Ruth (Bachman) Abreu

June 19, 1916 – Oct. 21, 2000

     Ruth Bachman Abreu, 84, of 1241 N.E. 81 Terrace, Miami, Fl, died Oct. 21 in Regents Park at Aventura, FL. Survivors include sister, Joan Bachman Spenner of Niles; a niece and four nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Leopold Abreu on Feb. 15, 1990. sister, Dorothy Snyder; and brothers, Robert  Bachman (1975), Lyle Bachman (May 20, 1976), Roy Bachman (1975) and Clarence Bachman (May 2, 1988). 

     Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 26, 2000 in Saint Mary Catholic Church, Niles. Friends may call From 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in Halbritter Funeral Home; evening prayers will be at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Gerald H. Abair

Sept. 20, 1913-Dec. 5, 1994

BUCHANAN - Gerald H. Abair, 81, of 614 Circle Ridge Drive, died at 4:03 p.m. Monday in Hillside Manor, Kalamazoo, after an illness. Mr. Abair was retired from Allied Signal (formerly Bendix Corp.), South Bend.

     He was born Sept. 20, 1913, in Plymouth and had lived in Buchanan since 1920, coming from Indiana. On Nov. 14, 1935, in Plymouth, he married Dorothy VanSkiver. She died May 15, 1989.

     Surviving are a son, Monte of Buchanan; two grandchildren; and three sisters, Clarabelle Thwaits of Niles and Pauline Crawford and Louise French, both of California. He was a member of the United Auto Workers union in South Bend.

     Services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer's Association.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Sidney K. "Keith" Koontz
Nov. 17, 1940-Nov. 17, 2008

Sidney K. "Keith" Koontz, 68, of Springfield Creek, Niles, died at 12:20 a.m. Monday, Nov. 17, 2008, following an extended illness.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Niles, with Wayne Shearier, minister of the church, officiating.

Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, NIles. American Legion Post No. 26, of Niles will provide the Veteran's Flag Presentation and Taps.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

He was born exactly 68 years ago on Nov. 17, 1940, in Traverse City to Sidney Thor and Florence Maud (Nink) Koontz.

He graduated from Traverse City High School and attended Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City. He then graduated from Michigan State University in East Lansing.

During peacetime, he served in the United States Navy, including a tour of duty on the U.S.S. Intrepid.

He has lived in Niles since 1967 and was employed at Clark Equipment and Clark Credit Corporation.

He was a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Niles. He enjoyed studying the history of his family and World War II history. He also enjoyed photography, gardening and the restoration of a 1955 Studebaker.

On June 24, 1967, in Cadillac, he married the former Linda K. Sengelaub, who survives.

He is also survived by their son, Brian Koontz of Mishawaka, Ind.; his brother, Garner Koontz and sister, Sharon Gregg, both of Traverse City.

Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Niles.

Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Norman N. Kneile
April 14, 1916-Nov. 19, 2008

Norman M. Kneile, 92, of Honeysuckle Lane, Niles, formerly of Elkhart, Ind., died at 6:25 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2008, at Meadow View Estates, Cassopolis, following an extended illness.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at Wesley United Methodist Church, Niles, with the Rev. Edward H. Slate of the church officiating.

The family will receive friends at the church beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

He was born on April 14, 1916, in Grosse Pointe, to Oscar and Hilda (Magnuson) Kneile and graduated from Houghton Lake High School with the class of 1933.

He was formerly employed by American Coating Mills and Continental Can Corporation, both in Elkhart, Ind. He retired from Preston Trucking Company, South Bend, Ind. He was a member of the Teamsters Union Local No. 364.

He had lived in Niles since 1997.

He was a member of Saint Paul's United Methodist Church in Elkhart, Ind. for 54 years and was currently a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles.

As a young father, he served as Scoutmaster of Troop No. 60, Boy Scouts of America.

He also bowled on Continental Can's team; enjoyed reading, especially historic biographies, outdoor activities including camping and canoeing. He also enjoyed Big Band music and John Wayne westerns.

On Oct. 22, 1938, in Bristol, Ind., he married the former Georganna E. Grandstaff. She died on March 4, 2000.

He was also preceded in death by a granddaughter, Andrea Kneile, who died in 1992 and two sisters, Elsie Smith and Helen Pifer.

He is survived by his children, Robert N. (Ruth) Kneile of Des Moines, Iowa, Shirley E. (Jim) Collins of Plainfield, Ind. and Carol A. (Jim) Gillispie of Niles; five grandchildren, Aaron Kneile, Matt Collins, twins Anne Anderson and Jenny Rogers and Amy Gillispie and three great-grandchildren, Julia Kneile, Jack and Collin Anderson.

His family wishes to express their gratitude for the care by the staffs of Hospice, Meadow View Estates and Wesley United Methodist Church, Niles.

Contributions may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, Niles, or Michigan Parkinson foundation for research.

Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Patricia Y. ‘Patty' Zechlin / 1939-2006

Friday, January 6, 2006 10:47 PM EST

Patricia Y, “Patty” Zechlin, 66, of Woodruff Street, Niles, died at 10:03 a.m. on Thursday, Jan, 5 at Lakeland Hospital in Niles, following a brief illness.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, Jan, 9 at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Kyle Gardner of St. John's United Church of Christ officiating.

Friends may call from noon until 2 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home. Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Memorial contributions can be made to donor's choice.

Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.