Robert J. Badgero
April 20, 1924-May 31,2001

Mr. Robert J. "Jack" Badgero, 77, of Davis Street, Niles, Mich., died after an extended illness at 3:35 a.m. Thursday, May 31, 2001, in the Cardinal Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, South Bend, Ind.

He was born April 20, 1924, in Mount Pleasant, Mich., to Robert Phillip and B. Flossie (Converse) Badgero, and was graduated from the Ovid (Michigan) High School. He had lived in Niles since 1947, coming from Owosso, Mich.

He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and was then employed for thirty years by the Ball Band Company, Mishawaka, Ind. (more recently Uniroyal), retiring in 1979. He enjoyed hunting, both locally and in the plains states. He was baptized as a Christian last year through the Church of Christ in Niles.

On July 10, 1951, in LaGrange, Ind., he was married to the former Lena Blanchard, who preceded him in death Aug. 24, 1984. He was also preceded by a sister, Arlene Hartley on Jan. 10, 1991.

Surviving family include his siblings, Bruce and Dorothy Badgero of South Bend, Colleen and Maynard Ricker of South Bend, and George and Nancy Badgero of Granger, Ind.; and by many nieces and nephews.

Services for Mr. Robert Jack Badgero will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 7, in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Brother William Myers of Willowdale Church of Christ, Elkhart, Ind., officiating. Committal will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Contributions in memory of Jack may be made to Hospice at Home or to Hospice of Saint Joseph County, Ind.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Amy Villwock
February 2, 1916-February 23, 2009

NILES - Mrs. Amethyst M. "Amy" Villwock, age 93 years of Niles died at 12:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, 2009, at her home following a brief illness. She was born on Feb. 2, 1916, in Chicago to William and Grace(Small) Scholtes and had lived in this area most of her life, and as a young lady, served a year as Miss Berrien Springs.

Mrs. Villwock was a member of St. John's United Church of Christ, Niles, and the Niles City Garden Club. Amy was actively involved in the daily activities and chores of the Villwock Farms, and enjoyed taking produce from the farm to farmers' markets, especially at Shipshewana, Ind. She also enjoyed flower gardening around the house, and dancing the polka, but her greatest joy was spending time with her
family.

On June 12, 1937, in Niles she married Clarence H. Villwock, who preceded her in death on Feb. 16, 1993. She was also preceded in death by two brothers, William Scholtes and Edward Scholtes.

Surviving family includes her children, Grace M. (Lewis) Angotti of Carrollton, Ky., Thomas W. (Linda) Villwock of Dowagiac and Donald P. Villwock of Evart, Mich.; grandchildren, Katherine Wilson, Elizabeth
Bell, Melinda Nimtz, Timothy Villwock, Amy Schroeder, Daniel Villwock and Bethany Kuik; and eight great-grandchildren.

The funeral service for Amethyst Villwock will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 27, at St. John's United Church of Christ, Niles, with the Rev. Kyle Gardner of the church officiating. Committal will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. The family will receive relatives and friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles. Contributions in memory of Mrs. Villwock may be made to St. John's United Church of Christ.

Joann R. Archer

April 5, 1950-February 8, 2009

Joann R. Archer, 58, of Tomahawk Lane in Niles, Michigan, died at 10:30 p.m. Sunday, February 8, 2009, in her home following an extended illness.

She was born on April 5, 1950, in Memphis, Tennessee, to Forrest Wesley and Virginia (Walker) Riffey. She graduated from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, earning her bachelor's degree in accounting and marketing with a minor in music and voice.

She was most recently employed for over 16 years at Life Action Ministries, where she coordinated the clothing of the singing teams and applied her computer skills to help maintain the web-site for the ministry.

Joann very much enjoyed singing in the choir or throughout the day. She had a beautiful soprano voice she developed through years of training.

She enjoyed cooking and new recipes that she had no fear of trying on friends and guests in her home. As her disease progressed, cooking became more difficult for her to manage, however, she still enjoyed sharing recipes and baked foods, which were always on hand for her guests.

To her, baking was an extension of herself and ministry to others. She enjoyed recipes so much that she published a cookbook of some of her favorite recipes to benefit ALS research and bless those who received the publication.

Joann's true love was talking; she most enjoyed talking about the one she loved most besides her husband and daughters, the Lord Jesus Christ. From the time she first met Him and accepted His gift of salvation, she loved to talk to those she met along the way, whether in a grocery store, her home or wherever she was, she just could not help but speak of her love for Him and His saving grace.

For her grace, love, and life, she will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

On August 15, 1970, in Forrest City, Arkansas, she married Charles A. Archer III, who survives. Also surviving are their two daughters, Catherine (Dan) Clark of Laredo, Texas, and Mary Alice (Josh) Dice of Salem, IL; four grandchildren, Wesley, Sarah, Andrew and Emily; her sister, Laurie Parson of Blytheville, Arkansas; and a brother, Giles Riffey of Memphis, Tennessee.

Mrs. Archer was preceded in death by her sister, Camille Newman.

The funeral service for Joann R. Archer will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, February 13, in Berrien Center Bible Church in Berrien Center, Michigan, with Rev. Mark J. Smith of the church and Rev. Maynard Schoen of Berrien Springs, Michigan, officiating.

Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the Life Action Ministries Auditorium on Niles-Buchanan Road from 6-8 p.m. Thursday.

Contributions may be made to Life Action Ministries or to the ALS Association.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Marilyn J. Kolodziej
Oct. 28, 1939-Feb. 6, 2009

Marilyn J. Kolodziej, 69, of Granger, IN, passed away on February 6, 2009, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Born October 28, 1939, in Dowagiac, MI, she was the daughter of John Berwyn and Mildred Luetta (Brewer) Sellers, who preceded her in death.

Marilyn was a 1957 graduate of Niles High School, and later attended the Michiana College of Commerce.

She will be greatly missed by her children, Michael (Christina) Kolodziej of Granger, Mark Kolodziej of Mishawaka and Kristine (Joe) Weber of Mishawaka; a sister, Kay Griggs of Ohio; grandchildren, Amy (Mike) Lietzau, Kate (Tom) Gillis, Kelly (Shelby) Howard, Lesli Kolodziej, Angela Kolodziej, Haley Kolodziej, Michael Kolodziej and Mark Paul Kolodziej; and two great-grandchildren, Gabriel Lietzau and Shelby Howard V.

Friends may call from 4-7 p.m. today, February 10th, in the McGann Hay, Granger Chapel, SR 23. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday in the funeral home, with visitation one hour prior. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles, MI.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Old Rugged Cross Church, 60041 Vermont Street, Pokagon, MI 49120.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Ann Frey
Oct. 28, 1930-Jan. 28, 2009

Mrs. Ann Frey, 78, of Valley View Drive, died at 10:38 p.m. Wednesday, January 28, 2009, in West Woods of Niles following an illness.

Ann was born on October 28, 1930 in Cleveland, OH, to John Britton and Gladys Aurelia (Bauer) Osmun. She graduated from Lakewood (Ohio) High School and Baldwin-Wallace, College, Berea, OH. She has lived in Niles since 1973 coming from Troy, MI.

She was employed for many years by radio station WNIL, Niles as an account executive and as WNIL's first female newscaster.

She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Niles where she served as an elder and sang in the choir. She was also a board member of the Business and Professional Women, Fernwood Botanic Garden and Nature Center and the United Way. She was a founding member of Hire-A-Teen through the Niles Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the Brandywine Youth Assistance Civitan Club, the Niles Garden Club and Garden Clubs of Michigan, Niles Reading Club, Orchard Hills County Club and the League of Women Voters where she was a former volunteer of the year. She enjoyed camping and bicycle riding.

On June 2, 1978, in Niles she married Charles E. Frey, who survives.  Also surviving are her daughter, Duanne (Tony) Veidelis of Holliston, MA; and sons, Jeffrey (Rickie) Wills of South Bend, IN, and David Wills of Dearborn, MI; and four grandsons; her stepchildren, Susan Frey and Sara (Jody) Frost, all of Niles, Karen Frey of Holly, MI, and Sandra Frey of Fall River, MA; and a step-grandson, and Ann's sister, Ellen Osmun of Troy.

The funeral services for Ann Frey will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, January 31, 2009, in First Presbyterian Church, Niles, with the Rev. Janet VanLear of the church officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

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

Contributions in memory of An may be made to the Music Department of First Presbyterian Church or to Fernwood Botanic Garden and Nature Center.