James Meredith, 88, of Niles
Jan. 26, 1932-Jan. 10, 2021

Niles Daily Star, Published 4:42 pm Thursday, January 14, 2021

Jan. 26, 1932 — Jan. 10, 2021

James Eddie Meredith, 88, of Niles, passed away on Jan. 10, 2021.

He was born to the late George Meredith and Leora Woods on Jan. 26, 1932, in Paducah, Kentucky. James was married to the late Etta Mae Payne for more than 40 years until her death. He was married for a few months to the late Glenda Gaines until her death. Then, on Dec. 16, 1995, he married Laura Pettit. For most of his life, he worked as a machine operator. His hobby was photography and he has organized books of photographs that reflect the history of family and friends.

James attended Faith Victory Church in Buchanan and was known as a person who loved people. Most people he knew referred to him as “Daddy Jim.” For several years, James and his wife, Laura, owned Gospel Caps and T shirts.

He will be missed by his wife, Laura Meredith; daughters, Rheola Clark and Juanita (Gary) Regich; stepson, Demond Pettit; four grandchildren, Pamela (Troy) Holt, Kimberly Clark, Ronald (Lucy) Clark, Juan Charleston Jr.; and two great grandsons; six great granddaughters; 10 great-great grandchildren and a host of family and friends. James is preceded in death by his parents, George and Leora; and granddaughter, Meredythe Hall; great-grandson, Reginald Pitts; and son-in-law, Howard Clark.

Visitation for James will be held from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 18, 2021, at Hoven Funeral Home in Buchanan with burial following at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles, Michigan. Online condolences may be made at hovenfunerals.com.

Kathleen L. Kubiak, of Niles
Jan. 6, 1935-Jan. 22, 2021

Niles Daily Star, Published 5:54 pm Monday, January 25, 2021

Jan. 6, 1935 — Jan. 22, 2021

Kathleen L. Kubiak, 86, of Niles, passed away Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, at Hanson Hospice Center of Stevensville. For the past year and a half, Kathleen resided at Westwoods of Bridgman.

She was born to the late Lloyd and Addie (Harris) Haskins on Jan. 6, 1935, in Eau Claire, Michigan.

After high school she furthered her education and obtained her associates degree in early childhood education from Southwestern Michigan College.

On May 2, 1959, at a ceremony in Niles, Michigan she wed James Kubiak. They celebrated 56 years together before his passing in 2016.

During their early years of marriage James and Kathleen enjoyed spending time at the Osceola Drag Strip. Kathleen also enjoyed sewing, crocheting, antiquing and was a prolific reader. Playing cards with family and friends filled many nights with laughter. She was a devoted wife, a proud mother, and doting caregiver, as caring for her grandchildren and great nephews Hunter and Connor Janowiac brought her immense joy. Kathleen was a member of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church.

Kathleen is preceded in passing by her parents; her husband, James; her daughters, Danielle Kubiak, Denise Kubiak, and Nina Bradley; and her siblings, Lloyd Haskins, Mary Lou Welling, and Joyce Bryant.

She is survived by her children, Shelley (Jason) Lietz of Buchanan, Dean (Lynn) Kubiak of Aurora, Illinois, Tricia (Richard) Bonne of Niles, and Brent Kubiak of Niles. Kathleen is also survived by eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Saint Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Niles on Thursday, January 28, 2021, at 11 a.m. An interment was held at Silverbrook Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Kathleen’s name to Caring Circle Hospice at 4025 Health Park Lane, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085 or Westwoods of Bridgman Activities Fund at 9935 Red Arrow Hwy, Bridgman, MI 49106.

Samuel Caleb James Gonzales, of Benton Harbor
April 9, 2003-Jan. 15, 2021

Niles Daily Star, Published 2:50 pm Friday, January 22, 2021

April 9, 2003 — Jan. 15, 2021

Samuel Caleb James Gonzales, 17, of Benton Harbor, Michigan, son, grandson, athlete, outdoorsman, and friend to everyone he met died at 8:20 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, at Beacon Children’s Hospital in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, Indiana from injuries suffered in a motor vehicle accident on Jan. 8, 2021. His family is grateful for the first responders and hospital staff whose care helped provide one more week of life.

He was born on April 9, 2003, in Saint Joseph, Michigan to Nicole Renee Hernandez and Mat-thew James Gonzales. He was a senior at the W.A.Y. Eau Claire (Michigan) High School and had previously attended Niles Community Schools. He worked part-time at the McDonald’s restaurant in Benton Harbor, and has lived in this area all of his life.

Sam was a member of the football, basketball, and track teams at Eau Claire. He enjoyed hunting throughout the area, fishing in area waters, and had fished in four of the Great Lakes. He also enjoyed camping, often on the shore of Lake Erie, but his greatest passion was riding on the Niles Skate Park.

Surviving family includes his mother, Nicole Hernandez of Benton Harbor and his father, Matt Gonzales, of Niles; grandparents Barbara Jones-Tokarz of Benton Harbor, Michael (& Robin) Flannery of Niles, and Lupe Gonzales of Benton Harbor; Sam’s siblings, Kiera Drake, Ja’korie Hernandez, Alandra, Avy’anna, and Aniyiah, Gonzales, and Vernon Price, Jr.; and an amazing circle of great friends.

The funeral service for Sam Gonzales was at noon on Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, at the Michiana Christian Embassy, 1922 E. Main St. in Niles with the Rev. Jeffrey Whittaker of the church officiating. Committal will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. Attendance will be limited, masks required, and social distancing practiced. Others may witness the service via the livestreamed broadcast on the Halbritter-Wickens Facebook page. facebook.com/halbritterwickensfuneralservices.

Kenneth E. Ryder
Dec. 11, 1942-Jan. 16, 2021

Florin Funeral Home: https://www.florin.net/obituaries/Kenneth-Ryder-2/#!/Obituary

Obituary for Kenneth E Ryder

Janet A. Petro
March 25, 1926-Jan. 5, 2021

Niles Daily Star, Published 3:37 pm Thursday, January 7, 2021

March 25, 1926 — Jan. 5, 2021

Janet A. Petro, 94, formerly of Peace Manor on Ironwood Road in South Bend, passed away at 7:03 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021.

Janet was born March 25, 1926, in Flint, Michigan, to the late Omer R. and Lydia E. (Metzger) Pollock.

Janet graduated from Niles High School in 1944. She retired from Howard-Ellis Elementary School in Niles, where she had worked as a teacher’s assistant and cafeteria helper. Her love of sewing and quilting was manifested through her affiliation with several quilting clubs in the area.

On March 10, 1946, in Ypsilanti, Michigan, Janet married Robert W. Petro, who passed away on Oct. 22, 2002, following 56 years of marriage. They lived most of their life on Horton Court in Niles, with short stays prior to that in Easley, South Carolina, Jonesboro, Arkansas and South Bend, Indiana.

Janet’s greatest love was her children, and this was manifested by daily serving the Lord and with her faithful attendance at the Apostolic Temple Church in South Bend.

Bob and Janet are the parents of eight children, Larry David (Mary Anne) Petro, of Washington, DC; Michael Paul (Roxann) Petro, of Bolingbrook, Illinois, with daughter, Kelly Anne; Stephen (Rebecca) William, of Chicxulub, Puerto, Yucatan, Mexico; Deborah Sue (Edward) Stankevich, of Chelsea, Michigan, with daughters, Sara Renee’ (Andrei) and Beth Arlene Stankevich; Joan Elizabeth (Richard) Breyer, of Nashville, Tennessee, with son, Max Alexander and daughter, Nina Rachel; Phillip Douglas (Shannon) Petro, of Flat Rock, Michigan, with daughter, Danielle Lenee (Gary) Burnaska, and sons, Dennis and Drew; Timothy Richard (Charlene), of Denver, Colorado, with son, Schulyer Miller Petro; and Lydia Anne (Larry) Reichanadter, of Niles, Michigan, with sons, Alex Michael and Adam Jacob. Also surviving is her sister, Elizabeth A. Overmeyer, of South Bend, and a sister-in-law, Sherrie Pollock, of Texas. Janet is also survived by numerous loving great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. She is also survived by good friend and honorary grandson, Kasey Watkins, of South Bend.

Janet was preceded in death by her parents; twin sister, Joan; stepfather, Lawrence E. Metzger; brother, Pastor William J. Pollock; sisters-in-law, Maris Pollock, Dorothy Petro, and Olive Petro, and a brothers-in-law, Richard Petro and Howard Overmyer.

Friends may visit with the family from 10 to 11 a.m.  Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, at Palmer Funeral Home — Welsheimer North, 17033 Cleveland Road, South Bend, with services immediately following at 11 a.m., with Rev. Christopher Rowe with the Apostolic Temple Church officiating.

Graveside service and burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Opal Jewel Karns, of Niles
Jan. 17, 1936-Jan. 16, 2021

Niles Daily Star, Published 5:16 pm Monday, January 18, 2021

Opal Karns, 84, of Niles, died Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021. Arrangements are being made by Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, of Niles.

 Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home:  https://www.halbritterwickens.com/obituary/Opal-Karns

Obituary

Opal Jewel Karns of Niles, Michigan, mother, grandmother, fisherwoman, camper, Baptist, and fast driver died peacefully at 11:54 a.m. on Saturday, January 16, 2021 – one day short of her 85th birthday – with her daughter at her side in Spectrum Health - Lakeland Hospital – Niles following a brief illness.

She was born on January 17, 1936 in Manila, Arkansas to Frank and Ima (Matheny) Short.  She was graduated from high school in Griffithville, Arkansas, and came to Niles in 1958.  She was employed by Walt Ellis in his machine shop in Berrien Springs where she supervised the machinists.

Opal was a member of the First Baptist Church of Berrien Springs.  She and her family spent much of their lives in the outdoors, fishing and mushroom hunting, and driving their dune buggy near Hart, Michigan.  They enjoyed camping, especially along the banks of the Kalamazoo River.  Camping began in tents, and evolved through a pick-up truck cap, a slide-in camper over the pick-up truck cab; and then a travel trailer, a custom converted bus, and ultimately a fifth-wheel trailer.

They also enjoyed auto racing, and often visited the Hartford (Michigan) Speedway Park.  Their interest in being outdoors, traveling, and motorsports all were evident in the speed at which they travelled – fast/very fast – including a legendary round-trip from Arkansas back to Michigan to retrieve a freshly roasted turkey from the kitchen counter, said to have been completed in 12 hours!

More recently, they have enjoyed the fast action and the fellowship of likeminded folks . . . at the casino.

On June 27, 1959 at the Berrien Springs Baptist Church she married Paul L. Karns, Jr. with whom she celebrated the remarkable fifty-fourth anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on September 16, 2013.  She was also preceded in death by six siblings, Richard L. Short, Carl B. Short, Mabel Gentry, Rena M. Hoffner, Cora Lee Looney, and Frank Short, Jr.

Surviving family includes her children, Cynthia (& Rex) Davis of Baroda, Michigan, Tammy Lynn Karns of Marcellus, Michigan, and Timothy Allen Karns of Alabama; grandchildren Anthony (& Linsey) Davis, SSgt. Christopher (& Sasha) Davis, U.S.Army, Courtney (& Michael) Williams, Jeremy (& Whitney Pinkowski) Plouhar, April Nichole Karns, Faith Casandra Mete, Jacob, and Austin Jarman; many great-grandchildren including Josephine, Makayla, Michael, Mathew, Madison, and Layla; and Opal’s sister, Cordillia Matlock of Berrien Springs, and many nieces and nephews.

The family of Opal Karns will receive relatives and friends beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles, and then will process at 11:00 a.m. to her graveside at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles for Committal Services with Pastor Derek Cromwell of the First Baptist Church of Berrien Springs officiating.  Attendance is limited and masks will be required, and social distancing practiced.  Others may witness the events via the livestreamed broadcast on the Halbritter-Wickens Facebook page. 

Contributions in memory of Opal may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 225 North Michigan Avenue, Floor 17, Chicago, Illinois, 60601, https://www.alz.org/.  Online condolences may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

Opal loved life, used her years well . . . and fast, and was a loving wife, mother, and friend.  She has clearly “finished her race and kept her faith”.