Obituaries

Jimmie L. Lusk
July 28, 1905-May 14, 1990

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 15, 1990, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Jimmie L. Lusk, 84, formerly of 1212 N. 9th St., Niles, died at 10:20 a.m. Monday, May 14 at Dowagiac Nursing Home following an extended illness.

Arrangemetns are incomplete and will  be announced at a later date by the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 16, 1990, page 2, col. 5-6, microfilm Niles District Library

Services for a former Niles resident, Jimmie L. Lusk, 84, of 610 Uneta St., Dowagiac will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Niles, the Rev. W.L. Daniel, pastor, officiating.

Lusk died at 10:20 a.m. Monday at the Dowagiac Nursing Home following an extended illness.

Lusk was born July 28, 1905, in Selmer, Tenn., and had lived in Dowagiac and formerly 1212 N. 9th St., Niles, since 1937, coming from Tennessee.  He was a 42-year member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church, a member of the John W. Moore Masonic Lodge No. 42, F&AM, in Niles, and a charter member of the Niles NAACP.  He was a retired employee of the City of Niles.

On July 12, 1963, in Dowagiac, he married Kathryn L. (Dawson) Lusk, who survives him.

Also surviving is a brother, Linnie M. Lusk of Selmer, Tenn.    Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.  A wake will be held Wednesday from 7 to 8 pm. at the Halbritter Funeral Home.  Masonic rites will be held Wednesday at the funeral home at 7:30 p.m., John W. Moore Lodge No. 42, F&AM officiating.

Evelyne Mae Coon
Jan. 19, 1928-May15, 1990

Services for Evelyne Mae Coon, 62, of 1272 Thomson Road, Niles will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles, the Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg officiating.

Coon died at 2 a.m. Tuesday at home following a brief illness.

Coon was born Jan. 19, 1928, in Grand Rapids and had lived in Niles since 1945, coming from Gaylord.  She and her daughter had recently opened "Granny's Hot Dog House" on North Thirteenth and Eagle streets in Niles. She was an employee of Simplicity Pattern Co. of Niles.

On Sept 22, 1946, in Niles, she married William Charles Coon, who preceded her in death Oct. 7, 1985.

Survivors include her mother, Dena J. Marlin of Niles; three daughters, Barbara Jean Ketchum, Catherine Coon and Evelyn L. "Vonnie" Fox, all of Niles, seven brothers, Lloyd Marlin, James Marlin, Howard Marlin, Kenneth Marlin, Gerald "Jerry" Marlin, all of Niles, Robert Marlin of Watervliet and Jack Marlin of South Bend; a sister, LaVonde "Bonnie" Velez of Niles and ten grandchildren.

Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.  Friends may call from 2 to 4 pm. and 7 to 9 p.m Thursday at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 16, 1990, page 2, col. 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library

Laura E. Matthews
Feb. 18, 1912-April 26, 1993

Laura E. Matthews
1912-1993
Niles homemaker

Funeral services for Laura Elizabeth Matthews, 81, of 1609 Superior St., Niles, are scheduled for  10:0 a.m. Thursday at Trinity Episcopal Church in Niles with the Rev. Steven Schuneman, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, officiating.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Matthews died at 10:35 p.m. Sunday at Pawating Hospital following a short illness.

Bron Feb. 18, 1912, in Gary, Ind., she was a resident of the area most of her lifetime.

On Oct. 5, 1928, in Goshen, Ind., she married the late J. Earl Matthews, who preceded her in death on March 20, 1980.

She was a homemaker. She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Niles, the Pawating Hospital Auxiliary, the Order of the Eastern Star, Golden Agers, the Macabees and the Afternoon Lady Elks in Niles.

Survivors include two sons, Thomas E. Matthews of Lilburn, Ga., and Richard L. Matthews of Niles; a daughter, Patricia J. Hoblick of Carthage, Mo.; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Friends may call from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m .Wednesday at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church or the Berrien County Cancer Services.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 26, 1993, page 2, col. 5-6, microfilm Niles District Library

Joyce E. Kwiecinski
Nov. 18, 1941-May 10, 2009

Joyce E. "Rusty" Kwiecinski, 67, of North Sixth Street, Niles, died on Sunday, May 10, 2009, at Memorial Hospital, South Bend, Ind., following an extended illness.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, May 15, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Pastor Randy Pearman of Bethel Baptist Church, officiating.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Friends may call two hours prior to services Friday at the funeral home.

She was born on Nov. 18, 1941, at South Bend, Ind. to Roger Bogart and Ruth O'Donnell Bogart.

She was a lifetime area resident.

She retired in 1999, after 18 years of service too[sic] Cardinal Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in South Bend, Ind.

She enjoyed cooking and home improvements and especially enjoyed her television.

On Nov. 20, 2000, in Valparaiso, Ind., she married Tom L. Kwiecinski, who survives.

Additional surviving family include two daughters, Anna Marie Alambar-Bernal of Niles and Delia C. Rodriguez of Mishawaka, Ind.; a son, Marcos A. (Shan) Rodriguez of Mishawaka, Ind.; step-sons, Rod Kwiecinski and Ryan Kwiecinski, both of Chesterton, Ind.: eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; brothers, Jack Bogart of Rochester, Ind., Randy Bogart of Elkhart, Ind., Robert Bogart of Mishawaka, Ind. and sisters, Kathy Gerntd of Elkhart, Ind., Yvonne Bogart of Elkhart, Ind. and Gloria Dover of Mishawaka, Ind.

Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 12, 2009, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Harriet E. Finley
June 10, 1965-July 8, 2004

Funeral services for Harriet E. Finley, 39, of Greendale Avenue, Niles, are Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Niles Westside Seventh-day Adventist Church, Niles, by Pastor Isaias Santos of Edwardsburg Seventh-day Adventist Church and Pastor John Abbott of Niles Westside Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Finley died Thursday at 3:30 p.m. at St. Mary Hospital in Grand Rapids, following a brief Illiness.

She was born June 10, 1965, in Sheridan, Wyoming, and had lived in Niles since 1993, coming here from California.

On July 10, 1992, in Loma Linda, Calif., she was married to Cary Finley, who survives.

Finley was a member and deaconness of the Edwardsburg Seventh-day Adventist Church.  She shared her love for Christ through her sickness and recoveries, witnessing to others at Silverbrook Manor and other nursing homes.  Her life was one filled with miracles and opportunity to share her faith, which she did on a personal level.

Survivors, in addition to her husband, include three sons, Steaven E. Finley, Cary "C.J." Finley and Mason A. Finley, all at home; and her parents, Dr Edward and Carmen Shreaves of Glendale, Calif.

Friends may call Wednesday from 11 a.m .to 1 p.m. at the Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Harriet E. Finley Memorial Fund at the Edwardsburg  Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Sat. July 10, 2004, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library
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Mrs. Martha Finley
Sept. 1, 1903-Dec. 10, 1976

NILES--Mrs. Martha Finley, 73, 0f 251 Cass St., died at 1:12 a.m. today at the Dor-A-Lin Nursing Home after an extended illness.

She was a member of the Franklin AME Church, the Miriam Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star, and was a retired Girl Scout leader after having served for more than 35 years.

She was born Sept. 1, 1903 in Dowagiac and and lived her lifetime in the area.

On Jan. 29, 1923 in Niles, she married Harold C. Finley, who died Jan. 23, 1960.

Survivors include a son, Harold J. of Niles; a daughter, Mrs. Larry (Barbara) Roberson of Niles; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m Monday at the Franklin AME Church with the Rev. Charles E. Wilson of Franklin officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetry.

Friends may call from 2 to 4  and from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the Franklin AME Church or the Niles Senior Citizens Center.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 10, 1976, page 2 col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library