Lisa Webb, 34
Jan. 5, 1976 — Oct. 19, 2010

Lisa Webb, of Hendricks Lane in Niles, died at 11:12 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19 at Lakeland Community Hospital following an extended illness. She was 34.

She was born on Jan. 5, 1976 in Niles to Harlan Webb and Stacey Miller.

Webb

She attended Niles Community Schools and lived here all of her life. She was a member of Ontwa Baptist Church. She loved her children, her sister Jennifer and doing for others.

She was preceded in death by grandparents Dave and Joan Miller and grandfather Otis Lintz.

She is survived by Ted (Tamilla) Lintz; mother Stacey Lintz of Niles; father Harlan Webb of Delphi, Ind.; her sons Steven, Jonathon and Donald Webb all of Niles, sister Jennifer Webb of Niles; grandmother Dolores Goldman of Niles; grandparents Dorothy and Bill Webb of Buchanan and many aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Services for Lisa Webb will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 27, 2010 at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Michael Elsey of Ontwa Baptist Church officiating.

Friends may call beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:53pm Sunday, October 24, 2010

Bessie M. Marshall
June 21, 1924 — Oct. 22, 2010

Bessie M. Marshall, 86, of Sycamore Street in Niles, died at 4:45 p.m. Friday, Oct. 22, 2010 in Niles following an extended illness.

She was born on June 21, 1924 in Niles to William H. and Frieda Louise (Wadel) Fay and has lived in Niles all of her life. In her teens, she was employed at Simplicity Pattern Company from which she retired following 35 years of service.

She returned to school to complete her last semester and graduated from Niles High School in 1986.

She was a lifelong member of Saint John’s United Church of Christ. She enjoyed golfing at Plym Park and other area courses and was a proficient golfer until her final round at age 82.

Her family remembers her as a wonderful homemaker, mother and grandmother.

On Sept. 12, 1942 in Niles she married J. Wesley “Wes” Marshall who died on Aug. 6, 1968. She was also preceded in death by her twin sister, Betty Jones on March 4, 2007 and by two other sisters, Bernadine Bolle and Irene Hambly.

Surviving family includes two daughters, Nora S. (Jerry) Pitcher and Karen (Terry) Malling, both of Niles; grandchildren Sean (Michelle) Bryant, Kristine Groves, Julie (Jim) Young and Jennifer (Daniel) Moore; great-grandchildren Nichole Price, Brian Connors, Bradley Connors, Katelyn Connors, Hannah Moore and Casey Moore;  great-great-grandchild Mackenna and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Bessie M. Marshall will be held at 11 a.m. today at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Harry L. Clark of Saint John’s United Church of Christ officiating.

Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Bessie Marshall may be made to Saint John’s United Church of Christ.

Niles Daily Star, Published 2:56am Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Erna Johnson, 82
July 8, 1928 — Oct. 6, 2010

Erna K. Johnson, 82, of Apache Junction, Ariz.,  passed away at Hospice of the Valley in Mesa, Ariz. on Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2010 after battling recurring infections and complications for nearly a year.

She was born July 8, 1928 in Hallein, Austria and was raised by her beloved foster-mother “O’Mommy.” She graduated high school and became fluent in English, and it was then she met the love of her life and future husband, Robert E. Johnson. He was stationed in Austria shortly after World War II, and re-enlisted twice to make sure the Army would allow him to bring his beautiful bride back to the United States.

They were married in Salzburg, Austria on Nov. 17, 1948, and settled in Niles soon after.

Together they raised two sons and one daughter: Henry, Dwain and Teresa.

“Mammaw,” as her family called her, led an active life including living and working on the farm while the kids were growing up. There were also many trips back to Austria to visit family. One of her favorite pastimes was square dancing with her husband Bob, and she enjoyed many fun filled occasions at the German Dank Club in St. Joseph. Her wonderful Austrian recipes where always a hit at gatherings, and will be passed down through the family for future generations to enjoy.

In her later years, Erna and Bob kept very busy with their turquoise jewelry business, setting up at many of the arts and crafts festivals locally.

They traveled in their motorhome out west for the winters, and took their jewelry business on the road with them, making many new friends at festivals and flea markets along the way.

While out west, Erna always looked forward to their trips to Las Vegas and Laughlin, Nev. to enjoy the wonderful buffets and try their luck at the tables.

Erna and Bob lived in Niles for more than 40 years. She worked at Simplicity Pattern Co. before retiring, and moved to Apache Junction, Ariz. in 1992.

She will always be remembered for her “happy to see you smile,” and her love for her family.

Erna was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Charlotte Höllbacher of Austria; brothers, Franz Voggenberger, Fritz Moosmann, Helmut Moosmann, all of Austria; daughter, Teresa Johnson-Cole of Niles; and infant daughter, Angela Sue Johnson.

She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Robert E. Johnson of Apache Junction, Ariz.; sons, Albert Henry “Hank” Johnson and wife, Maureen, of Niles, Dwain A. Johnson and wife, Julie, of Gilbert, Ariz.; grandchildren, Dean Johnson of Niles, Heidi Johnson of Apache Junction, Ariz.,  Jenny Pendley of Naperville, Ill, Todd Johnson of Niles, Kacey Cole of Niles, Dominic Johnson of Gilbert, Ariz., Courtney Johnson of Gilbert, Ariz.

A memorial service will be held at  Hope Community Church, 2390 Lake St., Niles at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 29, 2010.

The processional is a short drive to Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles, where family and friends will commit her ashes to her final resting place.

A lunch reception will be provided by Hope Community Church after the burial for family and friends to gather and share memories.

 Niles Daily Star, Published 2:57am Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Richard Friend, 65
Oct. 18, 1945 — Nov. 3, 2010

Richard D. Friend, 65, of Barron Lake Road, Niles, died at 1:13 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 3, 2010 at Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles, following an extended illness.

Richard Friend, 65

He was born Oct. 18, 1945 in South Bend to Donald W. Friend and Marion “June” (Pape) Friend. He graduated from Niles High School in 1963 and was a lifetime resident of the area.

He was a former employee of A.C. Humko in Springfield, Ill. He served in the United States Navy from 1966 to 1970 and was a member of American Legion Post 26 in Niles. He earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical technology from Western Michigan University. He enjoyed working with computers.

Richard married Judith A. “Judy” Friend on Feb. 14, 1970 in Niles.

He is survived by his wife, Judy; son, Donald A. (Jennifer) Friend of Findlay, Ohio; daughters, Tracey L. (Jeff) Eldridge of Findlay, Ohio and Nichole M. Marin of Findlay, Ohio; grandchildren, Isabelle M. Friend, Emily A. Friend, Jared D. Marin, Ashlee L. Eldridge; mother, Marion “June” Friend.

He was preceded in death by his father, Donald W. Friend, who died April 5, 1999.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5, 2010 at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Thomas King, C.S.C., of Saint Mark Catholic Church.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Friends may call beginning one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association.

Niles Daily Star, Published 2:32am Thursday, November 4, 2010

Frankie B. Calhoun, 88
Dec. 11, 1921 — Nov. 5, 2010

She was born on Dec. 11, 1921 in Buffalo Springs, Texas to Alvin McCauley and Cynthia (Simms) Gillespie. She graduated from Marlow High School in Oklahoma and attended a clerical college in Wichita Falls, Texas. She lived in Marlow most of her life, where she served several families with housekeeping service. She moved to Niles in July of 2000.

In Oklahoma, she was a member of the Church of Christ and in Niles, she was a member of the Huntly Memorial Baptist Church where she served as a greeter. She enjoyed reading mysteries, completing jigsaw puzzles and collecting teddy bears.

On Sept. 8, 1942, in Marlow, she married Alvie Preston “Press” Calhoun who preceded her in death on Sept. 2, 1990. She was also preceded in death by a son, Arnold Preston Calhoun on Nov. 9, 2001; daughter, Anita B. Jackson on May 30, 1998 and sisters Dorothy Holland and Joyce Cox.

Surviving family includes her son, Alvie Barton (Carol) Calhoun of Niles; grandchildren Wayne Jackson, Peter D. Calhoun and Kelly Calhoun; great-grandchildren London Grace Calhoun and Sherry; two nephews and one niece.

The funeral service for Frankie B. Calhoun will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 9, 2010 at Huntly Memorial Baptist Church with Interim Pastor Bill Zebell officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the church.

Contributions in memory of Frankie Calhoun may be made to Huntly Memorial Baptist Church.

Arrangements were made at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

 Niles Daily Star Published 4:04pm Sunday, November 7, 2010

Steven Mark, 54
May 23, 1956 — Nov. 13, 2010

Steven J. Mark, 54, of Lake County, Ill., died at 8:35 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010 at South Davis Community Hospital in Bountiful, Utah following a brief illness.

He was born May 23, 1956 in Sioux Falls, S.D. to Edward H. and Donna M. (Tiemann) Mark. He graduated from Saint Joseph Catholic High School, Notre Dame, Ind. and from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. He lived in Chicago for many years and was a long-time employee of Pactiv Corp. of Chicago.

Steven had a life-long interest in photography, especially Western nature subjects, and a passion for aviation. His aviation photos appeared in the Smithsonian Institution’s Air and Space Magazine, and were exhibited at the Experimental Aviation Association’s (EAA) AirVenture Museum during the annual Oshkosh, Wis. air show. He also exhibited at the College of Lake County Illinois, and other Chicago area venues. One of his photos was selected for the EAA’s “Young Eagles” national campaign poster. Steve was a member of EAA chapters 790 and 932.

He was at the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah with a number of his brothers as crew chief and to photograph an attempt at the 100cc motorcycle land speed record by their team, Mark Brothers Racing.

Steven was preceded in death by his father, Ed Mark, in April 2008.

Surviving family includes his devoted Barbara Rapchak of Illinois; his mother, Donna Mark of South Bend; brothers and sisters, Catherine (Alfredo Toraño) Mark of Spain, Mary Mark-Herbach of Michigan, Louis Mark of Michigan, Julia Mark of Colorado, John (Vera) Mark of Illinois, Karen Mark of Indiana, Daniel (Carole) Mark of Wyoming, Jacob (Jill) Mark of Indiana and Thomas Mark of Colorado; and nieces and nephews, Raquel, Francisco, Michael, Lane, Elias, Angelina, Sarah, Sophia and Samuel.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Steven Mark will be celebrated by 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010 at Saint Mary Catholic Church, Niles by the Rev. David Otto of the parish.

Committal rites will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. A prayer service will also be held at 7:30 p.m.

Contributions in memory of Steven may be made to the Experimental Aircraft Association, AirVenture Museum or the EAA Young Eagles program.

Niles Daily Star Published 7:27pm Thursday, November 18, 2010