Obituaries

Letha Helen Haimbaugh
Sept. 29, 1909-Feb. 21, 2004

Mrs. Letha Helen Haimbaugh, 94, formerly of Niles, Mich., died at 7:40 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21,  2004, in Cass County Medical Care Facility, Cassopolis, Mich., following a brief illness.

She was born on Sept. 29, 1909, in Jennings County, Ind., to George and Iva (Bailey) Walters. She moved from Plymouth, Ind., to Niles in 1941, where she lived on North Sixth Street and later on Bicknell Avenue. She was employed at Simplicity Pattern Company, Niles, for 23 years, retiring in 1967.

She enjoyed flower gardening, baking and walking, and more recently had enjoyed reading. She had been active at the Senior Center of Niles. Her greatest accomplishment and pleasure was raising seven children

On Sept. 2, 1928, in Rochester, Ind., she was married to Russell Haimbaugh who died on May 3, 1957. She was also preceded in death by a son, LaVern Haimbaugh; grandson, Rick Harper; two great-grandchildren; her twin sister, Millie Pickens and sisters, Lola Lacey, Alta Dimmitt and Opal Randolph; and a brother, Vachal Walters.

Mrs. Haimbaugh is survived by her children, Clifford (Sandi) Haimbaugh of Bonita Springs, Fla., Howard (Clarice) Haimbaugh of Middlebury, Ind., Betty (Jim) Robbins of Chelsea, Mich., Robert (Betty Ann) Haimbaugh of Prosperity, S.C., Marilyn (Russ) White of Niles, Jack (Joyce) Haimbaugh of Niles and Helen (Rich) Critchlow of Niles; 16 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren; and twin great-great-grandchildren.

Services for Letha H. Haimbaugh will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 25, in Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Pastor Carl L. Harrison of Trinity United Methodist Church, Niles, officiating. Committal Services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive friends in the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. today, Feb. 24.

Contributions in memory of Mrs. Haimbaugh may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service; Dew-Lay Care Center; or to Cass County Medical Care Facility.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Frederick S. Haas, Sr.
June 21, 1941-March 31, 2007

Sergeant First Class Frederick S. Haas Sr., U.S. Army retired, 65, of Frantz Drive, Niles, died at 1:25 a.m. Saturday, March 31, 2007, in his home following a brief illness.

He was born on June 21, 1941, in Marcellus, to Stanley Arthur and Doris Martha (Riley) Haas. He graduated from Decatur, Michigan High School, and has lived in Niles since 1963.

Sergeant Haas served full-time in the United States Army for 30 years prior to retirement. Although his service was stateside, he was a veteran of the Viet Nam Era. He was a member of the American Legion Post #309, Decatur, and past president of the 246th Armored Association.

He also owned and operated the former Lafayette Radio Store in South Bend, and attended classes at Davenport College.

He was a member of Saint John's Untied Church of Christ, Niles; a member of and past master of Volinia-Marcellus Lodge #227 F & AM, and a member of the Dowagiac Peninsular Lodge #10 F & AM.

He enjoyed learning about the John Deere Company and its equipment, and he maintained a large collection of John Deere scale models.

On December 24, 1960, in Saint John's Church, Niles, he married the former Barbara J. Geideman, who survives. Also surviving are ther sons, Frederick (Shelly) Haas Jr. of Benton Harbor and Reginald J. Haas of Niles; grandchildren, Melissa, Chris, and Douglas Haas; and great-granddaughter, Autumn Haas; brother, James Haas of Decatur and sisters, Lola Lyons and Mary Helen Fosdick, both of Dowagiac, and Kathleen Pederson of Cassopolis.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Mere Haas and Wayne Haas.

Funeral services for Frederick S. Haas Sr., will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 3, in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Rev. Kyle Gardner of Saint John's United Church of Christ officiating. Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, and will conclude with full military honors by American Legion Post #309, Decatur.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today in the funeral home, with Masonic services by the Volinia-Marcellus Lodge #227 F & AM at 7 p.m.

Contributions in memory of Mr. Haas may be made to Saint John's United Church of Christ.

Melva Ann Groce
Feb. 6, 1941-Nov. 11, 2007

Melva Ann Groce, 66, Niles, died at 6:30 a.m. Sunday Nov. 11, 2007, in her home.  She was born Feb. 26, 1941. Survivors include a son, William C. "Bubba" Groce Jr. of Granger; a daughter, Valerie Moore of South Bend; brothers, Raymond Johnson and Thad McDonald; and a sister, Arlene Jones of Kansas City, MO. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church. Friend may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday in Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Robert L. Green
June 3, 1935-July 5, 2003

Robert L. Green, 68, of South Third Street, Niles, Mich., died suddenly but of natural causes at 5:57 p.m. Saturday, July 5, 2003, in the Lakeland Medical Center.

He was born June 3, 1935, in Hartford, Mich., to John and Jane (Jordan) Green, and moved to Niles in 1951.

Mr. Green had been an assistant at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles since 1983, and had also been employed from 1955 until 1982 as a produce manager at the former A & P Tea Company. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during peacetime, and was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #449, Buchanan, Mich.

On Feb. 1, 1958, in South Bend, Ind., he married the former Nancy L. Parks, who survives. He is also survived by daughters, Carmen (Michael) Burks of Niles and Missy (Scott) DeLay of Phoenix, Ariz.; grandson, Jake DeLay; three step-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren; a brother, Donald Green of Albany, Ga.; and by four sisters, Dorothy Fisher and Beverly Lundberg, both of Niles, Lois Priest of Benzonia, Mich., and Wilma Jean Flickinger of Wisconsin.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. today, July 9, in the Halbritter Funeral Home. A veterans' flag presentation and taps, officiated by John McLaughlin, commander of American Legion Post 26, Niles, will follow the services. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. The family received friends from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday in the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Robert L. Green may be made to the Michigan Heart Association.

Marvin C. Green
July 24, 1925-Aug. 15, 2003

Marvin C. Green, 78, of 1423 Fort St., Niles, died Friday  Aug. 15, 2003, in Silverbrook Manor after an illness. He was born July 24, 1925. Survivors include his wife, Mary A.; four daughters, Debra A. Green of Louisiana and Katherine J., Lisa M. and Tina E. Green, all of Niles; three sons, Robert C., Ricky L. and Gregory S., all of Niles; and a sister, Betty True of Niles. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Silverbrook Cemetery, where military rites will be conducted by Buchanan American Legion Post 51.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown