Gerald G. Pinch
Dec. 25, 1934-Aug. 23, 2005

Gerald Garland Pinch, 70, of 125 South 5th Street, Niles, died at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday August 23, 2005 at home. of  natural causes.

He was born Dec. 25, 1934 in Niles to the late Klingerman and Lucille (Garland) Pinch. He was also preceded in death by a grandson, Leslie Scott.

He was a US navy veteran, volunteer firemen for Niles Township for 10 years, member of the NA with honors, loved to Fish, metal detect and antiquing. He loved his family dearly. Worked for Niles Steel Tank, Co, a journeyman alloy welder. And was a lifetime Niles Resident.

On October 23, 1954 in Niles he married Shirley (Brumfield) Pinch who survives. Also surviving are daughters, Terrie (Herbert) Hubbard, Tracy (Mark) Nichols twin daughters, Marcy (Dale) Kutz and melody Bryant, all of Niles and Tammy (Robert) Bertles of South Bend; a brother, Daniel Pinch of Clermont, Fla.; sister, Mary Beth (Charles) Ottinger, Memphis, Tennessee; 22 grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren. Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, 2005 in Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, MI, with Pastor Terry White of Beacon Baptist Church, Niles officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, where friends call one hour before services.  

Betty Lou Pickles
Aug. 21, 1922-May 15, 2006

Mrs. Betty Lou Pickles, 83, of Rynearson Road, Buchanan, Michigan, and formerly of Niles, died following a brief illness at 9:17 p.m. Monday, May 15, 2006, in Lakeland Hospital, Niles.

Ms. Pickles was born on August 21, 1922, in Niles, to Carl and Marie (Hover) Schrumpf. She lived most of her lifetime in Niles, spending 20 years in Sebring, Florida, after retirement. Betty Lou retired after 10 years of service as a secretary from the Niles City Police Department.

Betty Lou was a member of the First Church of Christ-Scientist of Niles and Sebring, and also attended Saint John's United Church of Christ in Niles. She enjoyed community social and service activities with her husband, Spencer. She also enjoyed reading music, dancing and ice skating.

On Dec. 9, 1945, in Niles, she first married Ralph James Heckaman, who died on January 8, 1962. She later married Spencer Pickles on August 26, 1967, in Niles, who also preceded her in death on December 12, 1998.

Mrs. Pickles is survived by her daughter, Anna Marie (David Schoff) Padgett of Niles; two stepdaughters, Susan (Russ) Widdis and Patricia (Dick) Ham, both of Niles; a stepson, Larry (Sarajane) Pickles of Niles; five grandsons, Todd (Veronica) Ham of Austin, Texas, Christopher (Krista) Ham of High Point, North Carolina, Jeffrey Ham of Chicago, Illinois, Brett (Laura) Wiggins of Mishawaka, Indiana, and Chad Wiggins of Ann Arbor, Michigan; a granddaughter, Erika Pickles of Niles; and by four great-grandchildren, Spencer, Jenna, Trever and Isabella Ham.

Mrs. Pickles was also preceded in death by a brother, Robert Schrumpf.

Funeral services for Betty Lou Pickles will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 19, in Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Rev. Kyle Gardner of Saint John's United Church of Christ in Niles officiating. Burial will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Friends may call beginning at 10 a.m. Friday in the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Betty Lou may be made to the Saint John's Church of Christ in Niles.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Jill L. Phillips
Oct. 25, 1975-April 2001

Jill Lorraine Phillips, 25, of 1410 N. Haiden Drive, Syracuse, Ind., entered into rest April 2001 in Syracuse, Ind. An investigation is pending.

Jill was born Oct. 25, 1975, in Niles, Mich., and had lived the last two years in Syracuse. Jill was baptized at Peace Evangelical Church, South Bend. She graduated from Edwardsburg High School in 1994, and had been actively involved in track, choir and drama club.

Jill had previously been employed in retail sales by J.C. Penney, L.S. Ayres, J. Riggins and Meijer's. She had worked for Brandy's in Fort Wayne for the last two years.

Jill is survived by her mother, Jean A. Phillips Nyhuis, and her stepfather, Tom Nyhuis of Buchanan; maternal grandmother, Evelyn Phillips of Niles; paternal step-grandparents, Elwin and Anne Nyhuis of Edwardsburg, Mich.; three daughters, Trista Phillips of Buchanan, Cheyenne Phillips of Lombard, Ill., Jasmyn Phillips of Niles; a half sister, Andrea Nyhuis of Buchanan; two half brothers, Brandon and Michael Nyhuis of Buchanan; an aunt, Terrie DePoy of Sherman, Texas; three uncles, Joseph Phillips of Niles, Robert Phillips of Edwardsburg and Christopher Phillips of Niles; and many friends.

Jill was preceded in death by her maternal grandfather, Kermit L. "Tad" Phillips.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 20, 2001, at Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, with Reverend Mike Smith officiating.

Family and friends may call from 1 p.m. until time of services on Wednesday in the funeral home. Burial will follow services at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to her children's trust fund.

Robert W. Petro
Sept. 25, 1920-Oct. 22, 2002

Mr. Robert William Petro, 82, of Horton Court, Niles, Mich., died following an extended illness at 10:25 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2002, in the Lakeland Medical Center, Niles.

He was born on Sept. 25, 1920, in Kaleva, Mich., to Wilfred Rich and Vada Irene Petro. Irene died in 1923 leaving Bob and his brother, Dick in the care of her mother until Wilfred's marriage to Emmie Boal in 1930. Bob had lived most of his life in Niles, and was graduated from Niles High School in 1940 where he was a member of the state champion cross-country team.

He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps, discharged as a corporal. He earned both a bachelor's degree and master's degree in wood utilization from Michigan State University, East Lansing. He had been employed by the Singer Sewing Machine Company, Simplicity Pattern Company, Bremen Bearing and Garden City Products.

Mr. Petro's greatest love was in serving the Lord and his faithful attendance as a member of the Apostolic Temple Church, South Bend, Ind., where he served as an usher for over 30 years. He was also a member of Chapter 865 of the Experimental Aircraft Association, Niles.

On March 10, 1946, in Ypsilanti, Mich., he was married to the former Janet Arlene Pollock, who survives. He is also survived by their children, Larry David Petro of Baltimore, Md., Michael Paul (Roxann) Petro of South Bend, Stephen William (Rebecca) Petro of South River, N.J., Deborah Sue (Edward) Stankevich of Chelsea, Mich., Joan Elizabeth (Richard) Breyer of Nashville, Tenn., Phillip Douglas (Shannon) Petro of Flat Rock, Mich., Timothy Richard (Charlene) Petro of Denver, Colo., and Lydia Anne (Larry) Reichanadter of Niles; grandchildren, Kelly Anne Petro, Sara Renee and Beth Arlene Stankevich, Max Alexander and Nina Rachel Breyer, Danielle Lenee Petro, Schuyler Miller Petro, and Alex Michael and Adam Jacob Reichanadter; and by his brother, Richard Wayne Petro of Niles, and half sister, Olive Petro of Chicago, Ill.

Funeral services for Mr. Robert W. Petro will be at 10 a.m. (Ind. time) Friday, Oct. 25, in the Apostolic Temple Church, South Bend, at the corner of Ironwood Road and Ewing Avenue, with Bishop P.D. Rowe officiating, assisted by the Rev. P.T. Rowe, both of the church. Committal services will be at 2 p.m. (Mich. time) at the graveside at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, and will conclude with a Veteran's Flag Presentation by American Legion Post #26 Comdr. John McLaughlin.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. (Mich. time) today in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Contributions in memory of Mr. Petro may be made to the Apostolic Temple Church.

October 24, 2003;  Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Roy G. Peters
March 30, 1921-Oct. 25, 1994

Roy G. Peters, 73, of 1521 E. Main Street, Niles, died at 8 p.m. Tuesday Oct. 25, 1994, at Pawating Hospital after an illness. Mr. Peters was the owner and retired in 1986 as operator of East Main Gardens. He was born March 30, 1921, in Niles and was a lifetime area resident. On April 10, 1948, in Niles, he married Helen K. Schadler. She survives with a son, Mike of Niles; four grandchildren; and four sisters, Margaret Brawley of Niles, Patricia Fuchshauber of Fort Wayne, Joy Murphy of Dowagiac, and Shirley Luke of Buchanan. He was a member of Niles Fraternal Order of Police; Niles Auxiliary Police; Niles Elks Lodge, of which he was former chief; American Legion Post 26; Four Flags Amateur Radio Club, and was an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. He started the tradition of the Christmas tree in the St. Joseph River between Broadway and Main streets.

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday in Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Leon E. Peel
June 25, 1940-April 4, 2008

Leon E. Peel, 67, of Swan Point Place, Las Vegas, Nev, and a former longtime resident of Pinehurst Lane, Niles died Friday (April 4, 2008), in his home following an extended illness. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Jean; children, Debra J. Peel of Las Vegas, Terry L. Peel of Colorado Springs, CO, Kathryn M. (Michael) Holy of Buchanan and Barbara Jo “Barbie” Danley of Las Vegas, 11 grandchildren and a great-grandchild; a sister and brother, Carol A. Egmer and Harold S. Peel, both of Niles. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, where friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m, on Friday. 

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown