Flora D. Cusick
Aug. 11, 1905-Dec. 31, 1998

Flora D. Cusick, 93, of South Thirteenth Street, Niles, Mich. died at 6:25 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, 1998, at Silverbrook Manor in Niles following a brief illness.

She was born August 11, 1905 in Galien, Mich. to Anna (Sharfenberg) and Utah B. Smith and had lived in this area all her life.

Mrs. Cusick enjoyed handwork like crochet.  She and her family had a great appreciation for the outdoors, always maintaining a cabin and spending time together enjoying fishing and mushroom hunting.

On September 4, 1920 in South Bend, Ind. she was married to Leo P. Cusick, who died on August 7, 1983.  She was also preceded in death by a son, Leo M. Cusick on August 19, 1996; a sister, Pleasant Burge; and brothers, Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Michigan, and Allison Smith.

Mrs. Cusick is survived by her children, Winogene Carpenter, Dwayne H. Cusick, and Marjorie Winquist, all of Niles; five grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; two great great grandchildren; sisters, Virginia Jacobs of South Bend, Lillian Graham of Niles, and Shirley Ortiz of Port Hayward, Virginia; and a brother Merlyn ''Bud'' Smith of Baldwin, Mich.

Funeral services for Flora D. Cusick will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday, in Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Pastor Ted Mitchell of Edwardsburg, Mich. officiating.

Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m., Monday at the funeral home. Contributions in memory of Mrs. Cusick may be made to the donor's choice.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Dwayne H. Cusick
March 22, 1925-March 28, 2005

Dwayne H. Cusick, 80, of Thirteenth Street, Niles, Mich., died following an extended illness at 8:40 p.m. Monday, March 28, 2005, in Lakeland Hospital, Niles.

Mr. Cusick was born on March 22, 1925, in South Bend, Ind., to Leo P. and Flora D. (Smith) Cusick. He graduated from Niles High School and remained a lifetime resident of Niles. Dwayne attended Olivett (Michigan) College and graduated from Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Dwayne was retired from Bendix Aerospace, Mishawaka, Ind. He was a life member of the National Rifle Association, a member of the American Radio Relay League, and the Redbud Amateur Radio Club. He was licensed as an amateur radio operator with the call letters "W8JCU."

On Nov. 14, 1959, in Niles, he was married to the former Beatrice Grinage-Smith, who survives. Also surviving are his two sisters, Winogene Carpenter and Margorie Winquist, both of Niles; a niece, Lisa Winquist; and four nephews, Stephen Winquist, Timothy Winquist, Roger Cusick and Gary Cusick; and several great- and great-great-nieces and nephews.

Mr. Cusick was preceded in death by his brother, Leo M. Cusick, who died Aug. 19, 1996.

The family will gather privately at the graveside in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, for words of committal by Rev. Emmett H. Kadwell Jr. of Wesley United Methodist Church. They will receive friends from 6 until 9 p.m. today, March 31, in the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Contributions in memory of Dwayne may be made to Pet Refuge.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Clark Curtis
Oct. 15, 1917-April 19, 1999

Clark Keene Curtis, 81, of 1933 M-51 North, Niles, Mich., died at 9 p.m. on Monday, April 19, 1999,  in his home.

Mr. Curtis was born on Oct. 15, 1917, in Niles, to Orrin and Ethel Curtis, who preceded him in death. On Sept. 1, 1937, he married Darlene Winifred Powers, who preceded him in death on May 19, 1991. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Helen Curtis.

He is survived by three sons, Dr. Gregory Curtis and Robert C. Curtis, both of Niles, and James W. Curtis of Mishawaka, Ind.; two sisters, Joan Fuller of Titusville, Fla., and Doris Giltz of Niles; and by four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Mr. Curtis served his country in the Marines during World War II. He retired from the National Standard Company in 1977 where he worked as a foreman for 31 years. He was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks Lodge #1322, Niles. He was an avid golfer and sports enthusiast.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 23, at the Pifer-SMITH Funeral Home, Niles.

There will be a visitation from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home. Burial of the cremated remains will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

William E. Cross
Aug. 21, 1947-Sept. 6, 2006

William Earl Cross, 59, of 1130 West Kirkwood, Bloomington, Indiana, died of natural causes at 11:45 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 6,  2006, in Hospice House of St. Joseph County, South Bend, IN.

He was born Aug. 21, 1947, in Greenwood, Miss., to the late Ivery and Virginia Cross. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Angela Cross in 1964.

He was a retired factory worker, a U.S. Army veteran, and had lived in the Bloomington area for 20 years.

In February 1967 he married Ruthie Webster, who survives. Also surviving are two sons, Earl Cross and Kareen "CiCi" Cross, both of Niles; a daughter, Kimberly Cross of Niles; three brothers, Robert Kirkwood of South Bend, Ivery (Mary) Cross Jr. and Gary Wayne (April) Cross, both of Niles; and seven sisters, Lodean Fox of Oakland, Calif., Kathleen Johnson, Marilyn Jean Cross, Jeanette (Ronnie) Peterson and Sherri Harris, all of South Bend, Nancy Marie (Robert) Cross of Bloomington, Ind., and Brenda (Tommie) Herring of Virginia Beach; and by two grandchildren.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11, in Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church, 2262 Mulder Drive, Niles, with Fletcher McAfee, pastor. Minister Tracy Hatcher of Peace Temple, Dowagiac, will officiate. Friends may call one hour before services in the church. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, is handling arrangements.

 Jenny Mae Croom, daughter of Reginald and Valray Croom of 1016 Ferry St., was dead at birth at 2:05 p.m. Saturday Feb. 20, 1994, in Pawating Hospital. Surviving with her parents are a sister, Delaina Croom at home; grandparents, Geneva Davis and Edna Croom, both of Niles, and Matt and Diane Croom of Berrien Center; and great-grandparents, Sam and Mary Wright of Detroit, Ossie Croom of Dumas, Ark., and Nann Davis of Niles.

Private graveside services will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Halbritter Funeral home is in charge of arrangements.

Rev. Charles C. Cronin
Jan. 22, 1918-Nov. 5, 1998

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, November 7, 1998, page 2, col. 3-4 microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for the Rev. Charles C. Cronin, 80, of 3000 Monroe Ave., Grand Rapids, formerly of Niles, are Monday at 2 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, by the Rev. John Baird of St. Joseph.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Cronin died Thursday at 9:45 a.m. at Grand Rapids Home for Veterans.

He was born Jan. 22, 1918, in Tell city, Ind. He had  lived in Grand Rapids since Nov. 5, 1996, moving there from Niles.
On July 13, 1939, at Niles, he married the former Violet Baird, who preceded him in death on Dec. 11, 1988.

Cronin was an ordained minister with the First Church of God. He pastored several churches including Cassopolis, Decatur, Elmore and Ashland, Ohio.

He was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II.

Cronin attend Bethel College in Mishawaka, Ind., for three years to prepare for the ministry.

He loved to sing.

Cronin is survived by a daughter, Patricia Wardlaw of Lansing; two granddaughters, Kim Wardlaw of Grand Ledge and Deborah Sloan of Wheeling, Ill.; a grandson, Ryan Wardlaw of Boise, Idaho; four great-grandchildren; three sisters, Beatrice Holloway of Niles, Della Wilson of Newport, Tenn., and Christina Dillavau of Buchanan; and a brother, Ralph Rauch of St. Joseph.
He was also preceded in death by a son, David C. Cronin, on March 12, 1958, and four brothers and four sisters.

Friends may call Sunday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at Halbritter Fuenral Home. A flag presentation will be held at gravesdie by the American Legion Post 26.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association.

ALSO:

The Reverend Charles C. Cronin of the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans in Grand Rapids, Mich., and formerly of Niles, Mich., went to be with the Lord on Thursday, Nov. 5, 1998.

He was born on January 22, 1918 in Tell City, Ind., and was an Ordained minister of The First Church of God. Reverend Cronin pastored several churches including Cassopolis, Decatur, Elmore and Ashland, Ohio. He served in World War II in the United States Army Air Force.

Reverend Cronin was the beloved husband of Violet Baird Cronin, who preceded him in death. He was also the dear father to deceased son, David C. Cronin.

He is survived by his daughter, Patricia (Bob) Wardlaw of Lansing, Mich.; grandchildren, Kim Wardlaw of Grand Ledge, Mich., Deborah (Michael) Sloan of Wheeling, Ill., Ryan Wardlaw of Boise, Idaho; great-grandchildren, Brent Zahn, Jacob and Hailey Sloan, Miranda Vella; sisters, Beatrice Holloway of Niles, Della Wilson of Newport, Tenn., and Christina Dillavau of Buchanan, Mich.; and a brother Ralph Rauch of St. Joseph, Mich.

Funeral services for The Reverend Charles C. Cronin will be at 2 p.m., Monday, at Halbritter Funeral Home with the Reverend John Baird of St. Joseph, Mich. officiating. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, where a Flag Presentation will be officiated by American Legion Post 26 of Niles.

The family will receive friends on Sunday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Reverend Cronin may be made to the American Diabetes Association.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown