Tom Rupert
Sept. 11, 1878-May 23, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 23, 1963, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Tom Rupert, 84, of 1613 Huron St., died at 8:30 a.m. today in the Berrien County Hospital, Berrien Center, where he had been a patient six weeks. He had been ill four months.

Mr. Rupert, who was retired, was born Sept. 11, 1878, in Spencerville, Ohio. He came to Niles 50 years ago. His wife, Ada, died in 1935.

Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. George Etzcorn, Niles; a son, Lyle A. Wallace, Roseland; two brothers, Fred, Lima, Ohio, and Ray, Jackson; a sister, Mrs. Joseph Miller, Lima; two additional sisters; five grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m Saturday in the Kiger Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Friends will be received at the funeral home beginning Friday.

John C. Schick
1944-Feb. 3, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, February 4, 1953, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

John C. Schick, nine-year-old son of Capt. and Mrs. W.C. Schick, Waco, Tex,. formerly of Niles, died Tuesday evening in his home after an illness of 18 months.

Surviving besides his parents are his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. H. Schick of Niles and Mr. and Mrs. Claude L. Wooster, North Liberty, Ind.

The body will arrive in Niles Friday evening and friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Funeral Arrangements will be announced later.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 7, 1953, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Services for John C. Schick, nine-year-old son of Capt. and Mrs. William C. Schick, Waco, Tex., and formerly of Niles, were announced this morning by the Pifer Funeral Home.

Friends may call at the funeral home until 1 p.m Monday. Services will be performed at 2 p.m. Monday by the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe at the First Presbyterian Church. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

He died Tuesday evening in his home, after an illness of 18 months.

Alonzo J. ‘Lon’ Holmes, 92
Nov. 6, 1920- May 4, 2013

Niles Daily Star, Published online 3:35pm Monday, May 6, 2013

Alonzo J. “Lon” Holmes, age 92 years of Berrien Springs, Mich., died at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 4, 2013 at his home following a brief illness.

Holmes

He was born on November 6, 1920 in Buchanan, Mich., to Alonzo James and Ardell E. (Burnett) Holmes, Sr. He attended school in South Bend, Ind., and has lived on Scherr Road since 1965.  He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the United States Army.  He participated in two European Theater battles and the amphibious assault on Salerno.

Lon owned and operated Holmes Builders.  His firm completed many projects including the State of Michigan Liquor Control Building in Niles, the original Niles Township hall, portions of Bell Plaza, and the Gateway subdivision around Country Club Drive.  He was also a life member of the National Rifle Association.

On Aug. 13, 1958 in Roseland, Ind., he married the former Sharon Kay DeForest with whom he celebrated last year the fifty-fourth anniversary of their wedding.

Surviving family includes his wife, “Shari” Holmes and their sons, James (and Angela) Holmes of Niles, Michigan and Gary (and Victoria) Holmes of Berrien Springs; Lon’s daughters, Joyce Kerschner and Nancy (and Patrick) Hemminger, both of South Bend; twelve grandchildren and many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and Lon’s sisters, Shirley (and Bob) Byerle of Van Buren, Arkansas and Phyllis Solberg of South Bend; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a son, Sergeant Lonnie Michael Holmes, U.S.Army who was killed in action in Tay Ninh, South Viet Nam on June 15, 1967; and by a sister, Lois Johnson.

The funeral service for Alonzo J. Holmes will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Ray Fulbright of Memorial Presbyterian Church in South Bend officiating.  Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles, and will conclude with Full Military Honors by the United States Army Honor Guard and American Legion Post #51 of Buchanan, Mich.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the funeral home from 6 until 8 p.m. on Tuesday.  Contributions in memory of Lon may be made to the Niles Veterans Memorial at Riverfront Park.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Tracy Ray Tweedy Sr., 58
March 29, 1953- Feb. 2, 2013

Niles Daily Star, Published online 5:43pm Tuesday, February 5, 2013

ELKHART— Tracy Ray Tweedy Sr., 58, of Elkhart, passed away at 11:35 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013 at his home.

Tweedy

He was born on March 29, 1953 in South Bend to Harvey Tweedy and Helen (Bush) Walter.

Tracy is survived by his children; Tracy Ray (Marcie) Tweedy Jr., Misti Gail (Tasha) Nabor, both of Elkhart, Donald Glenn (Jessie) Tweedy of Dowagiac, Mich., and Carlotta Joyce Tweedy of Niles, Mich.; a brother, James Tweedy, sisters, Deb (Doyle) Harpole, Teresa Rush, Pam Hawkins, all of Niles, Mich., and Carla (Larry) Fales of Elkhart. Also surviving are his grandchildren; Hannah, Lauren, Alex and Austin, and one great-grandchild Madalen. Also surviving are the mothers of his children, Wendy Buck of Elkhart and Leesa Tweedy of Niles, Mich.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Helen Joyce Walter and step-father, Kenneth J. Walter.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

Tracy enjoyed going to cookouts, riding snowmobiles, fishing and spending time with his family.

Memorial donations may be given to the American Cancer Society.

Elkhart Cremation Services is entrusted with arrangements.

Karen Lynn (Nyborg) Joyce, 66
Sept. 21, 1946-May 2, 2013

Niles Daily Star, Published online 9:15am Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Karen Lynn (Nyborg) Joyce, 66, of Salem, Ore., passed away suddenly of natural causes, on May 2, 2013 at Salem Hospital.

Joyce

She was born in International Falls, Minn., on Sept. 21, 1946 to the late Henry L. and Florence R. (Clark) Nyborg.

Karen graduated from Niles Sr. High School Class of 1964. She was a homemaker most of her life.

She is survived by her husband Robert Joyce of Salem, Ore. She is also survived by her childrens’ father Al Byler and their five children:  Kimberly Fuchs of South Bend, Ind., Kristopher Byler of Bristol, Ind., Kelly Byler of Salem, Ore., Kirk Byler of Granger, Ind., Kirsten Byler of Mishawaka, Ind. and a step-son Sean Joyce of Salem, Ore.  Also, surviving grandchildren: Breannon (Kyle) Mesaros, A.J. Byler, Ashley Zalas, Andrew Pipp, Jourdin Byler, Joshuah Byler, Anthony Byler, Jacob Byler, Blair Fuchs, Ian Joyce, Hayden Byler, Rilynd Byler, baby Ethan Byler and two sisters: Shirley (Lee) Spencer of Niles, Mich., Pearl (Tom) Weir of White Pigeon, Mich., and two brothers: Floyd (Sandy) Sanders of Dowagiac, Mich., Joe (Linda) Nyborg of Vale, Ore.

A time of visitation will be held on Friday, May 10, 2013 from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home in Niles. Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 11 a.m. at Brown Funeral Home and an interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Karen Lynn Joyce to Shriners Childrens Hospital

FOR MOM

We can shed tears that you are gone

Or we can smile because you have lived

We can close our eyes and pray that you will come back

Or we can open our eyes and see all that you have left

Our heart can be empty because we can’t see  you

Or we can be full of the love that we’ve shared

We can turn our back on tomorrow and live yesterday

Or we can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday

We can remember you and only that you are gone

Or we can cherish your memory and let it live on

We can cry and close our mind, be empty and turn our back

Or we can do what you would want… smile, open our eyes, love and go on.

- Your Loving Family

Those wishing to leave a message of condolence for the Joyce Family or upload a photo of Karen for them to see may do so 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.

Michael Rae Rolston, 64
Died Nov. 1, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published online 1:56pm Thursday, May 16, 2013

Michael Rae Rolston, age 64, of Midway, Georgia, formerly of Niles died on Nov. 1, 2012 in Midway, Georgia.  He enlisted in the United States Army in 1967, earning a Bronze Star for Valor as a Veteran of the Vietnam War.  He also served in Iraq.

Committal service will take place at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 17, 2013 at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles with Full Military Honors by the United States Army Honor Guard and the American Legion Post #26, Niles.

www.halbritterfunerals.com