Betty Lucille Farmer
Jan. 7, 1928-Oct. 5, 2021

Brown Funeral Services website:

Obituary of Betty Lucille Farmer

Elloise Deibler, formerly of Niles
Feb. 25, 1930-Nov. 2, 2021

Niles Daily Star, Published online 3:13 pm Monday, November 8, 2021

Elloise Charlotte (Lute) Deibler, 91, formerly of Niles, passed away peacefully with her family at her side on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021 at her home in Portage, Michigan.

Kevin L. Ditson, of South Bend
Nov. 16, 1960-Nov. 6, 2021

Niles Daily Star, Published online 3:38 pm Monday, November 8, 2021

Nov. 16, 1960 — Nov. 6, 2021

Kevin L. Ditson, 60, of South Bend, formerly of Niles, peacefully passed away on Nov. 6, 2021, suddenly, of natural causes.

He was born on Nov. 16, 1960, in Buchanan, Michigan to the Wayne A. Ditson and the late Barbara L. (Vinnedge) Ditson.

Kevin was a lot of things throughout his life but what he took the most pride in was his family. He met the love of his life, Kandice Renee Lintz, when she was just 15 years old and the rest is history. The two were married on June 14, 1980, in Niles. Shortly after their marriage they started a family of their own and had two daughters, Tina and Hollie. He was a son, a brother, a loving father, a caring husband and a supportive papa. He valued every minute he had with his family and did his best to instill his hard work ethic, charismatic personality, and his love for sports and music into his kids and grandkids. He wasn’t a man that did anything with half of an effort. He took pride in his massive, colorful gardens, his collection of over five hundred vinyl records, and his stockpile of over two-thousand cd’s. He also had quite the competitive edge; he loved the Nebraska Huskers football team, Notre Dame Hockey, and every team that his grandchildren played for. Kevin was the kind of papa that never missed a game, and probably enjoyed the victories just as much as the kids playing. Outside of his family, Kevin also had a special place in his heart for nature. He kept house plants, an avid bird watcher, and did his best at raising crops. He was the kind of guy that had his hand in a little bit of everything. His natural charismatic personality was a great asset with the work he did as a salesman for Davro’s car sales in South Bend as well as several local dealerships. People were always at ease with him and he was an easy person to trust. One of the traits that Kevin had that will be extremely missed is his thoughtfulness. He had a knack for making people special and always put his full effort into all of the relationships that he developed. He made a habit out of pumping gas for his wife and was a great example of what it meant to be chivalrous. Although Kevin’s life seemed to have been cut short, his legacy and the example he set will live on forever.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Barbara Lynn (Vinnedge) Ditson.

He is survived by his father, Wayne Ditson of Niles; his loving wife, Kandice (Lintz) Ditson, of South Bend; both of his daughters, Tina (Dustin) Foster, of Granger, and Hollie (Troy) Krueger of Niles; five grandchildren, Drew, Jake, Blake, Rosemary, and Levi; his only sibling, Lonnie Ditson of Elkhart and his son, Danny Ditson, of Edwardsburg; Kandi’s parents, James and Geneva Lintz, of Niles; her siblings, Kathy (Danny) Vaughn of Elkhart and Keith (Liz) Lintz, of Dowagiac as well as several nieces and nephews; and many other extended family members and friends.

A public visitation will be held for Kevin will be held on Thursday, Nov. 11, 2021, beginning at 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services with funeral services beginning at 1 p.m. with Pastor Jeff Whittaker officiating. Kevin will be laid to rest near his mother at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

Condolences, photos, and memories may be left for the family at BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

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

Linda Funnell, of Niles
Jan. 17, 1949-June 3, 2020

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:34 am Saturday, June 6, 2020

Michael Leslie FunNell
Nov. 2, 1942-Nov. 6, 2021

Niles Daily Star, Published online 3:31 pm Monday, November 8, 2021

Nov. 2, 1942 — Nov. 6, 2021

Michael Leslie FunNell, Built the American Dream, Joined Our Lord at 79.

Woodrow and Mildred FunNell welcomed their son Michael on Nov. 2, 1942, at Lee Memorial Hospital in Dowagiac, Michigan. Not long after, they moved their children to Howard Township where they worked their small sustainable farm and lived off the land. Young Michael walked to Coulter school through fourth grade, attended Howard Ellis Elementary through eighth grade, and graduated from Niles Senior High School in 1961.

Growing up in rural Cass County, Mikey was very involved in farming and his local 4-H club. He traversed the local creek beds and woods, and helped on the Burns’ family farms. In high school, he was a member of the Future Farmers of America where his mentor suggested he apply for a scholarship to the Agricultural College of the State of Michigan. Following high school, he became a Spartan where he was a member of the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps, and enjoyed many activities along the Red Cedar.

On a weekend visit home, he attended a square dance in Newton Woods where he met his wife Linda K. Johnson of 53 years. During his final year at MSU, he and his brother enlisted in the Army during the Vietnam conflict. On a weekend leave, Mike traveled home again and married Linda on Dec. 18, 1966, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Niles where they were life-long members and served the congregation immeasurably. Following their union, they traveled back to Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, and he served the remainder of his service at Vint Hill Farms Station near Warrenton, Virginia.

After returning home for the last time from Virginia, Mike and Linda purchased his late (Levi and Olive FunNell) Grandparents’ farm in Niles, and they began rebuilding their own sustainable 10-acre hobby farm. It was there that they raised a son and two daughters, innumerable market hogs, sheep, cows and their calves, dairy goats, flocks and flocks of poultry of all varieties, always a cat and dog or two, a very large vegetable garden each summer, and Mom’s horses.

Over the years, Mike was employed by the Kawneer Door Company, National Standard, and retired from the Niles Community School Corporation. Most evenings and weekends he could be found at a local high school athletic event, a livestock or farm auction, watching the Spartans, or another college football game, with one eye open, tinkering on his farm, or serving at church. He leisured in raising hogs and poultry, rotating eggs in his many incubators, moving chicks from the hatchery to their flock, and selling eggs. He was a master of all trades, could build anything from scraps, never shied from work, and was wise beyond his years. For years and years, every Sunday after church and “dinner,” the girls would go for a trail ride so that he could take a long overdue nap during a pro-football game, or work on the latest farm project.

Mike’s retirement abruptly changed when he suffered a series of strokes nearly two years ago. Not long after, Linda was diagnosed with cancer and passed several months later. Despite paralysis and losing his ability to speak with his family, it brought them together much more closely and they found new ways to continue Dad’s antics and banter.

He passed peacefully in his sleep at home on Nov. 6, 2021. His life continues to be admired and celebrated by his three children: Timothy (Pam) and their children Brandi (Tyler Richardson and their daughter Everli) and Tyler Leighton, all of Elkhart; daughter Deniece, of Niles; and daughter, Jessica (Tim Todd), of Saline and their children Andrew and Alexandra. Also surviving are his sister, Florine, of Niles, brother, Wesley (Marilyn), of Shelbyville, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In light of the on-going COVID-19 Pandemic, his family will welcome family and friends for a brief visitation on Friday, Nov. 12, 2021, from 10 a.m. to noon at St. Paul Lutheran Church, located at 1340 Sycamore St., Niles, Michigan 49120. A viewing for family will begin at 9:30 a.m. A short service will follow the visitation (Noon) officiated by Revered Don Neuendorf, of St. Paul Ann Arbor. Internment will take place for both Linda and Michael at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

In lieu of flowers, friends may send gifts to these charitable organizations: Michigan 4-H Foundation, your local chapter of the Future Farmers of America, or Caring Circle Hospice of Lakeland Hospital.

Memories of Mike may be shared with his family at BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

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

Mike’s family would like to extend their sincerest appreciation to their friends and family, colleagues and co-workers, the many families of St. Paul, Caring Circle Hospice, and Brown Funeral Home for all of their prayers, physical, and emotional support over the last year.

Virgil Felhauer
March 28, 1927-November 9, 2021

Halbritter-Wickens Funeral website:

Obituary

Virgil Raymond Felhauer, age 94 years, of South Bend, Indiana died at 12:03 p.m. on Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend following a brief illness.

He was born on March 28, 1927 in Niles, Michigan to Albert and Ruby H. (Horner) Felhauer, and was graduated from Niles High School.  In April of 1946 he reported for duty with the United States Army, and was stationed in Japan as a stock clerk in the Medical Division.  He was Honorably Discharged after a year – and the end of the war – having spent many weeks of his tour of duty riding on troop ships in the Pacific Ocean.  He had been promoted to Technician Third Grade (equal to a Staff Sergeant), and was a Veteran of World War II.

Virgil was employed for most of his career at Adams Remco, serving as business manager in the headquarters office in South Bend until his retirement.  He enjoyed golfing, usually at Plym Park Golf Course in Niles and Bent Oak Golf Club in Elkhart, Indiana.  At home, he was well-known for his carefully maintained lawn and his commitment to keeping that lawn free of all of the oak leaves.  He and his wife have lived in South Bend for fifty years, and often visited of Port Charlotte, Florida in the winter.

On January 16, 1946 at the First Presbyterian Church in Niles he married the former V. Emmajean Eckert with whom he celebrated this year the remarkable Seventy-fifth Anniversary of their wedding.  They were sadly preceded in death by a grandson, John A. Thompson on November 5, 1995; and by  their daughter, Pamela J. Brown on October 28, 2014; and by Virgil’s brother, LeRoy Felhauer and sister, Edith Hopper.

Surviving family includes his wife, Emmajean Felhauer; a son, Kent R. (& Denise) Felhauer of La Porte, Indiana; a son-in-law, Phillip L. (& Penny) Brown of Elkhart, Indiana; grandchildren Lindsy Felhauer and Michael Brown; and several nieces and nephews.

The family of Virgil Felhauer is gathering privately at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles for funeral services with Pastor Jim Wing of Niles officiating.  Committal will be in the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Mr. Felhauer may be made to an organization of the donor’s choice.  Online condolences may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

Virgil’s life seemed to have a theme of orderliness: maintaining the military hospital stockroom in a manner that brought promotions, managing the business office of a regional business company, and keeping the yard neat and tidy.  But he did so quietly and humbly, making life better for those around him.