Dwain "Buddy" Curry
May 16, 1947-Nov. 28, 2009

SOUTH BEND - Buddy was born in Niles, Michigan,  on May 16, 1947, died November 28, 2009, but resided in South Bend, Indiana, with his surviving Partner of 43 years, Ron DeLater. He is also survived by his sisters, June Weston of Cosmos, Minnesota, and Peggy Curry of South Bend; half brother, David Werntz of Georgia; 3 nephews, Brian (Kim) Curry of MN, Tony (Amy) Bailey of MI, and Ron Bailey of MI; Uncle Bob (Ann Marie) Miltenberger of MI; nine great-nieces and nephews, Hannah, Aaron, Jonathon, Laura, Alex, Peyton, Nick, Madison and Taylor; step-mother, Betty Curry of Niles; and countless cousins.

Preceding in death his beloved mother, Ruth, father, Dwain "Lefty" Curry, nephew, Steven Bailey, and father, Elmer "Bud" Werntz.

He worked in the food and beverage service for 20 years where he was promoted to manager at the Albert Pick. In 1989 he started to work at RACO where he was Union President of IUE-CWA the last 4 years prior to his retirement in June of 2008.

The funeral service for Dwain E. Curry Jr. will be held Friday, December 4, 2009, at 7:00 p.m. in Hal-britter Funeral Home in Niles, with Rev. Eva L. Buthy officiating.

Interment will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends in the funeral home one hour prior to services.

Contributions in memory of Dwain may be made to The Center for Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc.

Diego Ray Salas
June 30, 2007-Dec. 13, 2009

NILES - Diego Ray Salas, 2 years, 5 months and 13 days old, died of natural causes at 5 a.m. Sunday, December 13, 2009, at 1243 S. 14th St., Niles.

He was born on June 30, 2007, in South Bend, to Tasha Odle and Everado Salas of Niles; He is also survived by his sister, Tatiana Salas of Goshen; maternal grandparents, Kelly and Diane Odle of Niles; paternal grandparents, Enrique and Guadalupe Salas of Mexico; uncle, Shayne Odle; great-aunts and uncles, Theresa and Kevin Odle, Brian and Carrie Walls, Brian and Brenda Roberts, Steve Roberts and Rob Petersen; and cousins, Jake, Janelle, Lexi, Maddie and Kaydanse.

Cremation has taken place. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, is handling arrangements.

Mary L. Schmuhl
Jan. 23, 1921-Dec. 8. 2009

NILES - Mary L. Schmuhl, 88, formerly of Clarendon Avenue, Niles, died at 4:40 p.m. Tuesday in Riveridge Manor, Niles, following an extended illness.

She was born on January 23, 1921, in Benton Harbor, MI, to Gustave and Blanche (Furtenbaugh) Heck. She attended a beauty college in Chicago, Illinois, and had lived in Buchanan and Niles most of her life.

Mary was employed at the former Niles stores of Montgomery Ward and J.C. Penney.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, Niles. She enjoyed needlepoint, including plastic canvas art, and traveling throughout the United States.

She was first married to Cleland "Bud" Eagley, then later, on May 29, 1965, in Niles, was married to Gerald E. Schmuhl, who preceded her in death on November 30, 1994.

Mary is survived by her children, Marilyn (Leroy) Tanner of Niles and Ralph "Butch" Eagley of Niles; grandchildren, Michelle, Joseph, Jeffrey, Darlene, Kathleen and Matthew; great-grandchildren, Zachery, Sean, Cody, Mikala, Tonya, Joshua and William; and by a niece, Lois Johnson.

The funeral services for Mary L. Schuhl will be at 11 a.m. Friday, December 11, in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rev. Janet Van Lear of First Presbyterian Church officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Mary may be made to the Foundation of First Presbyterian Church.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Donald F. Bender
July 25, 1923-January 18, 2010

Donald F. Bender, age 86, of Tomahawk Lane; Niles, Michigan died at 3:25 a.m. Monday, January 18, 2010 at Caretel Inns of Royalton, Saint Joseph, MI of a brief illness.

Mr. Bender was born on July 25, 1923 in Grand Rapids, Michigan to Frank and Mary Bender. Coming from Grand Rapids in 1947, he became a Niles resident. Don retired after 41 years as a physical education instructor with the Niles Community School System. For over 25 years, he also worked as a life insurance agent with Northwestern Life Insurance Company.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Niles and active as a deacon and sang in the church choir. A graduate of Grand Rapids Central High School he continued his education for two years at the University of Michigan where he played football. Don then earned his baccalaureate degree from Western Michigan University and played basketball there for two years. Later, he achieved his Master's degree from the University of Michigan.

While teaching in the Niles system, he coached football, basketball and track compiling an unbelievable winning record of 812 versus 178 losses. This record as well as his reputation earned him membership to the Michigan Athletic Association's Coaches Hall of Fame. He also was elected to the Michigan High School Athletic Association's Football Coaches Hall of Fame.

Later, Don became a basketball official with the Fruitbelt Athletic Association. He also served Niles as Athletic Coordinator of Ring Lardner Junior High School.

Locally, he was affiliated with the Niles Lions, Masons, Shriners, Elks, Eagles and Orchard Hills Country Club.

On August 21, 1948 in Morris, Illinois he married Margaret M. 'Scotty' Macdonald who survives. A son, Steve (Amy) Bender of Buchanan and three granddaughters, Lauren, Michelle & Alison survive. A brother, Jack (Jane) Bender of Ann Arbor and a sister Marjory of Michigan further survive.

Funeral services for Donald F. Bender will be at 11:00 a.m. Friday, January 22, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church of Niles with Rev. Nelson E. Lumm of the church officiating. Family committal burial services will take place prior to the funeral at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive friends at the Halbritter Funeral Home Thursday from 5 - 8 p.m, Contributions in memory of Mr. Bender may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service, 7301 Red Arrow Hwy, Stevensville, MI 49127.

Mary Bonine Dougan

Died September 12, 1926

    Mrs. Mary Dougan, 79, widow of Dr. William T. Dougan, a prominent physician of Niles for many years, and a mayor of the city, died Sunday afternoon at her home at Sycamore and Fourth streets, after a brief illness.
    Mrs. Dougan was born on a farm four miles east of Cassopolis, and was one of four children of Mr. and Mrs. James E. Bonine.  Her father, was born in Wayne county, Ind., but settled in Cass county at an early period in its development and acquired 2,000 acres of land.  Sixty acres of this was devoted to a buffalo and elk farm, and the elk farm is still maintained.  Mr. and Mrs. Bonine came to Niles with their children when children were ready to attend the high schoool, and purchased a house which still stands at Tenth and Cedar streets which was then being erected at the triangular tract at Ninth, Main and Cedar.
    Mrs.[sic] Bonine completed the house, and maintained it as his home during the high school years of his children.  Later he returned with his family to the Cass county farm, but in 1891, the family returned to Niles that the only grandchild of the Mr. and Mrs. Bonine, J. Gordon Bonine, might attend the high school.  Mr. Bonine died here in 1898 and later his wife died here after having attained more than 80 years of age.
    Dr. and Mrs. Dougan were married in Niles.  Dr. Dougan died in 1913, in the home he had erected and where Mrs. Dougan also died.  Mrs. Dougan had for several years been last member of her family, the deaths of her sister, Mrs. Elva B. Hannum, and of her brother, Isaac Bonine, have saddened her life within the last few years.
    The funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 1 o'clock at the home.
    A friend pays this personal tribute to the memory of Mrs. Dougan:
    "The many friends of Mrs. William T. Dougan were shocked and deeply grieved when word reached them Sunday aftermoon of the passing on of that gentle presence.
    "Dr. Dougan, who was so loved [illegible](continued on Page 5) into the Promised Land by several years and though that loving and beloved physician-husband had passed from her sight, his influence was ever present with her.
    "Mrs. Dougan had been in delicate health for some time, though confined to her bed but two weeks--the critical period of her illness was supposed to have passed and as each day and night found her more comfortable, it was reasonably conjectured she would soon be able to be up and receive the visits of the friends and neighbors to whom she was so dear; but some sudden change in her condition appeared and she was too weak and weary to survive it, notwithstanding the untiring efforts of her nephew, Dr. Gordon Bonine, Cassopolis, who is the only surviving member of her immediate family.
    "Niles has lost an estimable citizen, a gentle-woman in the highest sense of the word was Mary Bonine Dougan, her cheerful disposition was not the least of her charms, her keen sense of humor, her warm sympathy to all in distress and her many unknown act of generosity will be stars in her crown of rejoicing.  Those who knew her best  loved her most and what more beautiful tribute could be paid her than that!
    "The deeper one penetrated into her nature the more one saw to admire.
    "As one who will feel her loss keenly, I can only echo what purchance[sic] she is saying--
    "'Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word,
    For mine eyes have seen thy salvation.'  Luke 2-29 and 30."

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Monday, September 13, 1926, page1, col. 3; continued on Page 5, col. 2; Microfilm Niles District Library)

Having been in failing health for several months and practically bedfast since June 8, James Brahaney, 86, died last night at 9:20 at his home, 27 N. Thirteenth street.
Mr. Brahaney moved to Niles from Marquette, 28 years ago and since that time had acquired a large circle of friends to whom his death brings deep sorrow.
He was born in Campbellford, Ontario, Canada, May 6, 1840, and spent his early life there.  In January 1866, he married Miss Annie Bannister, of Penetanguishene, Ontario, who together with their two daughter, Mrs. John Perkins, of Niles, and Mrs. C.D. Hilderbrand, of South Bend, and a son, Charles, survives him.
Before coming to Niles Mr. and Mrs. Brahaney lived at Au Sable, where he engaged in the lumber business for several years.  After his removal to this city he retired from active business life.
The deceased was a member of the Presbyterian church and a Mason, being affiliated with the Blue Lodge, the Chapter, the Supreme Council and the Knights Templar.  For a number of years he held membership in  Ahmed Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Marquette.  For many years he served as tyler of St. Joseph Valley lodge.
The body was taken to the Troost and Augustine company funeral parlors last evening but will be returned to the home tomorrow where funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock by Rev. H.T. Scherer.  Masonic funeral services will also be held at the grave.  Interment will be made in Silver Brook cemetery.
Until stricken by his last illness Mr. Brahaney enjoyed a life of unusual activity, taking an active part in all Masonic affairs, and in other enterprises which he was interested.  He had served as a member of the Berrien county poor commission, and had, until last  .[illegible] .of years been truant officer for the Niles public schools.  He was a man of exemplary life and was highly esteemed.  He enjoyed a wide acquaintance of old friends and of many younger people and children who mourn with the family his death.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Monday, September 13, 1926, page 5 col 4, Microfilm Niles District Library)