Obituaries

Alida May Keeler
May 19, 1879-Nov. 10, 1957

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 11, 1957, page 2, col 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Alida May Keeler, 78, of 1530 Cherry Street, a resident of this community since 1899, died at 4:40 p.m. Sunday in Pawating Hospital where she had been a patient since Sept. 12. She had been ill since July.

Mrs. Keeler was born May 19, 1870, in Monroe, Mich., and was a member of the First Methodist Church here. Her husband, M.W. Keeler, died in 1945.

Surviving are: a daughter, Miss Esther Keeler, of Niles; three sons, Horace Keeler, of Elkhart, Ind., Carrol Keeler, of Berrien Springs, and Kenneth Keeler, of South Bend; three grandchildren; one great grandchild; a sister, Mrs. Walter Pope, of San Rafael, Calif., and a brother, George Loose, of Monroe, Mich.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Pifer Funeral Home here with the Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor of the First Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Allen L. Pratt, 73
Oct. 24, 1937 — Dec. 26, 2011

Allen L. Pratt, 73, of Knott Road, Niles, died at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 26, 2011, at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles.

Allen L. Pratt

He was born Oct. 24, 1937, in Bourbon, Ind., to Leroy and Erma (Lemler) Pratt and was raised by his father and stepmother, Winifred Pratt. He moved to the South Bend area at the age of 12. Allen was a retired Master Senior Chief Petty Officer in the US Navy.  He was a service manager at Coit’s in South Bend and worked for Tem Pace in Niles.

On June 15, 1957, in Niles, he married the former Alice Hargreaves, who survives. Also surviving are their sons, Ricky Pratt and Michael Leroy Pratt, both of Niles, and their daughter, Sheila Mazingo of Cassopolis, nine grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, his sisters, Elaine Whitfield of Mishawaka and Betty Vance of North Carolina, stepsister Joan Walton of Kansas and an aunt, Frances Lemler of Bourbon.

Mr. Pratt was preceded in death by his father, mother, stepmother and sister, Diane Liggett.

The funeral service for Allen L. Pratt will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2011, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Pastor Jeffrey L. Whitaker of Michiana Christian Embassy officiating.  Internment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and conclude with Full Military Honors by the United States Navy Honor Guard and American Legion Post 51, Buchanan.

The family will receive friends and relatives beginning one hour before the service at the funeral home. Contributions in memory of Allen may be made to the American Cancer Society or American Lung Association.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 7:49pm Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Catherine G. Villeneuve, 90
Feb. 1, 1921 — Dec. 27, 2011

Catherine G. Villeneuve, 90, of Niles died at 4:40 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011, at Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles following a brief illness.

She was born on Feb. 1, 1921, in Niles to Frank and Catarina (Frucci) Frucci. She graduated from Niles High School and lived here all of her life. She was a court reporter, and served Judge Norman Kopec in the Saint Joseph ounty (Indiana) Superior Court for 20 years.

Mrs. Villeneuve was a life-long member of First Presbyterian Church, Niles. She coordinated the blood drives for the Berrien County Chapter of the American Red Cross for many years. She volunteered with the Adult Literacy Council. She was a member of The Prairie Club for preservation of Lake Michigan shoreline, the Abbey Players of First Presbyterian Church, and the Seepewa Reading Club of Niles. She enjoyed playing bridge and gardening.

On July 12, 1945, in Charlevoix, she married Robert D. Villeneuve who preceded her in death on Nov. 24, 1985. She was also preceded in death by their son, Craig Villeneuve on Dec. 9, 1980; her adoptive parents, Burton 7 Olga Giddings, M.D.; and by her brother, Gentilo T. “Tony” Frucci, and sisters, Brondi Callendar and Celeste Shively.

Catherine is survived by her son, Todd S. Villeneuve of South Bend, Ind.; and granddaughter, Sarah Elizabeth Villeneuve; and Catherine’s brothers, Frank Frucci of San Franciso, Calif., and Joseph Frucci of Coral Gables, Fla.

The funeral service for Catherine G. Villeneuve will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of the church officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles. Contributions in memory of Catherine may be made to the Niles District Library.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 7:55pm Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Pauline B. Neese, 88
March 17, 1923 — Dec. 27, 2011

Pauline B. Neese, age 88 years of Dayflower in Niles and longtime resident of Shamrock Drive, Niles, died at 8:28 p.m. Tuesday, December 27, 2011 following an extended illness.

She was born on March 17, 1923 in Chicago to Guy and Marjorie (McIntosh) Bryant, and graduated from high school in Chicago. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Education from the University of Omaha (Nebraska), and a Masters degree in education from Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo. She has lived in Michigan since the 1940s and taught special education in Brandywine, Niles, and Berrien Springs.

Pauline was a member of the Michigan Education Association and other professional organizations. She enjoyed sewing, especially making her own clothing, traveling throughout the United States by motorhome, and enjoyed her pets, many of which came as stray cats.

On Feb. 8, 1958 in Flint, Michigan she married Walter Neese, who survives. Also surviving are the children, Robert (& Ginna) Dyche of Basalt, Colorado, Susan (& Terry) Mason of Dowagiac, Michigan and Jerry (& Peggy) Dyche of Buchanan, Michigan; grandchildren Vikie Mason, Angela (& Andy) Hipskind, Robin (& Matthew) Hall, Ryan (& Jami) Mason, and Jeremy Dyche; and great grandchildren, Mason Hall, Gavin Hall, Charlie Hipskind, and Drew Hipskind.

Pauline was preceded in death by her parents, and by her brother, Robert Bryant.

The funeral service for Pauline B. Neese will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, December 31, 2011 at the Halbritter Funeral Home with Chaplain Scott Labbe of Hospice at Home officiating. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Contributions in memory of Pauline may be made to pet refuge.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 6:01pm Thursday, December 29, 2011

Geraldine Finley, 83
Sept. 12, 1928 — Dec. 19, 2011

Geraldine Romaine “Gerry” Finley, 83, of Bluff Street, Niles, died at 5:20 a.m., Monday, Dec. 19, 2011, at

Finley

Michiana Health & Rehabilitation, Mishawaka, Ind., following an extended illness.

She was born Sept. 12, 1928, in Chicago, to Frank A. and Romaine (Hunter) Edmondson. She graduated from Covert High School, and had lived in Niles most of her life. She was employed at Simplicity Pattern Co. for 36 years, retiring in 1986.

Mrs. Finley was a member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Niles, where she served on the Welcome Committee. She also volunteered with the Pawating Auxiliary at Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles.

She was married on March 12, 1948 in Covert Michigan to Harold J. Finley, with whom she celebrated the 63rd anniversary of that wedding this year.

Gerry is survived by her husband, Harold; and by her sons, Darwin Finley (Esther) of Niles and Vernon Finley (Yvonne) of Redland, Calif.; grandchildren, Cary, Darwin II, Tonja, Jennifer, Adia and Cory; and great-grandchildren, Cary Jr, and Mason, De’mia, Ariana and Alasia, Xavier and Kalae, Serenity and Jaylen.

She is preceded in death by her parents and her brothers, Clarence Edmondsen and Frank Edmondson.

The funeral service for Geraldine Finley will be at noon Friday, Dec. 23, at Mount Calvary Baptist Church, 601 Ferry St., Niles, with the Rev. Bryant L. Bacon of the church officiating.  Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Relatives and friends may call at the church beginning at 11 a.m. Friday.  Contributions in memory of Geraldine may be made to Mount Calvary Baptist Church.

Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 10:56pm Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Richard Newman, 84
June 22, 1927 — Dec. 19, 2011

Richard E. Newman, 84, of Sioux Trail, Niles, died at 4:10 a.m. Monday, Dec. 19, 2011, at West Woods of Niles.

He was born June 22, 1927, in East Lansing, Mich., to Joseph M. Newman and Clyle (Hoffmyer) Newman.

He lived in Niles since 1973.

He was a district sales manager for Amaco Oil and retired in 1971. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Niles, where he served as a deacon. He was a United States Navy veteran.

He married Delores (Metz) Newman on May 28, 1947, in Angola, Ind. She died June 28, 2000.

Richard is survived by his daughter, Linda Cantwell, of Lowell, Mich.; son, Rick Newman, of Angola, Ind.; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and Shirley Renfrow, of Overland Park, Kan.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 22, at the graveside at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of the church officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call one hour prior to services at the graveside.

Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Foundation of First Presbyterian Church in Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 10:58pm Tuesday, December 20, 2011