Edgar Burke Reading
April 6, 1899-Dec. 5, 1924

Niles Daily Star, December 6, 1924, page 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles Friends Are Shocked by Death of Edgar Reading
Theology Student Takes Life In New York Seminary

Sorrow was brought to the many Niles friends of Edgar M.[correction Edgar Burke] Reading, 25, on Friday afternoon with the announcement received by his mother, Mrs. E. M. Reading, of his death in New York, where he was taking a course in theology at Union seminary, 600 West 122^nd street.  A student of the seminary will bring the body to Niles, although just when it will reach here is not known.  Arrangements for the funeral are not decided upon.

The fact that the young man took his own life by drinking poison while despondent over ill health adds to the crushing sorrow of his widowed mother and host of friends.  While Mr. Reading was known to be in ill health, his condition was not considered alarming, although after consulting with a physician in New York, fellow students stated that Mr. Reading had been lead to think his condition was hopeless.

Mr. Reading had spent most of his life in Chicago.  He was the only child of the late Dr. E. M. Reading and Mrs. Clara Burke Reading, the former for many years a physician in Chicago.  Dr. Reading’s death occurred about a year ago at their home seven miles North of Niles

A note left to his mother, which she has not yet received, and which may help explain his act was left by the young man.  Another note left to the school authorities directed that some of his personal effects be distributed among his friends among the students.

Mr. Reading was completing his course at Union seminary.  He was graduated from the University of Chicago, and had taken a course at Union seminary two years ago, and after an interruption of a year had returned to New York late this fall.

A life of usefulness and service to an unusual degree for one of his years is ended with the death of Mr. Reading, but many will long retain memories of the splendid qualities of the young man.  Possibly the strain of an unselfish service that taxed his strength too greatly, and the fear that he might not carry out his ambitions to give greater service, offers the only explanation of his rash deed.

Mr. Reading was especially interested in work among boys.  His leadership and instruction to boys at summer camps will leave a lifetime impression upon the lives of a large number of Niles boys.

South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Indiana), Monday, December 8, 1924, page 2, @Newspapers.com

BRING BODY HOME
Edgar M. Reading, Student at Theological Seminary Takes Life.

The Tribune's Special Services

NILES, Mich., Dec. 8.--The body of Edgar M. Reading, Niles student at Union Theological seminary in Hew York, was brought to Niles, and taken to the home his mother, Mrs. E.M. Reading seven miles north of Niles. The funeral services will probably be held on Tuesday. Mr. Reading who was studying for the ministry, and who had been active in local church work, and especially as a worker with boys, took poison while despondent over ill-health, it is stated. He left a note for his mother, which she has not yet received. He was 25 years old, a graduate of University of Chicago, and was completing his work at Union seminary after a summer spent at home. His father, Dr. E. M. Reading, a Chicago physician for many years, died last year.

Chicago Tribune (Chicago, Illinois), Sunday, December 7, 1924, page 10, @ Newspapers.com

READING—Edgar B. Reading, beloved son of Mrs. Clara B. Reading and the late Dr. E.M. Reading of Berrien Springs, Mich., and nephew of Dr. Arthur H. Reading, suddenly in New York city. Funeral notice later.

Jerry E. Brann
Sept. 21, 1939-June 3, 2021

BrownFuneralHomeNiles.Com

Obituary of Jerry Brann

Denise Lane, of Niles
Dec. 1, 1957-June 3, 2021

Niles Daily Star, Published 5:04 pm Thursday, June 3, 2021

Denise Lane, 63, of Niles, passed away Thursday, June 3, 2021, at her home. Arrangements are pending and entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Niles. BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Leonard Cameron
July 8, 1956 ~ June 3, 2021 (age 64)

Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home:  Obituary

Leonard Thomas Cameron, age 64 years of Niles, Michigan, husband, brother, uncle, printer, fisherman, and joker died peacefully at 11:46 p.m. on Thursday, June 3, 2021 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana following a brief illness.

He was born on July 8, 1956 in South Bend to Thomas J. and Mila (Yeager) Cameron, and was graduated from Niles High School.  He began his career as a printer at the former Arnold Corporation in Niles (now Photographic Backdrop), and then was employed for many years at the former The Relizon Corporation in Goshen, Indiana (now WorkflowOne).  He was proficient in a wide variety of print technology from letterpress – arranging individual cast metal letters upside-down and backwards to be inked and pressed onto paper – to the most advanced four-color offset lithography including several years of producing a calendar of amazing animal photographs for an area zoo.

In addition to the printing arts, Lenny was quite capable to maintain and repair the complex and precise machinery of both sheet and web printing.  Always willing to support the effort, he would load the delivery truck and drive that truck to the waiting customer.  His career spanned more than thirty-five years, and he was still actively engaged when the pandemic of 2020 brought staff reductions his last shop.

Len attended the Apostolic Temple Church in South Bend.  He enjoyed fishing on Stone Lake in Cassopolis and the Smith Lakes, and had hunted many years ago; but his outdoor interests also included trail-riding on 4x4s through the former railroad yards north of Terminal Road, tubing on Dowagiac Creek, and visiting the Lake Michigan beaches, especially the beach near Silver Beach Pizza.  He was even known to ride the Silver Beach Carousel.

All of these activities were better when shared with others, and Len loved his family.  He had a reputation – well deserved – as a “workaholic”, always ready to meet production schedules at the printshop, but every moment away from the shop was family time.  Some of his vocational skills were used to repair appliances, machines, and vehicles for his own home and for relatives and friends.  Maintaining things – instead of replacing them – served well his reputation for frugality.  He also displayed a quick wit, offering humorous “zingers” and amusing sarcasm, and was known to play a practical joke on those closest to him.

Len always had a pet dog, usually of the Australian Shepherd breed.  Those pets included Pandi, Honey, Ebony, Maude, Ben, Annie, Bella, and the survivor, Buddy.  He also volunteered with his wife at animal resuces.

On May 1, 1982 he married the former Cynthia Jean Cichos, with whom he celebrated last month the thirty-ninth anniversary of their wedding.  They were sadly preceded in death by an infant daughter, Victoria Rose Cameron on March 31, 1992.  He was also preceded in death by his father, Thomas Cameron and siblings Shelley Polashak, Eddie Yeager, Kevin West, Crystal Jones and Kurt Lee Jones, Sr.

Surviving family includes his wife, Cindy Cameron; his mother, Mila Yeager of Hartford, Michigan, and Len’s siblings, Rose (& Roy) Smith of Galien, Michigan, Stacey (& Chris) Oxley of Lawton, Michigan, and brother-in-law, Terry Polashak of Benton Harbor, Michigan, Mary Curtis of Niles, Luke (& Cookie) Jones of Washington, Matt (& Alice) Jones of Buchanan, Michigan, and John Jones of Niles; and many nieces and nephews.  Also surviving are Cindy’s siblings, James Cichos of Niles, Jeffrey Cichos of LaGrange, Indiana, Cheri Eberhart (widow of Fred) of Mishawaka, Indiana, and Lauri (& Richard) Olson of Jasper, Indiana; and two nieces, Charlotte and Priscilla Olson.

The funeral service for Leonard Cameron will be at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 8, 2021 in the chapel of the Silverbrook Abbey mausoleum in Silverbrook Cemetery, 1400 East Main Street in Niles, with Pastor Chris Rowe of the Apostolic Temple Church officiating.  Burial will follow at the graveside near the Abbey.  The most current health guidelines will be practiced.  Others may witness the service via the livestreamed broadcast on the Halbritter-Wickens Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/halbritterwickensfuneralservices/.

The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at Noon on Tuesday at the Abbey.  Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles.  Online condolences may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

Len’s dedication to his craft was also an intent to serve his employer and customers well.  Coming home from “work” to work on repairs at home was evidence of his desire to care for his family.  And his enjoyment of nature and creation all showed a life of Loving People and Loving God.

Debora Strugar, of Niles
April 1, 1959-May 26, 2021

Niles Daily Star, Published 3:29 pm Wednesday, June 2, 2021

April 1, 1959 — May 26, 2021

Debora Strugar, 62, of Niles, passed in Memorial Hospital of South Bend on Wednesday, May 26, 2021.

Deb was born on April 1, 1959, in Dowagiac to the late John and Nancy Ottinger.

On Jan. 22, 2002, in Las Vegas, she married Donald G. Strugar, who survives.

She is also survived by her children; James (Renee) Hamilton, of Goshen, Indiana, and Melissa (Dustin) Brabank, of Niles; stepchildren, Shannon (James) Trauscht, of Matson, Illinois, Donald M (Lisa) Strugar, of Boston, Massachusetts; grandchildren, Austin Hamilton, Keristen Shafer, Hailey Wieczorkowski; step-grandchildren, Andrew, Mitchel and Maggie Trauscht, Katie, Donny, Johnathon, Jeffery and Steven Strugar. She is also survived by her brothers, John (Ann) Ottinger, of Niles, and Doug (Terri) Ottinger, of South Bend.

Deb attended Summit Church. She was an amazing seamstress and loved being creative and doing crafts of any kind. Deb found joy in doing things for others. She loved all people and they all loved her. She and Don always looked forward to their annual trip to the Pigeon Forge area and visiting her family in South Carolina. Deb and Don enjoyed going out to dinner together. Most of all Deb loved her family and being able to be with her grandchildren and great grandchildren gave her great joy and happiness.

Visitation for Deb will be on Thursday, June 3, 2021, from 9 to 10 a.m. in Summit Church, 1700 W. River Road, Niles. A funeral service will begin at 10 a.m., with Pastor Dan Miller officiating. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Halbritter Wickens Funeral Home 615 E. Main St. Niles.

Elmer J. Subera, of Cassopolis
Jan. 10, 1934-May 25, 2021

Niles Daily Star, Published 4:19 pm Thursday, May 27, 2021

Jan. 10, 1934 — May 25, 2021

Elmer J. Subera, 87, of Cassopolis, husband, father, grandfather, mechanical engineer, farmer, and a Godly man died peacefully at 6:45 p.m. on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, comfortably at-home, with his wife at his bedside. His family is grateful for the kind and compassionate care provided by the staff of Caring Circle Hospice at Home.

He was born on Jan. 10, 1934, on the family farm near Hillsboro – “The Czech Capital of Wisconsin” – to Albert and Anna (Picha) Subera. He was graduated from Hillsboro High School, and loved farming, but not milking cows, so he moved to Chicago, Illinois to attend DeVry Technical Institute. He came to Niles in 1963 to work at the former Niles plant of Tyler Refrigeration Company.

At Tyler’s, Elmer was a refrigeration engineer in the research and development center. He traveled throughout the U.S. to help with challenging technical issues and new installations, and traveled internationally to research product development for South Korea, China, England, Spain, and Germany. He was a member of the Refrigeration Service Engineer Society, and instructed some courses at DeVry Tech. He retired from Tyler’s in 1999 after a remarkable 36-year career, having never been sent to Alaska or Hawaii, much to his wife’s disappointment.

Elmer was a member of the Michiana Christian Embassy where he also taught the Men’s Monday Night Bible Study, served as a Deacon, used his engineering aptitude to help Willie with maintenance issues, and helped staff the sound booth. He enjoyed fishing in area lakes, and always accepted invitations to go golfing — a word that he reversed to better reflect his game of “flogging.” His lifelong love of farming was evident in the acres of field corn grown around the house, and the annual garden which produced fruits and vegetables in abundance, allowing for canning and pickling.

On July 11, 1970, at the Niles First Church of Christ Christian he was married to the former Joyce M. (Finch) Hennip with whom he celebrated last year the remarkable 50th anniversary of their wedding.

Surviving family includes his wife, Joyce Subera and their children, Allen (& Kristi) Subera, of Goshen, Indiana, and Amy (& Jon) Pedzinski of Niles; grandchildren Emily Pedzinski, Zachary Subera, Levi Subera, and Noah Subera; Elmer’s sister, Gladys Boe, of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by Joyce’s 9-year-daughter, Terra Hennip, on Aug. 5, 1975; by his parents, and by his siblings, Rudolph Subera, Raymond Subera, and Libby Subera.

The funeral service for Elmer Subera will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, at the Michiana Christian Embassy, 1922 East Main Street in Niles with the Rev. Jeffrey Whittaker of the church officiating. Committal will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. The most current health guidelines will be practiced. Others may witness the service via the livestreamed broadcast on the Halbritter-Wickens Facebook page: facebook.com/halbritterwickensfuneralservices.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday at the church beginning at 10:00 a.m. Contributions in memory of Elmer may be made to the Michiana Christian Embassy, 1922 East Main Street, Niles, Michigan, 49120, michianachristianembassy.com. Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles. Online condolences may be left at halbritterwickens.com.

Elmer’s interest in farming and in research, and even in fishing and golfing indicated a fascination with God’s creation. His greater interest in his family and church indicated a passion for God’s people; altogether fulfilling the command to Love People and Love God.