Lee B. Cousins
February 20, 1911-December 12, 2005

Lee B. Cousins, 94, formerly of Old Sauk Trail, Niles, Michigan, died of a brief illness at 9:30 p.m. Monday, December 12, 2005, in Buchanan Meadows.

Mr. Cousins was born on February 20, 1911, in Grafton, Ohio, to Elmer C. and Ethel L. (Bowman) Cousins. He moved to this area in 1913, coming from Ohio. In 1972 he retired as senior vice president of First National Bank of Southwestern Michigan. A veteran of World War II, Mr. Cousins served in the U.S. Army until his discharge in November 1945. He then returned to Niles.

He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles. Active in civic affairs, he was a past-president of both the Niles-Buchanan Rotary Club and the United Way of Greater Niles. Lee was a longtime member as well as a life member of the Niles Elks Lodge #1322 B.P.O.E. He also was a member of Fernwood Botanic Garden and Nature Center.

On December 30, 1933, in Three Oaks, Michigan, he was married to Jane E. Olson, who preceded him in death on December 24, 1998.

Surviving family include his sons, Dean L. Cousins of Milford, Indiana, and James A. Cousins of Buchanan. Three grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, as well as his sister, Joy Newman of Seattle, Washington, additionally survive.

Funeral services for Lee B. Cousins will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 17, 2005, in the Halbritter Funeral Home, with Rev. Emmett H. Kadwell, Jr. officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery. There will be no visitation.

Contributions in memory of Mr. Cousins may be made to the Niles-Buchanan Y.M.C.A. Building Fund

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Robert "Cope" Coplen
June 18, 1928-March 28, 1996

Services for Robert A. ''Cope'' Coplen, 67, of 1441 Oak Sauk Trail, who died at 8:55 p.m. Thursday, March 28, 1996,  in his home after an illness, will be at 10 a.m. Monday in Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Michigan Heart Association or Hospice at Home.

Mr. Coplen retired from Marathon Oil Co. He was born June 18, 1928, in Argos and moved here in 1946 from Mishawaka. He married Mary Lee Marlin. She survives with a daughter, Lettie Ann Marquis of Niles; two sons, Pat of Niles and Michael of South Bend; three grandsons, two step-grandchildren; a stepsister, Janet Weisenberger of Vincennes, Ind.; and a stepbrother, John Nihiser of Houston. He was a member of St. Joseph Valley Lodge 4 F & AM, Shrine Club and Scottish Rite, BPO of Niles, Elks Lodge 1322, American Legion, American Veterans and Niles Fraternal Order of Police. He was a World War II Navy veteran.

Leslie Lee Cook
April 9, 1948-Nov. 4, 1994

Leslie Lee Cook, 46, of 1535 Hickory St., died at 4:50 p.m. Friday, Nov. 4, 1994,  in her home after an illness. Mrs. Cook was employed at Rana's Hair Fashions. She was born April 9, 1948, in South Haven, Mich., and lived in Niles most of her life. Surviving are a daughter, Tracee Cook of Niles; a sister, Jami Vandern Bossche of North Liberty; and a brother, Donald Starke of Bremen. She was a member of Michiana Bicycle Association and Niles Racquet Club, and attended Southwestern Michigan College.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice At Home.

Esther Conrad
March 22, 1912-April 25, 2004

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 26, 2004, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Esther Conrad, 92, of 911 South Third Street, will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Donald H. Wakeman of First Presbyterian Church officiating.

Conrad died Sunday, April 25, at Lakeland Hospital in Niles following a brief illness.

She was born March 22, 1912, in Three Oaks to Guy Thompson and Lennie Holett. She was a lifelong area resident. On June 10, 1933, in LaPorte, Ind., she married Ward E. Conrad who preceded her in death in 1966.

Conrad was retired in 1977 after managing Paul's Toggery and Mayfair Shoppe in Niles.  She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Ladies Auxiliary, VFW Post No. 4025, and a graduate of Niles High School in 1930.

Survivors include a son, Richard D. Conrad of Niles; two daughters, Beverly Gessinger and Connie L. Knapp, both of Niles; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Everett Thompson, five other siblings and two grandchildren.

Friends may call from 6-8 p.m  Tuesday at Halbritter Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Berrien County Cancer Service.

Ernest E. Commins
June 19, 1930-Dec. 15, 1999

Ernest E. Commins, 69, of 1630 Huron St., died Wednesday Dec. 15, 1999,  in Lakeland Medical Center, Niles, of natural causes. Born June 19, 1930. Private family services will be held. There will be no visitation. Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, is handling arrangements.

Evelyn R. Collmer
May 26, 1920-March 4, 1999

Evelyn Ruth Collmer, 78, of 2630 Huntly Road, Niles, Mich., died following an extended illness at 10:45 p.m. on Thursday, March 4, 1999, at the Lake View Community Hospital, Paw Paw, Mich.

Mrs. Collmer was born on May 26, 1920, in South Bend, Ind., to John and Nettie Banach, and had lived in South Bend and Niles all of her life.

She was a member of the Niles Art League and was an accomplished artist, painting in oil. Some of her paintings have been in public exhibitions, and many are in private homes in the area. She enjoyed playing bingo and scrabble, and sewing stuffed animals.

On March 22, 1941, in Bryan, Ohio, she was married to Bruce H. Collmer, who preceded her in death on Nov. 10, 1984. She was also preceded in death by a brother.

She is survived by her sons, John A. ''Tony'' Collmer and Michael Collmer, both of Niles; and by four grandchildren, Kevin Worl, Jr., Billy Walls, Brian Walls and Tina Walls.

Funeral services for Evelyn R. Collmer will be at 1 p.m. on Monday, March 8, at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Rev. Daniel A. Greegor of Sumnerville Bible Baptist Church officiating. Interment will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 5 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Mrs. Collmer may be made to the American Lung Association.