stay up, be strong, believe and have hope.

The funeral service for Ryan Hartman will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014, at the First Church of Christ – Christian on Yankee Street with the Rev. Dan Miller of the First Missionary Church officiating. Interment will be at a later date at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Friday from 4 until 7 p.m. at the church, and on Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. at the church. Contributions in memory of Ryan may be made to the Southwestern Michigan College Scholarship Fund for Brandywine Students. Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Marguerite E. Adams, 89, of Niles
May 12, 1924 — Feb. 10, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:48am Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Marguerite E. Adams, 89, of Niles, died at 10:20 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 10, 2014, at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Ind. following a brief illness.

Adams

She was born on May 12, 1924 in Niles, Mich. (in the parsonage of Franklin A.M.E. Church) to Fred and Arneal (Brown) Shepard, and has lived in Niles all of her life.

Marguerite was a member of Franklin A.M.E. Church. Music was always an important part of her life. In high school she sang in the choir and played the bells in the band. After graduating from Niles High School in 1942, she continued her love for music by singing in the church choir of which she still participated. As an adult she sang in a trio named “The Melody Maids” with Marion Finley Scruggs and Norma Finley Taylor.

She had worked in downtown Niles at Larry Zock’s Laundry as well as Simplicity Pattern Company. In 1988 Marguerite retired after 22 years of services with the Cass County Department of Human Services. She enjoyed Senior Center activities, traveling with them and was a volunteer with Love, Inc.

On Nov. 23, 1944, she married Nelson Woodford in Niles, who preceded her in death on Sept. 12, 1973. She later married Irven L. Adams on Jan. 4, 1975 in Niles, who preceded her in death on Sept. 29, 2009. She was also preceded in death by her brother, David Shepard.

Surviving family includes her sons, Larry Woodford of Reno, Nev. and Brian Woodford of Sparks, Nev.; step-daughter RuthAnn (Myron) Frasier of Southfield, Mich.; grandchild DeMarco Doxie; 5 step-grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Services for Marguerite Adams will be at 1 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 14, 2014, at Franklin A.M.E. Church in Niles with Rev. Rebecca R. Mitchell of the church officiating. The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday from 5 until 7 p.m. at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Contributions in memory of Marguerite may be made to the church. Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

www.halbritterfunerals.com