John D. Russell
Aug. 10,1956-Jan. 22, 2009

By Staff
John D. Russell, 52, of Bailey Avenue, Niles, died at 3:30 a.m. at his home, following an extended illness.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 26, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rev. Dorothy Blassingame, of Victory Tabernacle Pentecostal Church of God, officiating.
Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, at the funeral home.
He was born on Aug. 10, 1956, in Niles, to Jesse J. Russell and Marjorie Williams Russell.
He was a lifetime resident of Niles and graduated from Niles High School with the Class of 1974.
He was a concrete finisher for a union specializing in state highway work and other union construction sites.
He attended the Victory Tabernacle Pentecostal Church of God in Dowagiac. He was an avid outdoorsman, loving camping and fishing.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Darrell Lister.
Surviving family includes two sons, Nathan Russell of Florida and Joshua Jerue of Indiana; his parents, Jesse J. and Marjorie "Jean" Russell of Niles; brothers, Michael Mattson of Saint Joseph and Charlie Van Russell of Tampa, Fla.; a sister, Gloria Scott of Cullman, Ala.; several nieces and nephews and a special friend, Tammy Munger of Niles.
Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 4:02am Friday, January 23, 2009

Geneva Sigfrids
Nov. 15, 1921-April 11, 2009

By Staff
      Geneva Sigrids, 87, of East Calvert Street, South Bend, Ind., and formerly of Niles, died at 5:34 p.m, Saturday, April 11, 2009, at Memorial Hospital, South Bend, Ind., following a brief illness.
      Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rev. Mark Slabaugh of First Missionary Church, Niles, officiating.
      Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
      Friends may call one hour before services at the funeral home Wednesday.
      She was born on Nov. 15, 1921, in Ellisville, Ind., to James Miller and Mainie McFadden Miller.
      She lived in Niles most of her life, including many years on East Bertrand Road.
      She was employed for more than 20 years at Electro-Voice, formerly of Buchanan.
      She was a member of First Missionary Church, Niles. She enjoyed various arts and crafts, but especially crochet.
      In November 1946, in Niles, she married John Rogers Sigfrids, who died on Aug. 18, 2008.
      She was also preceded in death by brothers, Lester Miller and Wayne Miller and sisters, Irene Goble and Margaret Bailey.
      Surviving family includes two daughters, Velda Johnson of South Bend, Ind. and Crystal Sigfrids of South Bend, Ind.; grandchildren, Tamera (Frank) Reed, Teresa Johnson and Bill (Theresa) Johnson; six great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.
      Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 5:59am Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Ona L. Fouche
Feb. 6, 1934-Sept. 27, 2009

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rev. Theodis Hadley, pastor of Emeritus of Canaan Baptist Church, officiating.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Friends may call beginning at 1 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.

She was born on Feb. 6, 1934, in Niles, to Harold Kenneth Rose, Sr. and Sallie Lucille (Whitfield) Rose. She had lived in Niles all of her life.

She was currently employed at the South Bend Clinic, with 18 years of service there.
She had previously been employed at Tony’s Supermarket in Niles.

She was previously married to Charles Fouche.

Surviving family includes a son, Charles “Ricky” Fouche of Niles; sister-in-law, Mitsue Rose of Niles and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Bettie Bailey, who died on March 4, 1988 and two brothers, Harold K. Rose, Jr., who died on April 22, 1998 and Robert W. “Sonny” Rose, who died on July 9, 2008.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service.

Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:27am Monday, September 28, 2009

William G. ‘Bill’ Myers
March 18, 1932-Oct. 6, 2009

William G. “Bill” Myers, 77, of Shamrock Drive, Niles, died at 10:39 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009, surrounded by his family at his home following a brief illness.

Mr. Myers was born on March 18, 1932, in Niles to Rose Jean Slavicek.

He graduated from Niles High School with the Class of 1950 and was a lifetime Niles resident.

Bill retired after 26 years of service from Clark Equipment Co., having worked both in Benton Harbor and Buchanan.

He was also the Niles Township supervisor for 10 years, serving from 1998-2008.

Bill was a veteran of the Korean Conflict, having served in the U.S. Naval Airforce from 1951 to 1955.
He was a member of First Church of Christ on Yankee Street in Niles.

He was also a lifetime member and trustee of B.P.O. of Niles Elks Lodge 1322, a member of Saint Joseph Valley Lodge 4, F&AM, and the Niles Shrine Club.

Bill was a former president of the Babe Ruth Baseball League during both World Series that were held in Niles and supported F.O.P. baseball for 22 years.

He enjoyed bowling, fishing, going to Las Vegas and following his kids and grandkids in sports.

On June 7, 1958, in Niles, he married the former Kathryn “Katie” Freeze, who survives.

He is also survived by: his daughter, RoxAnne (Brian) Holmes of Niles; sons, Ronald “Ronnie” (Leanne) Myers of Perth, Australia, and Randy Myers of Niles; grandchildren, Jayme Rutkowske of Niles, Ryan Rutkowske of South Bend, Ind., William Mangold of Niles, Eric Myers of Osceola, Ind., Joshua and Shanae Myers of Perth, Australia, Brian Holmes Jr. of Seattle, Wash., and Jason Holmes of Germany; great-grandchildren, Alex Rutkowske, Austin Platz and Jaiden Mangold, all of Niles; sisters-in-law, Marjory “Mickey” Myers of Sturgis and Carolyn (Robert) Geik of Niles.

Mr. Myers was preceded in death by his brother, Robert Lee Myers.

Funeral services will be Monday, Oct. 12, at 2 p.m. at First Church of Christ in Niles with Pastor Jeffrey L. Whittaker of Michiana Christian Embassy officiating.

Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and will conclude with Elks rites by BPOE 1322 of Niles and full military honors by American Legion Post 51 of Buchanan.

His family will receive relatives and friends from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. Monday at the church.

Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Bill may be made to Hospice at Home.

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:41am Friday, October 9, 2009

Donal J. Fout
Nov. 19, 1915 – Oct. 29, 2009

Donal J. Fout, 93, of Grand Rapids, Mich. and formerly of Niles, died at 11:45 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009 at Porter Hills Nursing Home, Grand Rapids, following an extended illness.

Donal was born Nov. 19, 1915 to Solon Fout and Allie Hester Powell Fout in Byhalia, Ohio. He graduated from Niles High School in 1934 and has lived in Niles all his life. He attended his 75th class reunion recently. He was a milkman for 40 years, first at City Dairy, then United, and retired from Producers Creamery. He married Donna Virginia (Clark) Fout on Oct. 19, 1938 in LaPorte, Ind. Donna died on April 9, 2008.

Donal was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Niles. He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army; life member of the American Legion Post 26 in Niles; BPO of Niles Elks 1322; Saint Joseph Valley Lodge 4 F. & A.M.; Saladin Temple; and Niles Chapter 332 Order of the Eastern Star.

Donal is preceded in death by his wife and sister, Bessie Lee Fay.

Survivors include a daughter, Judith D. Scmitt, of Grand Rapids; grandchildren, Donal E. Schmitt, of Chicago, and Christina A. Hankins, of Rockford, Mich.; and great-grandchildren, Emily, Chase, Gavin and Jenna Hankins.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2, 2009 at First Presbyterian Church in Niles with the Rev. Janet Van Lear of First Presbyterian Church.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Memorial contributions can be made to The Foundation of First Presbyterian Church or Porter Hills of Grand Rapids.

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:46am Friday, October 30, 2009

 

Eleanor L. Haslanger
Jan. 27, 1912 – Nov. 16, 2009

Eleanor L. Haslanger, 97, of Wells Street and formerly Hoyt Street in Niles, died at 2:58 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, 2009 at Riveridge Manor, Niles, of natural causes.

She was born Jan. 27, 1912 in Oswego County, N.Y. to Fred A. Phillips and Minnie Sanford Phillips. She graduated from Niles High School and lived here most of her life. She married Clarence O. Haslanger on May 23, 1932 in South Bend. He died Sept. 8, 1993.

She was a retired teacher from County Normal Schools and a member of Daily Church. She was active in the Republican Party and served as the Cass County chairwoman as well as secretary vice chairwoman. She was a member of Friends of Cass District Library, and was a past member of the Cass County Republican Women’s Club. She served on the Cass County Board of Canvassers for 10 years. She was an avid reader.

She is survived by her grandchildren, Lois Salo, of Tempe, Ariz., Erick (Bambi) Salo, of Niles, Sheila Salo, of Tempe, Dee (Don) Wroblewski, of Niles, Lari Jo (Dan) Kulwicki, of Niles; former granddaughter-in-law, Pamela Salo; great-grandchildren, Ian (Amber) Salo, Alaina Salo, Melissa (Todd) Baldwin, Justin (Carrie) Dunnem; and great-great-grandchildren, Alexa Salo and Mason Joseph Baldwin.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Clarence; daughter Marcia E. Burns, who died May 22, 1994; Marcia’s husband, Larry J. Burns, who died Oct. 16, 2008; and sisters, Dorothy Jones, Evelyn Bailey and Donna Phillips.

The family will be gathering privately at the graveside with the Rev. Michael Smith of Hope Community church officiating.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

There will be no visitation. Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to Cass District Library or Cass County Council on Aging.

Niles Daily Star, Published 11:24am Wednesday, November 18, 2009