Obituaries

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.

Vernon LeRoy Collins
July 20, 1918-April 2, 2002

Vernon LeRoy Collins, 83, of State Line Road, Niles, Mich., died following an extended illness at 10:57 p.m. Tuesday, April 2, 2002,  in the Lakeland Medical Center, Niles.

He was born on July 20, 1918, in Niles, to Malcolm and Lena (Starke) Collins, and spent most of his life in Niles. He retired in 1975 after 36 years of employment with the Kawneer Company.

Mr. Collins was a member of Saint John's United Church of Christ in Niles, and was a veteran of World War II, serving with the U.S. Army in the 7th Armored Division as a tank commander. He was a member of American Legion Post 26, VFW Post 4025, DAV Chapter 55 Order of Trench Rats, all in Niles, the 25-Year Club of Kawneer, and the Niles Auxiliary Police.

On Sept. 18, 1965, in Niles, he married the former Helen Jones, who died in 1980. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Helen A. Stephens, who died Oct. 20, 1991; and by a brother, Malcolm Collins Jr., who died July 4, 1980.

Mr. Collins is survived by two nephews, Gary Edwards Shinholt of South Bend, Ind., and Richard L. Shinholt of Los Angeles, Calif.; and by a niece, Barbara Parks of Niles.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. today, Friday, April 5, in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Reverend Fred T. Smith of South Niles Community Church officiating.

A veteran's flag presentation officiated by Mr. Harry Roberts of American Legion Post 26 will follow the committal at the graveside at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family received friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

Contributions in memory of Vernon LeRoy Collins may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.

Lucille Coles
June 8, 1906-Feb. 16, 2000

Lucille (Beebe) Coles, 93, of Tomahawk Lane, Niles, Mich., died following an extended illness at 2:51 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 16,  2000, in The Milton Home, South Bend, Ind.

She was born on June 8, 1906, in Niles, to Norman P. and Georgia (Manning) Beebe, and was a lifetime resident of Niles.

Mrs. Coles was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Niles, Fort Saint Joseph Historical Society, the Beta Gamma Upsilon Sorority, Niles Garden Club, Seepewa Reading Club, and the Signal Point Club. In addition to her interests in traveling, reading and gardening, she volunteered with the Pawating Hospital Auxiliary, and was a former board member of the Fernwood Botanical Garden and the Niles Service League.

On June 8, 1935, in Niles, she was married to Wallace Henry Coles, who died on Sept. 4, 1967. She was also preceded in death by a son, Alan Manning Coles, who died on Feb. 4, 1979; and by an infant brother.

She is survived by her daughter, Norma H. Frank of South Bend, Ind.; five grandchildren, Michael A. Frank of Mishawaka, Ind., Karen (Mrs. Glen) Frank Plaunt of Marlboro, Mass., and Lisa (Mrs. Michael) Coles Welch and Eric Coles, all of Niles, and Jeni Coles of Chicago, Ill.; five great-grandchildren, David and Devon Frank of Niles, Allan and Jason Plaunt of Marlboro, and Kara Welch of Niles; and by her son's widow, Deanna Coles of Niles.

Funeral services for Mrs. Coles will be at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 19, in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman of the First Presbyterian Church in Niles officiating. Interment will be at Silverbrook, Niles. The family will receive friends one hour prior to services in the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Mrs. Coles may be made to the Lucille Beebe Coles Scholarship Endowment Fund for the Niles-Buchanan YMCA through the Gateway Community Foundation, to the Lucille Beebe Coles Endowment Fund of Starr Commonwealth, or to the College Education Scholarship Fund of the Lakeland Medical Center, Niles.

Arthur P. Coleman
Aug. 26, 1928-Oct. 26, 1994

Arthur P. Coleman, 66, of 1402 Alman St., Niles, died at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, 1994,  in his home of natural causes. Mr. Coleman retired in 1989 as an electrician with Conrail Railroad. He was born Aug. 26, 1928, in Niles. On Oct. 10, 1953, in Niles, he married Mary Ann Frame. She survives with two daughters, Christine Knoblauch of Rochester, Mich., and Carol Coleman of Bloomington, Ill.; four sons, Joseph, Jack and William, all of Niles, and Peter of Vandalia; and six grandchildren. He was a member of American Legion LaRue Messenger Post 26 and was a Korean War Army veteran.

There will be no services. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today in Pifer-Smith Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Berrien County Hospice at Home.