Eleanor "Fran" Robinson, 88
Oct. 27, 1921 — May 30, 2010

Frances was born to Robert Miner and Lucy Gray (Gatling) Capps in Jacksonville, Ill. on Oct. 27, 1921. Highlights from her earlier years in Jacksonville included playing Josephine in “Pinafore” and graduating as valedictorian of the class of ’39 from Jacksonville High School.

After attending Illinois College for two years, Frances enrolled at the University of Michigan, where she joined Pi Beta Phi sorority and graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a degree in history. At Michigan, Frances met Arthur Dudley Robinson Jr., and the two married in Detroit on Sept. 24, 1943 following Arthur’s graduation from midshipman’s school at Notre Dame.

After the war years, the couple settled first in Grosse Ile, Mich. and finally in Niles in 1959. Frances pursued her lifelong passion for history through countless hours researching family genealogy the old-fashioned way by searching archives and census records, visiting cemeteries and writing letters. She was a member for more than 40 years of Trinity Episcopal Church, Niles, where she sang soprano in the senior choir, served as church historian and on the altar guild. Frances indulged her love of gardening and birding through her longtime membership and volunteer service with Fernwood Botanical Garden and in the Niles Garden Club. She loved to arrange flowers and create beautiful table settings.

Other activities over the years included Seepawa Reading Club and League of Women voters, in addition to teaching fifth grade in Niles for a number of years.

Frances will be remembered by her two daughters together with their husbands, Sarah (Sally) and the Honorable Thomas Lister, of Black River Falls, Wis. and Martha (Marti) and Douglas White of Westbrook, Conn.; and by her five grandsons, Dr. Matthew Lister and wife Dr. Nicole St. Clair, of Milwaukee, Wis., Joshua Lister, of London, England, Alexander White, of Astoria, N.Y., Benjamin White, of Columbus, Ohio and Nicholas White, of Westbrook, Conn.; and two great-granddaughters, Hannah and Brooke Lister.
Frances was preceded in death by her sister, Porter Capps Main, and her husband, Arthur D. Robinson.

A family memorial will take place in Michigan at a later date. Contributions in Frances’ name may be made to Illinois College, Jacksonville, Ill. or to Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve, 13988 Range Line Rd., Niles, MI 49120.

 Niles Daily Star, Published 10:02pm Wednesday, June 9, 2010

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A service of remembrance will be held at Trinity Episcopal Church on Monday, Aug. 16 at 10 a.m. for Eleanor Frances Capps Robinson, formerly of Niles, who died Sunday, May 30, 2010 following a brief illness.

Frances was born to Robert Miner and Lucy Gray (Gatling) Capps in Jacksonville, Ill. on Oct. 27, 1921.

Frances was a member for more than 40 years of Trinity Episcopal Church, where she sang soprano in the senior choir, served as church historian and was on the altar guild.

She was a longtime member and volunteer with Fernwood Botanical Garden and in the Niles Garden Club. Other activities over the years included Seepawa Reading Club and League of Women voters, in addition to teaching fifth grade in Niles for a number of years.

Frances will be remembered by her two daughters together with their husbands, Sarah (Sally) and the Honorable Thomas Lister of Black River Falls, Wis., Martha (Marti) and Douglas White of Westbrook, Conn.; and by her five grandsons, Dr. Matthew Lister and wife Dr. Nicole St. Clair of Milwaukee, Wis., Joshua Lister of London, England, Alexander White of Astoria, N.Y., Benjamin White of Columbus, Ohio, and Nicholas White of Westbrook, Conn., and two great-granddaughters, Hannah and Brooke Lister.

Frances was predeceased by her sister, Porter Capps Main, and her husband, Arthur D. Robinson.

Contributions in Frances’ name may be made to Illinois College, Jacksonville, Ill. or to Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve, 13988 Range Line Rd., Niles, MI 49120.

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:00pm Thursday, August 12, 2010

Teresa Johnson Cole, 58
Aug. 1, 1952 — Aug. 28, 2010

Teresa Lee Johnson Cole, 58, of Merrifield Avenue in Niles, died at 4:10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010 at Silverbrook Manor in Niles following an extended illness.

Ms. Johnson Cole was born Aug. 1, 1952 in Niles to Robert Earl and Ernestina Katerina (Moosman) Johnson. She graduated from Niles High School and lived in Niles all her life. She had worked for many years at Pawating Hospital, now called Lakeland Community Hospital, in Niles.

She earned her associate degree from Southwestern Michigan College. She enjoyed the fellowship of the Colonial Bar and The Corral. She was a friend of Bill W. and Dr. Bob and leaves this world with years of sobriety. She enjoyed camping, fishing, antiquing and arts and crafts. As a young mother, she participated in her children’s activities. In addition to her love for her family, Heidi’s pet dog, Oliver Pee-Wee Johnson was a favorite.

Teresa is survived by her daughter, Heidi Christina Johnson of Mesa, Ariz.; son, Kacey Robert Cole of Niles; parents, Robert and Ernestina Johnson of Mesa; brothers, Albert “Hank” Johnson of Niles and Dwain Johnson of Gilbert, Ariz.

Graveside services for Teresa Lee Johnson Cole will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2010 at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles with Pastor Michael Smith of Hope Community Church in Niles officiating.

There will be no visitation.

Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Teresa may be made to the American Cancer Society-Relay for Life.

Niles Daily Star, Published 11:18pm Thursday, September 9, 2010

Laura Elnora Hoag
Aug. 13, 1919 — Sept. 24, 2010

Laura Elnora Hoag, 91, of Rangeline Road in Niles, died of natural causes at her home on the morning of Friday, Sept. 24, 2010. She was a lifetime area resident.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 28 at Hoven Funeral Home in Buchanan with the Bishop Alfred Deeds of the Bethel Apostolic Tabernacle of Buchanan officiating. Burial will take places at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Friends may call between 5 and 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Niles Daily Star, Published 7:09pm Sunday, September 26, 2010

Dorris E. McKibbin, 77
March 14, 1933 — Oct. 5, 2010

Dorris E. McKibbin, 77, of Redfield Street in Niles, died at 1:50 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2010 at her home following an extended illness.

Mrs. McKibbin was born March 14, 1933 in Niles to Paul Herbert and Ruth Amy (Williams) Schaen. Dorris was a lifetime resident of Niles. She was a former employee of General Telephone and Electric Co. in Elkhart, Ind.

She was a member of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in South Bend. She enjoyed spending time with her grandson and volunteering at his school.

On July 14, 1956 in Elkhart, she married LaVoid I. “Curly” McKibbin, Sr., who preceded her in death on April 15, 2003.

She is survived by their daughters, Lois Cooper and Esther Nowicki, both of Niles; son, LaVoid (fiancee Catharine Foresman) McKibbin, Jr. of Dripping Springs, Texas; grandson, Daniel Greenwood Nowicki of Niles; brother, Fredrick Schaen of Brooklyn, N.Y.; a sister, Clara (Bernard) Huff of Jones, Mich.; many nieces and nephews; her caregivers, Alona and Theresa of Cass County Council on Aging; and Almond, Bonnie and Vanessa of Lakeland Hospice.

She was also preceded in death by her brother, Paul R. Schaen and sisters, Dorothea Hardy and Mary Van Dyke.

Funeral services for Dorris E. McKibbin will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 11, 2010 at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in South Bend with Pastor Steven D. Latzke of the church officiating.

Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Dorris may be made to Resurrection Lutheran Academy, 6840 Nimtz Parkway, South Bend, IN 46628.

 Niles Daily Star, Published 11:01pm Thursday, October 7, 2010

Mary Rodriguez, 33
July 5, 1977 — Oct. 8, 2010

Mary Louisa Rodriguez, 33, of 12409 North Red Bud Trail, Buchanan, died at 4 a.m. Friday, Oct. 8, 2010 at 7 South Seventh St., Niles, of natural causes.

She was born July 5, 1977 in Niles. She was a lifelong area resident. Mary was a homemaker and waitress.

She loved crafts and decorating. She was very hardworking and sweet. She made you feel loved.

Mary is survived by her boyfriend, Larry Maisch; parents, Lorimer and Eladia Rodriguez of Niles; son, Michael Starett of Niles; daughters, Kelsey Monroe of Edwardsburg and Kaitlyn Monroe of Edwardsburg; brother, Luis Rodriguez of Niles; sisters, Iris (Brian) Reith of Niles and Doriz (Damian) Curry of Traverse City, Mich.

A private graveside service will be held with Pastor Paul Deeds of Bethel Apostolic Tabernacle officiating.

Burial will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 11:15pm Monday, October 11, 2010

Ethel Peters, 91
Jan. 30, 1919 — Oct. 14, 2010

Mrs. Peters was born Jan. 30, 1919 in Harvey, Ill. to Gerben and Marie (Enigenburg) Hoekstra. In 1922, she moved from Harvey to Niles.

Ethel graduated from Berrien Springs High School in 1937 and was Miss Berrien Springs. She retired after 37 years of service at East Main Gardens. She and her husband, Robert, had operated Peters Studio, a photography studio, in Niles.

She was a member of Hope Community Church in Niles.

On Sept. 10, 1937 in Rochester, Ind., she married Robert W. Peters, who preceded her in death Dec. 16, 1985.

Mrs. Peters is survived by their daughters, Gwendolyn (Paul) West of South Bend, Saran (Dwayne) Brock of Niles, Judy (Al) Swanson of Anderson, S.C. and Nellie (Don) DeLong of Paw Paw, Mich.; 11 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; a sister, Saran Morris of Orlando, Fla.; brother, Dale Hoekstra of Gig Harbor, Wash.; and many nieces and nephews.

She was also preceded in death by a son, Robert W. “Buckles” Peters, Jr., who died in January 1963; a grandson, Donnie DeLong; sisters, Clara O’Rourke and Mimi Hosking; and brothers, John, Herman and Chaplain Ray Hoekstra.

Funeral services for Ethel G. Peters will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Hope Community Church in Niles with the Rev. Michael Smith of the church and the Rev. R. Allan Poage of Niles officiating.

Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will begin receiving friends and relatives at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church.

Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Ethel may be made to Hope Community Church.

Niles Daiy Star, Published 3:32am Friday, October 15, 2010