Russell L. Coffinger
Oct. 30, 1927-Aug. 1, 2004

Russell L. "Russ" Coffinger, 76, of Stateline Road, passed away following an illness on Sunday, Aug. 1, 2004, in Westwoods of Niles, Mich.

Russell was born on Oct. 30, 1927, in Niles, to the late Albert and Bertha (Dickson) Coffinger. He was also preceded in death by a son, Russell "Rusty" Coffinger Jr., who passed away in 1995; five brothers, George, Henry, Frank, Tom and Paul Coffinger; and by two sisters, Henrietta Coffinger and Dorothy Nichols.

A veteran of the Korean War, Russell served his country proudly from 1950 to 1953 in the U.S. Army. Many also remember Russell from serving local friends at several local bars and grills. His hobbies included fishing and hunting, and spending time outdoors.

Survivors include a daughter, Rosie (Roger) Terpening of Lake, Mich.; a special niece, Anna Cooke of Niles; special great-nieces, Stephanie and Katelyn Cooke of Niles; two sisters, Annabelle Howard of Cassopolis, Mich., and June (Loren) Mesaroes of South Bend, Ind. He also leaves behind two grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, one great-grandchild and one step-great-grandchild.

Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 4, in the Brown~Pifer Funeral Home & Cremation Services. A time of visitation will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Brown~Pifer Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Rose Coffinger
Jan. 3, 1933-March 13, 2005

Rosemary Pauline "Rose" (Gross) Coffinger, 72, 1211 State Line Road, Niles, Mich., passed away Sunday, March 13, in West Woods of Niles following an extended illness.

Rose was born on Jan. 3, 1933, to the late Sylvester Frank and Maybelle (Harrington) Gross in Niles.

On Dec. 18, 1974, Rose married Paul G. Coffinger in a ceremony in Niles. He preceded her in death in 1996.

A homemaker most of her life,  Rose also loved playing bingo, arts and crafts, and gardening.

In addition to her parents and husband, Rose was also preceded in death by a son, Rusty Coffinger Jr.; five brothers, Donald, Robert, Frankie, Ronnie, and Gene Gross; and two sisters, Betty Bolden and Dorothy Demos.

Rose is survived by two daughters, Rosemarie "Rosie" (Roger) Terpening of Lake, Mich., and Anna (Jim Schrader) Coffinger of Niles; a son, Danny (Ruth Ann) Baxter of Niles; two brothers, Sylvester Gross of Niles and Dale (Becky) Gross of Niles; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild; a lifelong friend, Ann (Don) Spoke of Buchanan; and several nieces and nephews.

A time of visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 15, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. in the Brown Funeral Home (formerly Pifer~Smith Funeral Home). A service will be held on Wednesday, March 16, at 11 a.m. in the funeral home. An interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Niles.

Paul G. Coffinger
Feb. 6, 1926-Feb. 15, 1996

Paul Glen Coffinger, 70, of 1427 Ferry St., died of natural causes at 8:30 p.m. Thursday Feb. 15, 1996,  in Lakeland Medical Center. Mr. Coffinger was a retired factory worker. He was born Feb. 6, 1926, in Niles. On Dec. 18, 1974, in Niles, he married Rosemary P. Gross. She survives with six daughters, Treasa Wetzel of Corona, Calif., Debby Wolf, Peggy Benjamin, Rosemarie Benjamin and Paula Coffinger, all of Niles, Anna Cooke of Buchanan; 12 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; two sisters, Ann Howard of Cassopolis and June Messeros of South Bend; and a brother, Russell of Niles. A son, Rusty, died May 23, 1995. He was a World War II veteran.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Pifer-Smith Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home.

Robert Allen Cochran
Feb. 4, 1926-Nov. 23, 2004

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, November 26, 2004, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

ADRIAN--There will be no services for Robert Allen Cochran, 78, of Adrian.  At his request, cremation has taken place and there will be no public visitation.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

He was born on Feb. 4, 1926, in Niles to Clyde and Sylvia (Anderson) Cochran.  He served in the U.S. Army from May 13, 1944, until July 30, 1946.  He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans.

He is survived by a son, Shummy Cochran of Niles; two daughters, Debi Simpson of Buchanan and Randy Sue Asmus of Niles; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; his longtime companion, Juanita Ely of Adrian; her children, Johnny Ely, Jay Ely, Jackie (Roe) Litteral; her six grandchildren; a brother, Herman Cochran of Niles; and a sister, Jane Seals of Niles. Arrangements are by Anderson Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Niles/Buchanan Relay for Life, 5110 S. Sprinkle Road, Portage, MI 49002.

Also: Submitted by family member, publication details unknown

Robert Allen "Bob" Cochran, 78, of Adrian, Mich., died Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2004, in the Veterans Hospital, Ann Arbor, Mich.

He was born Feb. 4, 1926, in Niles, Mich., to Clyde and Sylvia (Anderson) Cochran. Bob served in the U.S. Army from May 13, 1944, until July 30, 1946. He was a member of the Disabled American Veterans.

Bob is survived by his longtime companion, Juanita Ely of Adrian; her children, Johnny Ely, Jay Ely and Jackie (Roe) Litteral; her six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; a son, Shummy Cochran of Niles; two daughters, Debi Simpson of Buchanan, Mich., and Randy Sue Asmus of Niles; one brother, Herman Cochran of Niles; one sister, Jane Seals of Niles; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and by four brothers and two sisters.

At Bob's request, cremation has taken place and there will be no public visitation or services. Burial of cremains will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Anderson Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Niles/Buchanan Relay for Life, 5110 S. Sprinkle Road, Portage, MI 49002.

Dorothy Cochran
June 30, 1928-April 12, 2002

Dorothy "Dutch" Cochran, 73, of Chicago Road, Niles, Mich., died following a brief illness at 11:35 a.m. Friday, April 12, 2002,  in Lakeland Specialty Hospital, Berrien Center, Mich.

She was born June 30, 1928, in Niles, to Frank and Dorothy (Linsenmier) Schanbacher, and was a lifetime area resident.

"Dutch" retired as a school bus driver from the Niles Community Schools. She also was a former Girl Scout leader.

She is survived by a daughter, Debbie Simpson of Buchanan, Mich.; a daughter, Randy Asmus of Niles; a son, Shummy Cochran of Niles; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and by one niece.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 17, in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Contributions in memory of Dorothy "Dutch" Cochran may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service.

Patricia P. Clubine
June 3, 1930-March 2, 1998

Patricia P. Clubine, 67, of 1501 Lykins Lane, died Monday, March 2, 1998, in her home. She was born June 3, 1930.  Survivors include her husband, Donald E.; a daughter, Jane E. Clubine of Toledo, Ohio; four sons, James E. of West Chester, Penn., Russell E. of Boyne City, Mich., and Chris A. and Andrew D., both of Niles; a sister, Elizabeth Peterson of Niles; and three brothers, Frank Skopec of Downers Grover, Ill., and Theodore Skopec and Rudolph Skopec, both of Niles. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Halbritter Funeral Home, where friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today.