Obituaries

Louise Lena Leach
Nov. 8, 1918-Sept. 7, 1994

Services for Louise Lena Leach, 75, of Zephyrhills, Fla., formerly of Niles, who died at 3:18 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7, 1994,  in Dade City (Fla.) Hospital after an illness, will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Halbritter Funeral Home.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to any charity.

Mrs. Leach retired in 1983, after 30 years at Simplicity Pattern Co. She was born Nov. 8, 1918, in Niles and lived most of her life in this area, going to Florida in 1983. On Nov. 7, 1935, in South Bend, she married Frank A. Leach. He survives with a daughter, Mary Ann Everman of Dowagiac; a granddaughter, Pam Everman of Niles; a grandson, Scott Everman of Niles; and a great-granddaughter, Sarah Everman. A son, Richard, died in 1960.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Jeanne Leach
Jan. 22, 1924-March 2, 1995

Memorial services for Jeanne Miller Leach, 71, of Miami, formerly of Niles, who died March 2, 1995,  in her home after an illness, were held Monday in Old Cutler Presbyterian Church Chapel, Miami. Cremation has taken place. Graveside services and burial will be at a later date in Silverbrook Cemetery. Van Orsdel Funeral Home, Miami, was in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Leach was a registered nurse. She was born Jan. 22, 1924, in Niles, and moved to Miami in 1948. In 1940, she married Robert Lindsley, who died. Surviving are three daughters, Sally Kroll of Westfield, N.J., and Mary Taylor and Nancy Muniz, both of Miami; a son, Bill Lindsley of Miami; 16 grandchildren; her mother, Gladys Miller of Niles; and a brother, Edward Miller of Niles.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Frank A. Leach
Aug. 9, 1913-Oct. 9, 1994

Funeral services for Frank A Leach, 81, of 28456 Elm St., Dowagiac, will be at 3 p.m. Thursday in Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, by Pastor Rover E. Brenneman of North Wayne Mennonite Church in Dowagiac. Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Mr. Leach died at 10 p.m, Sunday at Lee Memorial Hospital, Dowagiac.

He was born Aug. 9, 1913, Niles, and lived most of his life in Niles, moving to Florida in 1983.  He had recently returned to this area.

On Nov. 7, 1935, in South Bend, Ind., he was married to Louise Lena (Bame) Leach, who preceded him in death Sept. 7.

He retired from National Standard Co., in Niles in 1960.  Following his retirement, he owned and operated E&L Motor Sales in Pokagon for 15 years.

Mr. Leach was a former member of Pokagon Lodge F. & A.M.

Survivors include a daughter, Mary Ann Everman of Dowagiac; a granddaughter, Pam Everman of Niles; a grandson, Scott Everman of Dowagiac; a great-granddaughter, Sarah Everman; five sisters, Annabelle Betz of Bluffton, Ind., Evelyn Burnham and Wilma Alice Pyburn, both of Niles, Gertrude Blanche Johnson of Elkhart, Ind., and Joyce Backus of Buchanan; and three brothers, Fred Leach and Robert Leach, both of Niles, and Harold :John: Leach of Naples.  He was preceded in death by a son, Richard Leach, in 1980; one brother and one sister.

Visitation will be one hour prior to services Thursday at Halbritter Funeral Home.  Memorial contributions are of the donor’s choice.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Billy Lawton
Oct. 28, 1926-June 5, 1994

Services for Billy Lawton, 67, of 1211 Stateline Road,Niles, who died at 1:20 a.m. Sunday, June 5, 1994,  in Woodfield Manor of natural causes, will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Pifer-Smith Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call one hour before services Wednesday in the funeral home.

Mr. Lawton was born Oct. 28, 1926, in Niles and was a lifelong resident. His friend was Geraldine Starrett of Niles.

  Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Jane Louise Latimer
June 29, 1932-Sept. 25, 1994

Jane Louise Latimer, 62, of 1091 Almaugus Drive,  Niles, died at 8:15 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 25, 1994, in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, after an illness.  Mrs. Latimer had been employed by Tyler Refrigeration for over 30 years.  She was born June 29, 1932, in Bemidji, Minn., and moved to Niles in 1957 from South Bend. On June 11, 1955, in South Bend, she married Junior O. ''Sam'' Latimer.  He survives with two sisters, Delhia Shorts of Niles and Yvone Reist of Bargersville, Ind.; and four brothers, Ronald Joanis of Dowagiac and Charles A. Joanis, Dwain K. Joanis and James Joanis, all of Niles.  She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority and Purchasing Management Association.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Halbritter Funeral Home.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home.  Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home.

Robert E. Laskowski, Sr.
Sept. 4, 1931-Jan. 3, 1999

Robert E. Laskowski, Sr., 67, of 1514 Inner Drive, Niles, Mich., died following an extended illness at 12:47 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 3, 1999, in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, Ind.

He was born on Sept. 4, 1931, at LaPorte, Ind., to Christine (Jackson) and Jerome Laskowski. He grew up in Chicago, Ill., graduating from Holy Trinity High School, later moving to Niles in 1953.

Mr. Laskowski retired in 1985 from Tyler Refrigeration following 36 years of service. He began studying computers at their origin and continued his education through many schools to maintain proficiency in numerical programming. Following retirement he became a consultant in this area of expertise.

He was a longtime member of St. Mark Catholic Church in Niles, and was a veteran of the Korean Conflict, serving in the U. S. Army as a corporal.

On Oct. 23, 1954, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Niles, he married the former Patricia Jean Dittmer, who survives.

He is also survived by his children, Virginia ''Ginny'' Day of Harbor Springs, Mich., Linda Stewart of Granger, Ind., Jerome Laskowski of Newberry Park, Calif., Robert E. Laskowski, Jr., and Susan L. Laskowski, both of Niles; five grandchildren, Joshua and Joel Moore, Ashley Day, Devin and Shane Laskowski; and by his sister, Patricia Thorn of River Grove, Ill.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Barbara Campbell, who died in 1996.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 7, at St. Mark Catholic Church, with the Reverend Joseph W. Koma, C.S.C., officiating. A flag presentation officiated by John McLaughlin, commander of American Legion Post 26 will follow the graveside committal at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive friends in the narthex of the church one hour prior to the Mass, and the Rosary will be recited.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Mark Catholic Church.

Arrangements are by the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.