Lucille Burge, 93
April 18, 1918 — April 29, 2011

Lucille Elizabeth Burge, 93, of Niles, passed away at Lakeland Hospital in Niles on Friday, April 29, 2011.

Lucille was born on April 18, 1918 to the late Joseph and Cecile (Rutherford) Lieber in Dowagiac. She was one of four children growing up in the Lieber household.

In 1936 Lucille graduated from Dowagiac Union High School and in 1940 wed the love of her life, Donald R. Burge.  Together they had three sons. Don passed away in 1979.

Lucille was the co-owner of Don’s Hardware in Niles, where she operated it with her husband on a day-to-day basis.  Lucille was always keeping busy and was a proud life member and past president of the Niles Music Club, life member of the Order of the Eastern Star, member of the First Presbyterian Church in Niles and was the last original member of the H.C. Club in Dowagiac that she helped start in 1936.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Don; and brothers, Paul and Gordon Lieber.

Lucille is survived by her children, William (Diana) Burge of Niles, Thomas (Nancy) Burge of Paw Paw, Stephen (Barbara) Burge of Niles; grandchildren, Eric (Lynn) Burge, Bethany (Wesley) Foust, Rebecca (Kyle) Digby, Tara Versluis, great-grandchildren, Brittany Foust, Hudson and Anikah Burge, Aiden and Bree Digby and Noah and Isabelle Versluis and sister, Warrene Springsteen of Dowagiac.

Funeral services to honor Lucille’s long life will be held Wednesday, May 4 at Brown Funeral Home in Niles at 11 a.m. with a time of visitation on Tuesday from 4 from 7 p.m., also at the funeral home.

Memorial donations may be made in Lucille’s memory to Meals on Wheels or the Niles District Library.

Condolences, photos and memories may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home of Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 11:50pm Monday, May 2, 2011

Rosie Gregory, 77
Nov. 18, 1933 — May 11, 2011

Rosie Lee Gregory, 77, of Niles, died at 3:43 a.m. Wednesday, May 11, 2011 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend of natural causes.

Rosie Gregory, 77

She was born Nov. 18, 1933 in Huntingdon, Tenn. She was a homemaker and member of River of Life Church in South Bend.

She married Walter Gregory Sr. Nov. 29, 1949 in Marks, Miss. He survives in Niles.

She is also survived by her sons, Walter Gregory Jr. of Niles and Doneal (Amanda Caskey) Gregory of Mishawaka, Ind.; daughters, Dorthy Griffin of Batesville, Miss., Rachel Delois Dillard of South Bend, Beverly Gregory of Mishawaka and Edith (Arnold) Say of Mishawaka; brothers, Louis Moffitt of Benton Harbor and Sq Moffitt of Chicago; sisters, Virgie Mae Pettis of Niles, Etta Mae Young of St. Louis, Mo.; 22 grandchildren; 53 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Travis and Othela Moffitt; two brothers, James and Robert Moffitt; and three sisters, Ida May Seals, Ferry Davis and Mary Lee Moore.

Services will be held at noon Thursday, May 19 at River of Life Church, 530 East Ireland Rd., South Bend with Bishop Parker and Margaret Parker of the church officiating.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Friends may call from 11 a.m. to noon Thursday at River of Life Church.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 7:18am Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Josephine Smith
Died Aug. 7, 2011

Josephine Smith, 83, of Vandalia, Mich., died at 10:28 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 7, 2011 at West Woods of Niles of natural causes.
A graveside service for Josephine will be held at noon Friday, Aug. 12 in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles, officiated by Chaplain Jonathan Rose from Hospice at Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home, Inc, 4017 Chamberlain Rd., Buchanan, MI 49107.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 9:27pm Monday, August 8, 2011

Leone Shaler, 91
Jan. 27, 1920 — July 24, 2011

Leone Helen Shaler, 91, of Wayne Street in Niles, died at 5:33 p.m. Sunday, July 24, 2011 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles of an extended illness.
Helen was born on Jan. 27, 1920 in Petoskey, Mich. to Leo and Fannie (McCarthy) Shaler. She graduated from Petoskey High School and later moved to Niles in 1941. She retired in 1979 from Coopers and Lybrand and had previously been employed at Michigan Bell.
Helen formerly attended St. John’s United Church of Christ in Niles. She was a past president of American Legion Post 26 Auxiliary in Niles. She was also a member of the B.P.O. of Niles Elks Lodge 1322. She enjoyed reading novels, fishing, and spending time with her family and friends.
On May 9, 1942 at Paris, Tenn., she married L.A. Dolan Shaler, who preceded her in death on June 20, 1989.
She was also preceded in death by an infant daughter, Susan Helen Shaler, who died Sept. 5, 1956; infant granddaughter, Jaclyn Gleason, who died Dec. 6,1978; a sister, Dolores, Schrumpf, who died Sept. 4, 1982; and an infant brother.
She is survived by her daughters, Judy (Sam) Kiger and Shelly (Ken) Shaler-Strope both of Niles; grandchildren, Christine (Joe) Riddle, Patricia Gleason and Bryon Gleason; great-grandchildren, Rachel Michael and Ryan Riddle, Dylan Gleason and Dustin Whitehead.
The family of Helen L. Shaler will gather privately for services at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Michael Smith of Hope Community Church officiating.
Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.
The family will receive relatives and friends from 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, July 27 at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.
Contributions in memory of Helen may be made to the Hospice at Home in Buchanan.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 5:07pm Monday, July 25, 2011

Evelyn Iwaniuk, 88
Dec. 4, 1922 — July 31, 2011

Evelyn M. Iwaniuk, 88, of Missions East and formerly of North 14th Street in Niles, died at 7:51 a.m. Sunday, July 31, 2011 at

Iwaniuk

Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph following a brief illness.
She was born on Dec. 4, 1922 in Benton Harbor to Lyle A. and Myra L. (Griffin) Brant; was raised on a farm near Eau Claire; and graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1941. She was employed in the offices of the National-Standard Co. for many years.
Evelyn was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Niles, Grace United Methodist Women and the Friday Book Club. She volunteered with the Pawating Hospital Auxiliary (now Lakeland). She enjoyed traveling and had toured the Holy Land, Hawaii, Germany, Austria, Italy and Greece. She always enjoyed celebrating birthdays with close friends.
On June 2, 1946 in Sodus, Mich., she married John Iwaniuk. Mr. Iwaniuk graduated from Law School at the University of Notre Dame and practiced law in Niles before serving as a judge in several local courts. He retired as a judge in Michigan’s Fifth District Court. Judge Iwaniuk preceded his wife in death on June 16, 1992. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Carlyle J. Brant in 1966.
Evelyn is survived by their children, Gregory P. (Janice) Iwaniuk of Niles, Gale M. (Craig) Miller of Bridgman and Gary (Kristen) Iwaniuk of Osceola, Ind.; grandchildren, Rory Iwaniuk, Justin Iwaniuk, Andy Miller, Stephanie Markham, John Robert Iwaniuk and Nicholas Iwaniuk; great-grandchildren, Rowan, Grace, Tysen, Allie and Jacob; Evelyn’s niece, Connie (Robert) Froehlich of Berrien Center; and several cousins.
The funeral service for Evelyn Iwaniuk will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 4 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Dr. Anthony Tomasino of Grace United Methodist Church officiating.
Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.
The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3 at the funeral home.
Contributions in memory of Mrs. Iwaniuk may be made to Grace United Methodist Church.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 10:10pm Monday, August 1, 2011

Lena York, 84
Aug. 12, 1926-Aug. 6, 2011

Lena M. York, 84, of 21st Street in Niles, died at 10:23 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011 at her home following a brief illness.
She was born Aug. 12, 1926 in Niles to Charlie Kiste and Nettie (Jeffey) Kiste. She was a lifetime area resident. Lena married Donald L. York Sr. on Nov. 19, 1949.
She retired in 1987, after more than 15 years of service at St. Mary’s College in South Bend, Ind. She enjoyed sewing and spending time with her grandchildren, doing puzzles and coloring books.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Donald L. York, three brothers and one sister.
Lena is survived by her son, Donald L. (Mary) York Jr. of Niles; daughters, Donna L. Ritcher of Purcell, Okla. and Ellen L. (Tim) Helt of Buchanan; her sister, Ethel Thomas of Niles; Lisa D. Wagner, John A. Kiste and Michael L. York, all of Niles, whom she also raised as her own; and 13 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
The funeral service for Lena will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 10 at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles, officiated by the Rev. Randy Pearman of Bethel Baptist Church.
She will be buried in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.
Friends may call beginning one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 9:26pm Monday, August 8, 2011