Samuel Caleb James Gonzales, of Benton Harbor
April 9, 2003-Jan. 15, 2021

Niles Daily Star, Published 2:50 pm Friday, January 22, 2021

April 9, 2003 — Jan. 15, 2021

Samuel Caleb James Gonzales, 17, of Benton Harbor, Michigan, son, grandson, athlete, outdoorsman, and friend to everyone he met died at 8:20 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, at Beacon Children’s Hospital in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, Indiana from injuries suffered in a motor vehicle accident on Jan. 8, 2021. His family is grateful for the first responders and hospital staff whose care helped provide one more week of life.

He was born on April 9, 2003, in Saint Joseph, Michigan to Nicole Renee Hernandez and Mat-thew James Gonzales. He was a senior at the W.A.Y. Eau Claire (Michigan) High School and had previously attended Niles Community Schools. He worked part-time at the McDonald’s restaurant in Benton Harbor, and has lived in this area all of his life.

Sam was a member of the football, basketball, and track teams at Eau Claire. He enjoyed hunting throughout the area, fishing in area waters, and had fished in four of the Great Lakes. He also enjoyed camping, often on the shore of Lake Erie, but his greatest passion was riding on the Niles Skate Park.

Surviving family includes his mother, Nicole Hernandez of Benton Harbor and his father, Matt Gonzales, of Niles; grandparents Barbara Jones-Tokarz of Benton Harbor, Michael (& Robin) Flannery of Niles, and Lupe Gonzales of Benton Harbor; Sam’s siblings, Kiera Drake, Ja’korie Hernandez, Alandra, Avy’anna, and Aniyiah, Gonzales, and Vernon Price, Jr.; and an amazing circle of great friends.

The funeral service for Sam Gonzales was at noon on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, at the Michiana Christian Embassy, 1922 E. Main St. in Niles with the Rev. Jeffrey Whittaker of the church officiating. Committal will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. Attendance will be limited, masks required, and social distancing practiced. Others may witness the service via the livestreamed broadcast on the Halbritter-Wickens Facebook page. facebook.com/halbritterwickensfuneralservices.

Kenneth E. Ryder
Dec. 11, 1942-Jan. 16, 2021

Florin Funeral Home: https://www.florin.net/obituaries/Kenneth-Ryder-2/#!/Obituary

Obituary for Kenneth E Ryder

Janet A. Petro
March 25, 1926-Jan. 5, 2021

Niles Daily Star, Published 3:37 pm Thursday, January 7, 2021

March 25, 1926 — Jan. 5, 2021

Janet A. Petro, 94, formerly of Peace Manor on Ironwood Road in South Bend, passed away at 7:03 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021.

Janet was born March 25, 1926, in Flint, Michigan, to the late Omer R. and Lydia E. (Metzger) Pollock.

Janet graduated from Niles High School in 1944. She retired from Howard-Ellis Elementary School in Niles, where she had worked as a teacher’s assistant and cafeteria helper. Her love of sewing and quilting was manifested through her affiliation with several quilting clubs in the area.

On March 10, 1946, in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Janet married Robert W. Petro, who passed away on Oct. 22, 2002, following 56 years of marriage. They lived most of their life on Horton Court in Niles, with short stays prior to that in Easley, South Carolina, Jonesboro, Arkansas and South Bend, Indiana.

Janet’s greatest love was her children, and this was manifested by daily serving the Lord and with her faithful attendance at the Apostolic Temple Church in South Bend.

Bob and Janet are the parents of eight children, Larry David (Mary Anne) Petro, of Washington, DC; Michael Paul (Roxann) Petro, of Bolingbrook, Illinois, with daughter, Kelly Anne; Stephen (Rebecca) William, of Chicxulub, Puerto, Yucatan, Mexico; Deborah Sue (Edward) Stankevich, of Chelsea, Michigan, with daughters, Sara Renee’ (Andrei) and Beth Arlene Stankevich; Joan Elizabeth (Richard) Breyer, of Nashville, Tennessee, with son, Max Alexander and daughter, Nina Rachel; Phillip Douglas (Shannon) Petro, of Flat Rock, Michigan, with daughter, Danielle Lenee (Gary) Burnaska, and sons, Dennis and Drew; Timothy Richard (Charlene), of Denver, Colorado, with son, Schulyer Miller Petro; and Lydia Anne (Larry) Reichanadter, of Niles, Michigan, with sons, Alex Michael and Adam Jacob. Also surviving is her sister, Elizabeth A. Overmeyer, of South Bend, and a sister-in-law, Sherrie Pollock, of Texas. Janet is also survived by numerous loving great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She is also survived by good friend and honorary grandson, Kasey Watkins, of South Bend.

Janet was preceded in death by her parents; twin sister, Joan; stepfather, Lawrence E. Metzger; brother, Pastor William J. Pollock; sisters-in-law, Maris Pollock, Dorothy Petro, and Olive Petro, and a brothers-in-law, Richard Petro and Howard Overmyer.

Friends may visit with the family from 10 to 11 a.m.  Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, at Palmer Funeral Home — Welsheimer North, 17033 Cleveland Road, South Bend, with services immediately following at 11 a.m., with Rev. Christopher Rowe with the Apostolic Temple Church officiating.

Graveside service and burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Opal Jewel Karns, of Niles
Jan. 17, 1936-Jan. 16, 2021

Niles Daily Star, Published 5:16 pm Monday, January 18, 2021

Opal Karns, 84, of Niles, died Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021. Arrangements are being made by Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, of Niles.

 Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home:  https://www.halbritterwickens.com/obituary/Opal-Karns

Obituary

Opal Jewel Karns of Niles, Michigan, mother, grandmother, fisherwoman, camper, Baptist, and fast driver died peacefully at 11:54 a.m. on Saturday, January 16, 2021 – one day short of her 85th birthday – with her daughter at her side in Spectrum Health - Lakeland Hospital – Niles following a brief illness.

She was born on January 17, 1936 in Manila, Arkansas to Frank and Ima (Matheny) Short.  She was graduated from high school in Griffithville, Arkansas, and came to Niles in 1958.  She was employed by Walt Ellis in his machine shop in Berrien Springs where she supervised the machinists.

Opal was a member of the First Baptist Church of Berrien Springs.  She and her family spent much of their lives in the outdoors, fishing and mushroom hunting, and driving their dune buggy near Hart, Michigan.  They enjoyed camping, especially along the banks of the Kalamazoo River.  Camping began in tents, and evolved through a pick-up truck cap, a slide-in camper over the pick-up truck cab; and then a travel trailer, a custom converted bus, and ultimately a fifth-wheel trailer.

They also enjoyed auto racing, and often visited the Hartford (Michigan) Speedway Park.  Their interest in being outdoors, traveling, and motorsports all were evident in the speed at which they travelled – fast/very fast – including a legendary round-trip from Arkansas back to Michigan to retrieve a freshly roasted turkey from the kitchen counter, said to have been completed in 12 hours!

More recently, they have enjoyed the fast action and the fellowship of likeminded folks . . . at the casino.

On June 27, 1959 at the Berrien Springs Baptist Church she married Paul L. Karns, Jr. with whom she celebrated the remarkable fifty-fourth anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on September 16, 2013.  She was also preceded in death by six siblings, Richard L. Short, Carl B. Short, Mabel Gentry, Rena M. Hoffner, Cora Lee Looney, and Frank Short, Jr.

Surviving family includes her children, Cynthia (& Rex) Davis of Baroda, Michigan, Tammy Lynn Karns of Marcellus, Michigan, and Timothy Allen Karns of Alabama; grandchildren Anthony (& Linsey) Davis, SSgt. Christopher (& Sasha) Davis, U.S.Army, Courtney (& Michael) Williams, Jeremy (& Whitney Pinkowski) Plouhar, April Nichole Karns, Faith Casandra Mete, Jacob, and Austin Jarman; many great-grandchildren including Josephine, Makayla, Michael, Mathew, Madison, and Layla; and Opal’s sister, Cordillia Matlock of Berrien Springs, and many nieces and nephews.

The family of Opal Karns will receive relatives and friends beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles, and then will process at 11:00 a.m. to her graveside at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles for Committal Services with Pastor Derek Cromwell of the First Baptist Church of Berrien Springs officiating.  Attendance is limited and masks will be required, and social distancing practiced.  Others may witness the events via the livestreamed broadcast on the Halbritter-Wickens Facebook page. 

Contributions in memory of Opal may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, Illinois, 60601, https://www.alz.org/.  Online condolences may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

Opal loved life, used her years well . . . and fast, and was a loving wife, mother, and friend.  She has clearly “finished her race and kept her faith”. 

Jack Smith, of Buchanan
Nov. 22, 1950 - Dec. 31, 2020 

Niles Daily Star, Published 11:54 am Thursday, December 31, 2020

Jack Smith, 70, of Buchanan, died Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020. Arrangements are being made by Halbritter Wickens Funeral Home, of Niles.

Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home: https://www.halbritterwickens.com/obituary/Jack-Smith-1

Obituary

Jack Frederick Smith, age 70 years, of Buchanan, Michigan, husband, father, grandfather, veteran, railroader, and outdoorsman died peacefully at 5:20 a.m. on Thursday, December 31, 2020 with his family gathered around at his home following an extended illness.  His family is grateful for the skilled and compassionate care provided by the staff of Caring Circle Hospice at Home.

He was born on November 22, 1950 in Niles, Michigan to Jack Junior and Phyllis Jean (Kocher) Smith.  He was graduated from Brandywine High School in Niles with the Class of 1970.  His Selective Service lottery number was 5, so he was inducted into the United States Army on July 16, 1970.  He was stationed in Germany, driving a 1-ton on the Autobahn, and was honorably discharged as a Veteran of the Vietnam Era.

He returned to Niles and was employed for several years at Klose Brothers Construction Company before being hired by Amtrak.  He joined the Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes Division of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and served as Foreman and Track Inspector on the Wolverine Line right of way for over thirty years before retirement.

He has lived in this area all of his life, moving to Buchanan in 1978.

Jack was a member of the American Legion Post #51 in Buchanan.  He enjoyed camping with his family in their travel trailer at area campgrounds, and kept a pontoon boat at a lake near Lawrence, Michigan for a few years.  He also enjoyed trips to Red Lake in western Ontario, Canada to hunt moose, and was successful on his first trip, as evidenced by the huge antler mounted in his living room.

On September 8, 1971 in the Bertrand Church in Niles he married the former Deborah Kay Cox with whom he celebrated the forty-ninth anniversary of their wedding.  They were sadly preceded in death by an infant son, Jacob Martin Smith on November 13, 1978.

Surviving family includes his wife, Debbie Smith and their children, Jacob’s twin, Adam (& Laura Thomas) Smith of Buchanan and Matthew Smith of Golden, Colorado; grandchildren, Dayton Smith, Allena Smith, and Wesley Smith; Jack’s siblings, Mary Adams of Niles, Michael (& Steve Miranda) Smith of Ohio, and Tracey (& Debra) Smith of Niles; and several nieces and nephews.

Family and friends of Jack Smith will gather at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, January 8, 2021 at the Amtrak Passenger Station in Niles (NLS), 598 Dey Street to share memories and honor his life.  Committal services will follow at his grave in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles, including a Bagpipe rendition of “Amazing Grace” and Full Military Honors by the United States Army Honor Guard and American Legion Post #51.  Attendance will be limited, masks required, and social distancing practiced.  Others may witness the events via the livestreamed broadcast on the Halbritter-Wickens Facebook page.

Contributions in memory of Jack may be made to Bronson Children’s Hospital, 601 John Street, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 49007, https://www.bronsonhealth.com/locations/bronson-childrens-hospital/.  Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles.  Online condolences may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

Jack took-on the toughest jobs - the Army, working concrete at Klose’s, railroad rails, and the largest specie of the deer family – and always succeeded.  But his greatest success was quiet times camping and his love for his family.

Scott Smith Jr., of Niles
March 18, 1989-Dec. 26, 2020

Niles Daily Star, Published 3:36 pm Monday, January 4, 2021

Scott Smith Jr., 31, of Niles, died Saturday, Dec. 26, 2020. Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan.

Hoven Funeral Home:  https://www.hovenfunerals.com/obituary/scott-smith-jr