Larry Biggs, 67
Dec. 2, 1944-Sept. 27, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published online 9:20pm Monday, October 1, 2012

Larry Wayne Biggs, 67, of Mishawaka, died at 4:10 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, 2012, at Hospice House in South Bend of natural causes.

He was born Dec. 2, 1944, in Buchanan. He was a U.S. Army veteran. He graduated from Buchanan High School and played basketball, football and wrestled. He was a Golden Gloves boxer and the owner of several car companies in Indiana and Florida.

Larry married Carole Biggs on Aug. 19, 2006, in Niles. She survives.

He is also survived by his sons, Larry Charles Biggs, of Buchanan, and Steven Anderson (Denise) Biggs, of Lakeland, Fla.; daughter, Kem (Brian) Simpson, of Buchanan; stepson, Paul Goodling, of Roanoke, Va.; stepdaughters, Christy (Greg) Thomson, of Freemont, Ind., Jessica (Joe) St. Clair, of South Bend, and Rachel Goodling, of Osceola, Ind.; brothers, Walter (Doris) Biggs Jr., of Niles, and Mike Biggs, of Niles; sisters, Connie “Joann” (Bill) Hunter, of Salome, Ariz., Barb (Fred) Bailey, of Niles, and Valda Skinner, of Niles; 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Virginia (Meek) Biggs.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 4, at Hoven Funeral Home in Buchanan. Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637.

Connie Hover, 61
April 24, 1951-Oct. 11, 2012

Hover

Niles Daily Star, Published online 4:06pm Sunday, October 14, 2012

Connie Sue Hover, 61, of Niles, died at her home surrounded by her loving family at 5:56 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, following an extended illness.

She was born April 24, 1951, in Niles to Delos B. and Marcella (Henrion) Capron.  She graduated from Brandywine High School in 1969, and lived in Niles all of her life. She was employed in the offices of the former Pawating Hospital (now Lakeland Community Hospital) for 25 years.

Connie Sue had a great passion for the late Elvis Presley and was a member of many Elvis fan clubs. She enjoyed dancing and traveling. She and her husband spent the summers at Bear Lake in Jones, where they enjoyed fishing and other outdoor activities.

On Oct. 17, 2003, in Niles, she married Jerry Hover, who survives. Also surviving are her children, Michael (Janie) Mark of Niles, Richard (Lori) Hover of Niles, Pamela (Dan) Ross of Houston, Texas, James Hover of Niles, and Steven Hover of Grand Rapids; grandchildren, Kyler Mark, Britney Lewis, Jordan Lewis, Allie Hover, Justin Cooper, Mellisa Ernsperger, Suzanne Sater, Renee Sater and Brandon Hover; great-grandchildren, Gaige, Madison, Alexis, Bryce and Cainen; and Connie’s siblings, Delos “Dee” Capron, Jr. of Niles, Alan Capron of Fort Myers, Fla., Melanie Mark of Niles, Nanette Lowery of Niles, Marueen Rouch of Dallas, Walter Sherman of Alton, Ill., Sue Clark of Niles; and many nieces and nephews. She is also survived by her loyal companion, “Buddy”.

Connie was preceded in death by her mother, Marcella; her father and stepmother, Delos (Lenora) Capron; and by a brother, Russell Reid.

The funeral service for Connie Sue Hover will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 16, at Halbritter Funeral Home in Nileswith the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of First Presbyterian Church of Niles officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the funeral home beginning at noon Tuesday.

Contributions in memory of Connie may be made to Hospice at Home.

Gail McNitt, 88
May 18, 1924-Oct. 17, 2012

McNitt

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:21pm online Thursday, October 18, 2012

Gail William McNitt, 88, of Niles, passed away at Brentwood Assisted Living with his family by his side on Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012.
He was born on May 18, 1924, in Keeler to the late William Sylvester and Wava (Parmer) McNitt. After graduating from high school, Gail served his country proudly in the United States Army. Upon returning home from WWII, Gail’s heart was stolen by the young, beautiful Joan Alspaugh. On April 12, 1947, he wed Joan at a ceremony in South Bend and this year they celebrated 65 years of marriage.
Gail was, first and foremost, a husband, father and grandfather and he took these roles very seriously. He was an excellent provider and wonderful father. Gail spent many years at Bendix, where he was part of the team that designed the Talos Missile and at Magnavox where he worked as an electrical engineer. He was a skilled carpenter, even building his own boats, and was always tinkering; many inventions were brought to life because they solved a problem for Gail or made something easier.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Orlo and James McNitt.
He is survived by his wife, Joan McNitt of Niles; three sons, Brian (Mary Jean) McNitt of East Lansing, Terry (Linda) McNitt of Niles and Timothy (Amy) McNitt of Bellingham, Wa. He is also survived by his daughter, Kathleen Lowe of Linton, Ind.; four grandchildren, James (Jennifer) Lowe, Kendra (Rob) Lasley, Sarah McNitt and Steven Lowe; and his eight great-grandchildren, Ariel, Taylor, Jarika, Meagan, Patty, Jason, Jakob and Noah.
Those wishing to make a memorial donation may do so to the American Heart Association or Southern Care Hospice.
Photos, memories or condolences may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or www.Facebook.com/brownfuneralhomeniles.
A time of visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 21, at Brown Funeral Home. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 22, at Brown Funeral Home with the Rev. Fran Lane Lawrence officiating. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles.

Rebecca Gross, 70
July 24, 1942-Oct. 19, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published online 6:06pm Sunday, October 21, 2012

Rebecca Ann Gross, 70, of Niles, passed away on Friday, Oct. 19, 2012, at her residence with her family by her side.

Rebecca was born on July 24, 1942, in Decker, Tenn., to the late John and Josephine (Grooms) Gipson.

She married the love of her life, Kenneth Gross, on Nov. 29, 1958, at a ceremony in Niles.

Rebecca was a cook at West Woods Nursing Home of Niles for 35 years.  She enjoyed watching a good game of baseball and was a proud Cubs fan.

She is preceded in death by her parents and grandson, Dustin Kellogg.

Rebecca is survived by her husband; three sons, Kenneth (Kitt) Gross Jr. of Denver, Colo., Kevin (Cheryl) Gross of Niles, Kerry Gross of Niles; three daughters, Karen Gross-Kellogg of South Haven, Kathryn (Chris) Nicodemus of Edwardsburg, Karla Gross of Niles; 15 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, who all called her Nana; two brothers, Armon Gipson of Niles, Norman Gipson of Nashville, Tenn.; and a sister, Frances Burr, of Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, at Brown Funeral Home with a time of visitation one hour prior. Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in Rebecca’s memory to Hospice at Home, 4025 Health Park Ln., St Joseph, MI 49085.

Condolences, photos and memories may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/BrownFuneralHome.

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

Isabelle Dittmar, 84
Feb. 20, 1928-Oct. 18, 2012

Dittmar

Niles Daily Star, Published online 6:04pm Sunday, October 21, 2012

Isabelle Rose Dittmar, 84, of Niles, passed away at her home on Thursday, Oct.18, 2012, surrounded by her family, after a courageous battle.

Rose was born on Feb. 20, 1928, in Niles, to the late Warren and Anna (Steinbeck) Robbins.

On Dec. 1, 1945, Rose married Carl G. Dittmar at a ceremony in Berrien Springs.

One of her proudest accomplishments was, at the age of 50, Rose decided to further her education and graduated shortly thereafter with a degree in nursing. She was employed at Silverbrook Manor for almost thirty years. She was more than just a nurse; she was a caregiver to all of her friends and family. She loved traveling, playing cards and spending time with family and friends.

Rose is preceded in death by her parents; her husband Carl; a son, Michael Dittmar; sisters Mabel (George) Robbins, Hazel (Floyd) Horner, Eva (Cecil) Fritzgerald and Arnetta (Ingvald) Bjorkley; brothers Earl, Raymond and Frank Robbins and Leslie (Donna) Robbins.

She is survived by two sons Carl Dittmar, of Niles, and Scott (Lorie) Dittmar, of Niles; two daughters Inga (Tom) Wright, of Niles, and Robin (Donny) Pritchard, of Buchanan; daughter-in-law Honor Dittmar of Warsaw, Ind.; brother Floyd “Bud” (Christine) Robbins of Niles; sister Helen Kline, of Niles; 12 grandchildren, Christine (Michael) Hauser, Deana (Dennis) Pellow, Stephanie (Thomas) Hubbard, Becca (Taner) Dalenberg, Deon (Teresa) Dittmar, Jennifer (Ben) Murray, Derek Wright, Rochelle Reeves, Jessica (Tim) Hoover, Kaycee Wagley, Pepper (William) Linn and Tasha Dittmar; and 25 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Monday, Oct. 22, 2012, at 2:30 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home in Niles with a time of visitation starting one hour prior to the service. An interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in Rose’s memory to The American Cancer Society, Hospice at Home or to Westside Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Photos, memories, or condolences may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com orwww.Facebook.com/brownfuneralhomeniles.

Mary Lillie Fluke
Oct. 2, 1865-April 27, 1946

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 29, 1946, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Rites in Galesburg for Mrs. Mary Fluke Formerly of Niles

Funeral for Mrs. Mary Lillie Fluke, 80, former Niles resident , will take place Tuesday at 2 p.m. in Galesburg, where she died Saturday at 4 p.m.

She was born in Berrien county, Oct. 2, 1865.

Survivors include three children, Clare Fluke, Kalamazoo, Cleo Fluke, Galesburg; and Floyd Fluke, Augusta; two sisters, Mrs. Adah Hoover and Mrs. Alice Smith, both of Denver, Col.; three brothers, Frank Jones, Cassopolis; Carl Jones, Battle Creek; and Louis Jones, Satsuma, Ala.

Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery, Tuesday at 4:30 p.m.