Obituaries

Clayton Gentry
Nov. 5, 1937-Feb. 16, 1996

Clayton ''Buddy'' L. Gentry, 58, of 1640 Broadway, Niles, , died of natural causes at 2 a.m. Friday Feb. 16, 1996, in his residence. Mr. Gentry was a former employee of Clark Equipment Co., Buchanan. He was born Nov. 5, 1937, in Coffee County, Tenn. Surviving are three daughters, Rose S. Gentry of Grand Rapids, April L. Mathias of Fort Meade, Md., and Kathy D. Gentry of Niles; a son, Russell C. of Niles; four grandchildren; his parents, William C. and Evaline C. Gentry of Niles; and two sisters, Barbara E. Carter of Niles and Beverly J. Swanson of Lebanon, Ill. He was a member of Clark Equipment UAW and a Navy veteran.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery with full military services. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Kenneth L. Geideman
Feb. 9, 1913-Feb. 23, 1994

Services for Kenneth L. Geideman, 81, of 2276 U.S. 12 E., Niles,  who died at 7:45 a.m. Wednesday Feb. 23, 1994,  in Highland's Regional Medical Center, Sebring, Fla., after an illness, will be at 11 a.m. Monday in St. John's United Church of Christ. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Halbritter Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the church.

Mr. Geideman was the retired owner of Niles Radio Supply. He was born Feb. 9, 1913, in Michigan City, and was a lifelong area resident. On Sept. 21, 1940, in Eau Claire, he married Vera L. Bennett. She survives with three daughters, Barbara Haas and Marilyn Lane, both of Niles, and Evelyn Schrumpf of Cicero, Ind.; a son, Edward K. of Niles; 11 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Mr. Geideman was a member of the church City Club and Radio Amateur Club. He was a graduate of the University of Notre Dame.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Frederick Geideman
April 2, 1914-March 5, 1999

Frederick H. Geideman, 84, of South Third Street, Niles, died Friday March 5, 1999, in the Lakeland Medical Center, Niles.  He was born April 2, 1914. Survivors include his wife, Marjorie K. (Shreve); and a daughter, Marsha C. Foster of St. Louis. Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the First Presbyterian Church. Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday in the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Robert Arthur Gee
May 23, 1933-Feb. 8, 1999

Mr. Robert Arthur Gee, 65, of 1340 Sheffield Avenue, Niles, Mich., died following an extended illness at 3:15 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 8, 1999,  in Saint Joseph Community Hospital, Mishawaka, Ind.

Mr. Gee was born on May 23, 1933, in Maywood, Ill., to William Arthur and Anna (Oram) Gee, and had lived in Niles since 1959, coming from Maywood.

He was employed as a sales representative for the former Schaffer and now Parker Hardware Distributor of Decatur, Ind. In that capacity he enjoyed a long relationship with many hardware stores throughout Berrien County, Mich., and north-central Indiana.

He was a member and deacon of the First Presbyterian Church of Niles. He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict, serving in the United States Navy, and was a member of the American Legion, formerly of Post 255, Lansing, Mich., then transferring to Post 26, Niles. He had also been active in Republican Committee activities at the local, state and national levels.

On Nov. 3, 1956, in Forest Park, Ill., he was married to the former Susan P. Ploetz, who preceded him in death on Sept. 12, 1989. He was also preceded in death by a brother, William C. Gee in 1996.

He is survived by a daughter, Cynthia Sue Smeltzer and her husband, Mark of South Bend, Ind.; a son, William Arthur Gee, II, and his wife, Marsha of Niles; a sister, Marie G. Hart and her husband, Richard of Elmhurst, Ill.; and by a sister-in-law, Kathy Gee of Michigan City, Ind.

Funeral services for Robert A. Gee will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 12, in the First Presbyterian Church, Niles, with the Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman officiating. Committal services will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, followed by a veteran's flag presentation by American Legion Post 26 Acting Commander Harry Roberts.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Contributions in memory of Mr. Gee may be made to The Foundation of the First Presbyterian Church, Niles.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Amy E. Garst
Aug. 12, 1908-July 23, 2001

Amy Elizabeth Garst, 92, of South Third Street, and formerly of 913 North Thirteenth Street, Niles, Mich., died at 1:15 a.m. Monday, July 23 , 2001, in Our Lady of the Resurrection Medical Center, Chicago, Ill. Her final illness began as a stroke on July 9, 2001.

She was born on Aug. 12, 1908, in Elkhart, Ind., to Charles and Jessie Luther (Stultz) Cloyes. On July 21, 1928, in Gary, Ind., she was married to Vern C. Garst. They came to Niles in 1940 from South Bend, Ind. Mr. Garst was well-known in Niles as the owner and operator of several service stations. Mrs. Garst retired in 1982 after 20 years of employment with the Niles Credit Bureau. Mr. Garst died on Feb. 19, 1993, and they were preceded in death by a great-grandson, Scott Garst, who died in 1987.

Mrs. Garst was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Niles. During much of her life she was a skilled seamstress, making a full line of clothing for her family. She also enjoyed making jewelry, writing poetry and reading. Since retirement she had been interested in professional basketball, following on television both the Chicago Bulls and the Women's National Basketball Association, and had gained a reputation for cultivating house plants.

Mrs. Garst is survived by her children, Roger W. (and Mary Ann) Garst of Grand Rapids, Mich., Diana S. (and Doug) Miller of Niles; and by six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. (Mich. time) Saturday, Aug. 11, in the First Presbyterian Church, Niles, with The Reverend Doctor Ronald H. Wakeman officiating. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

There will be no visitation.

Contributions in memory of Amy E. Garst may be made to The Foundation of First Presbyterian Church, Niles.

Arrangements are by the Halbritter Funeral Home.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Bertha Gagliano
March 7, 1916-June 30, 2005

Bertha Louise Gagliano, 89, of 11880 Gast Road, Bridgman,  died at 2:57 June 30, 2005, in Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph, of natural causes.  She was born March 7, 1916, Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. There will be no visitation. Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, is handling arrangements.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown