Obituaries

Genevieve Smith, 90
1921-2011

Niles Daily Star, Published online 9:42pm Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Genevieve L. “Genny” Smith, 90, formerly of North State Street in Niles, died at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011, at Birch Adult Foster Care in Leonidas, Mich., of an extended illness.

Arrangements are being completed by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Also, Submitted by family member:

July 13, 1921 - Dec. 7, 2011 - NILES - Genevieve L. "Genny" Smith, age 90 years, formerly of North State Street in Niles, Michigan died at 9:00 a.m. Wednesday, December 7, 2011 at Birch Adult Foster Care in Leonidas, Michigan following an extended illness. Mrs. Smith was born on July 13, 1921 in Niles to Seward and Lydia (Schultz) Miller. She graduated from Niles High School in 1939 and attended Thomas College of Commerce. She retired in 1981, after 25 years of service from J.C. Penney's in Niles. She lived in Niles until moving to Lansing, Michigan in January of 2002. Genny was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Niles where she sang and played the piano, and was active in many of the church's organizations. She was also a member of the Friday Book Club in Niles, and enjoyed flower gardening. On November 17, 1945 in Niles she married Victor W. Smith who preceded her in death on August 1, 1984. Mrs. Smith is survived by their daughter, Trulane Smith of Colon, Michigan and son, Warren (& Paul Marisch) Smith of Lansing, Michigan. In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her sister, Clara Miller, who died in 1978. Funeral Services for Genevieve L. Smith will be held at 1:00 p.m. Monday at Grace United Methodist Church in Niles with Dr. Anthony Tomasino of the church officiating. Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. The family will receive relatives and friends from 2-5:00 p.m. Sunday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. Contributions in memory of Genny may be made to Grace United Methodist Church or the Smith-Marisch Music Education Scholarship Fund c/o Capital Region Community Foundation, 330 Marshall Street, Suite 300, Lansing, Michigan 48912. - Published in South Bend Tribune on December 9, 2011.

Patricia Ann Juhasz, 66
Nov. 14, 1945 — Dec. 16, 2011

Niles Daily Star, Published online 5:53pm Sunday, December 18, 2011

Patricia Ann Juhasz, 66, of South 16th Street in Niles, died at 11:58 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16, 2011, at Memorial Hospital, South Bend, Ind., following a brief illness.

Patricia Ann Juhasz

She was born on Nov. 14, 1945, in Miami, Fla., to Kennith and Sofie (Wantuck) Ponder. She graduated from Brandywine High School, earned her LPN from Southwestern Michigan College and has lived in Niles all of her life.
She was a veteran of the Vietnam war, serving in the U.S. Navy. She was employed at Fapco Inc. of Buchanan, retiring in April of 2011, following 20 years of service. She was a member of Saint Mark Catholic Church, Niles, and enjoyed gardening and caring for her yard at home.
On July 12, 1969, at Saint Mark Catholic Church, she married Ernest “Ernie” Juhasz, who survives Also surviving are their children, Ernest Juhasz of Fort Myers Beach, Fla., and Jennifer Wilson of Mishawaka, Ind.; a granddaughter, Samantha Wilson; and a brother, Michael Ponder of Sheboygan, Wisc., and a sister, Mary Kempfer of Michigan City, Ind.
The Catholic Funeral Liturgy will be read at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011, at the Halbritter Funeral Homes, Niles by the Rev. Thomas King, of Saint Mark Catholic Church. Committal rites will follow at the graveside at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and will conclude with full military honors by American Legion Post 51 of Buchanan and the U.S. Navy Honor Guard.
The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Contributions in memory of Juhasz may be made to the HealthWell Foundation, P.O. box 4133, Gaithersburg, Md., 20885-4133.

David P. Kloko, 48
Dec. 22, 1962-July 18, 2011

Niles Daily Star, Published online 12:33pm Friday, July 22, 2011

David P. Kloko, 48, passed away at his home unexpectedly, but of natural causes, Monday, July 18, 2011.

David P. Kloko, 48

Kloko was born Dec. 22, 1962 in Niles to Dale Richard Kloko and Shirley Elaine (Dreibelbis) Kloko.

He graduated from Niles High School and Southwestern Michigan College, and was a lifetime resident of this area.

He was employed by the Indiana Toll Road Authority. He was formerly employed by TeleRad in Benton Harbor. He attended Hope Community Church, where he was a musician. He served in the United States Army during peacetime.

He is survived by son Michal D. Kloko of Niles; mother Shirley Kloko of Niles; sister Cheryl (and Terry) Bartel of Fredonia, Wisc.; and brother Richard (and Lucy) Kloko of Kalamazoo.

He was preceded in death by father Dale Richard Kloko and sister Karen Waldron, who died in 1993.

Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Monday, July 25 at Hope Community Church, Niles with The Rev. Michael Smith of Hope Community Church officiating.

Friends may call beginning at 2 p.m. Monday at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to Hope Community Church.

Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Vera Bruner, 92

Niles Daily Star, Published online 10:15pm Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Vera Bruner, 92

Vera Belle Bruner, 92, of Riveridge Manor, Niles, died at 6:31 a.m. Monday, Jan. 16, 2012, at Riveridge Manor of natural causes.

No services will be held. Cremation has taken place.

Doris Darlene Dunifin Biggs
Nov. 2, 1937-May 30, 2009

Niles Daily Star, Published online 9:48pm Monday, June 1, 2009

By Staff

Doris Darlene Dunifin Biggs, 71, of Thomson Road, Niles, died at 7:45 p.m. Saturday, May 30, 2009, at the Hospice House, South Bend, Ind.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 4, at Buchanan Seventh Day Adventist Church, with Pastor Karl Tsatalbasidis, officiating.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, June 3, at Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan.

She was born on Nov. 2, 1937, in Niles to Floyd and Inza Dunifin.

She was a member of the Buchanan Seventh Day Adventist Church, and was baptized on April 16, 2005. She was a homemaker and lived her lifetime in Niles.

She loved her church family and her volunteer work at the Niles City Library.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

She was very active in genealogy research. She spent many years doing research of the family back to the 1600s.

On Dec. 12, 1955, in St. Joseph, she married Walter L. Biggs, who survives.

Surviving family also includes three sons, Walter Earl Biggs of Pembroke Pines, Fla., William John Biggs of South Bend, Ind. and Bruce Allen Biggs of Cheyenne, Wyo.; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; brothers, Edward Dunifin of Cassopolis and Robert Dunifin of Niles; and sisters, Dorothy Wallace of Buchanan and Bernice Black of Mishawaka, Ind.

She loved her family home and her flowers. She loved their trips all over the United States.

Memorials may be made to Hospice House of South Bend, Ind. and the American Cancer Society.

Arrangements were by Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan.

Lewis Zechlin, 74
Jan. 13, 1938 — Jan. 30, 2012

Niles Daily Star,Published online 8:25pm Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Lewis “Sparky” Zechlin, 74, of Niles, passed away at his home Monday, Jan. 30, 2012.

Sparky was born Jan. 13, 1938, to the late Eli and Marie (Smith) Zechlin in Niles.

On June 3, 1961, Sparky wed the love of his life, Patricia (Cottrell) Zechlin.

Sparky was in retail sales for 35 years until he retired. Sparky and his family will always have wonderful memories of their time up north and the countless hours watching the Chicago Bears in his basement.

After his retirement Sparky couldn’t resist and went back to work as a pizza delivery driver for Saylor’s Pizza, where he was fondly known as “Sparky the Pizza Man” by many around town.

He is preceded in death by his parents; wife; son, Michael Zechlin; and sister, Martha Vernier.

Sparky is survived by his daughter, Kim Zechlin, of Niles; sister, Doris Kennedy of Niles; and one grandson.

A memorial service to honor Sparky’s life will be held Thursday, Feb. 2, at 1 p.m. with a time of visitation two hours prior. Sparky will be interred at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Those wishing to make memorial donations may do so to the family.

Those wishing to leave a message of comfort, upload a photo or send their condolences to the family 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.