Obituaries

Maxine Irwin
Oct. 25, 1916-Dec. 21, 1998

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, December 23, 1998, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Maxine Irwin, 82, 134 Huron Street, Niles, will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, by the Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Mrs. Irwin died Tuesday at 3:35 p.m. at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph, following a brief illness.

She was born Oct. 25, 1916, in Buchanan, and had lived in this area all of her life.

On Oct. 20, 1935, in Roseland, Ind., she married Winston Irwin, who preceded her in death on April 5, 1970.

Mrs. Irwin retired in 1981 after 30 years of employment with the French Paper Co., Niles.

She enjoyed gardening and yard work.

Mrs. Irwin was also preceded in death by seven brothers and sisters.

Surviving family includes a son, Phillip Irwin of Bitely;; two grandchlldren, Greg and Scott Irwin; trhee great-grandchildren, Britny, Scott, and Krista Irwin, and several nieces and nephews.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service.

L. Reynald Wood
July 10, 1902-Dec. 18, 1998

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, December 19, 1998, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for L. Reynald Wood, 96, formerly of Topinabee Road, Niles, will be held Monday at 1 p.m. at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman of First Presbyterian Church presiding.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Wood died Friday at 8:07 a.m. at Lakeland Medical Center, Niles, of natural causes.

The lifelong Niles resident was born July 10, 1902 to Jay Walter Wood and Alta E. Rice in Niles.

On Aug. 22, 1922 in Dowagiac, he married the former Margaret Cuddy.  She preceded him in death June 5, 1985.

Survivors include: a son, J.C. Wood of Marco Island, Fla.; grandsons Robert Wood and Terrence Wood, both of Niles; great-grandson Eric Wood of Niles and great-granddaughters Jennifer Wood of Niles and Bethany Wood of Marco Island.

Wood attended Niles High School, Culver Military Academy and the University of Michigan.  He joined the family business, the Niles Steel Tank Company in the early 1930s, becoming the corporation's secretary/treasurer.

He was a long-time supporter and participant in local sports.  He pitched  for the famed Niles Elks Traveling Baseball Team in the 1930s and recorded the first perfect game in sectional play.

In 1937, Wood helped found and became president of the Pickwick Club. At his death, he was the oldest living member of the founding group.

He was a former trustee and past president of the former Pawating Hospital board, now Lakeland Health System, Niles.

He had also served as director of the First National Bank of Southwestern Michigan, now Old Kent Bank.

Wood was a former member and president of the Orchard Hills Country Club board of directors and was a  life member of the B.P.O. of Elks Lodge 1322, Niles.

Wood also enjoyed hunting and fishing.

Friends may call one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to B.P.O. of Elks Lodge 1322, Niles.

Phillip John VanDenBerg, D.D.S.
Jan. 16, 1947-Nov. 22, 1998

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, November 24, 1998, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Phillip John VanDenBerg, D.D.S., 51, 901 Weesaw Road, Niles, will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church, Niles, by the Rev. Nolan R. Williams of Wesley United Methodist Church.

VanDenBerg died suddenly at 8:01 p.m. Sunday at Lakeland Medical Center, Niles.

He was born January 16, 1947, in Kalamazoo. He had lived here since 1975, coming from Detroit.

On January 20, 1968, in Kalamazoo, he married the former Elizabeth A. Webster, who survives.

VanDenBerg was a doctor of dental surgery in his own practice in Niles.

He was a 1965 graduate of Loy Norrix High School, Kalamazoo. He was a 1969 graduate of Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, as well as Wayne State University in 1973 and the University of Detroit in 1975.  He was currently enrolled in the University of Notre Dame's Masters of Business Administration program.

VanDenBerg was a member of the American Dental Association, the Michigan Dental Association, and the Lakeland Valley Dental Association. He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, chairman of the Church Finance Committee, and member of the Pastoral Personal Relations Committee.

VanDenBerg was a member of both Noon and Breakfast Optimist Clubs, past-president of the Noon Optimist Club, State of Michigan Lt. Governor and Governor, former Vice-president of Optimist International, and was instrumental in the formation and growth of the Optimist Soccer League of Southwest Michigan (growth of approximately 100 young people participating to approximately 1,800).

VanDenBerg was the past-president of the Park and Recreation Board, Niles.

In addition to his dental practice, he recently had purchased the Niles Racquet Club and re-named it "Lakeland Racquet and Health Club."

Also surviving are two daughters, Sarah Glass of Richmond, Va., and Miss Lauren VanDenBerg of Notre Dame, Ind.; a son Tim VanDenBerg of Washington, D.C.; his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Max VanDenBerg of Kalamazoo; a brother, Allan VanDenBerg of Seabrook Island, S.C.; and a sister, Julie Grausam of Grand Rapids.

Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church or the Niles Community Library.

Velma L. Teague
Dec. 25, 1910-Nov. 13, 1998

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 16, 1998, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Velma L. Teague, 87, 2274 Mulder Drive, Niles, will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Franklin A.M.E. Church, Niles, by the Rev. Harry D. Pierson of Franklin A.M.E. Church.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Mrs. Teague died Thursday at 9:50 p.m. at Woodfield Manor, Niles, following an extended Illness.

She was born Dec. 25, 1910, in Almo, Ky. She had lived in Niles since 1944, coming from Murray, Ky.

On Feb. 3, 1951, in Niles, She married James C. Teague, who preceded her in death on July 10, 1985.  Ms. Teague was a member of Franklin A.M.E. church, where she also served on the Stewardess Board.

She provided child care for several families in this area who remember her kindness.

She had been a waitress in several area restaurants.    She was also preceded in death by a brother and four sisters.

Surviving family includes several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call at the church one hour prior to the funeral.

Memorial contributions may be made to Franklin A.M.E. Church.

Roy H. Porenta
June 21, 1909-Nov. 6, 1998

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, November 10, 1998, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Roy H. Porenta, 90, 1821 Elf Drive, Sebring, Fla., will be Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, by the Rev. Canon Marian M. Kencik of Saint Mary Catholic Church, Niles.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Porenta died Friday at 10:03 p.m. at Highlands Regional Medical Center, Sebring, following a brief illness.

He was born June 21, 1909, in Rock Springs, Wyo. He had lived in Niles for nearly 50 years, moving to Florida in 1983.

On June 19, 1965 at Saint Mary Catholic Church, he married the form Julane A. Waite, who survives.

He retired from National Standard Co. in 1983, previously employed at Tyler Refrigeration.

Porenta was a former member of Saint Mary Catholic Church, Niles. He was currently a member of Saint Catherine Catholic Church, Sebring.    He was raised on his family's farm in Ferry.

Porenta was preceded in death by two brothers, John and Frank Porenta, and a sister Molly Brandel.

He is also survived by three brothers, Joseph Porenta of Grand Haven, Stanley Porenta of Grand Haven, and Gabriel Porenta of Branch; three sisters, Mary Knudsen of Shelby, Ann Lipps of Lake Wales, Fla., and Irma Stellini of Grand Rapids; and several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call one hour prior to the funeral at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Saint Mary Catholic Church.

Carl B. Hill
June 24, 1925-Dec. 16, 1998

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, December 17, 1998, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Graveside services for Carl B. Hill, 73, 9937 Wilson Road, New Buffalo, will be Friday at 11 a.m. at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, by the Rev. John Rinehart of Chesterton, Ind.

Hill died Wednesday at 2 a.m. at St. Anthony's Hospital, Michigan City, Ind., of natural causes.

He was born June 24, 1925, in Niles.