Halbritter Wickens Funeral Home

Diana Sue Stockwell, 78, of Niles, died peacefully Thursday, April 18, 2024 in the comfort of her family's presence. Her life began October 14, 1945 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, the youngest of four daughters born to Frank and Gladys Treiber, Jr. She married John Robert Stockwell June 21, 1969 in Niles, Michigan. Diana will be greatly missed by family and friends. She is survived by her husband of over fifty-four years, John Stockwell; one daughter, Annette (David) Miller; one son, Perry (Sarah) Stockwell; nine grandchildren, Anna (Jeremy) Waterman, Jessica Stockwell, Tyler Stockwell, Emma Stockwell, Joshua Stockwell, Tristan Stockwell, Cassandra Miller, Derrick Miller, Tricia...

Carol Bisarek Thackray was born in Livingston, Wisconsin on January 4, 1933, to Michael and Mary Bisarek. She grew up on farms of the rolling hills of Southwestern Wisconsin with her nine siblings. She attended rural schools, grades 1-8, then graduated from Cobb High School in 1950 and was employed in Madison, Wisconsin for several years. In 1955 she entered Methodist Hospital School of Nursing in Madison, graduating in 1958. In December 1958 she and David Thackray of Waupun, Wisconsin were married. They moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota where David completed the University of Minnesota Dental School and Carol worked as a nurse at the University of Minnesota Hospitals. In 1960 they settled...

William 'Bill' Gibson, 52, devoted husband, father, brother and friend to many, passed away after a valiant battle with cancer. Bill was born on June 5, 1971 in Richmond, Indiana to the late Garry and Deborah (Schmidt) Gibson. While attending Ball State University, Bill met Christina Thompson. They were married on June 21, 1997, in Greenfield, IN. Bill is survived by his wife of 26 years, Christina and their children, William Gibson and Elizabeth Gibson, his sisters, Sarah Gibson and Anne (Mick) Kender, and their daughter Violet, all of Brownsburg, IN., his uncle Gary Schmidt of Freemont, IN, grandmother Bonnie Gibson, brother-in-law, Brian (Alisa) Thompson and their children; Alex...

Bobbette Jones, age 103 of Niles died Tuesday. Arrangements have been completed at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles.

Louis Edward Randolph Stennis, Jr., age 95 years of Niles, Michigan; devout churchman, retired postal worker, honorable veteran, cousin, and friend to many died peacefully at 7:44 a.m. on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at West Woods of Niles following a brief illness. He was born on July 30, 1928 in Chicago, Illinois to Louis E.R. and Sarah Louise (Wilkes) Stennis, Sr. and moved as a child with his family to Milton Township, Michigan. He was graduated from Edwardsburg (Michigan) High School in 1947, and continued his education at the former Western Michigan College (now University) in Kalamazoo majoring in Chemical Engineering. College was interrupted by the military draft ordering him to...

Donald Allen Brewer, age 69 years of Niles, Michigan died Monday, February 5, 2024, peacefully at his home with his family by his side. He was born on March 26, 1954, in Niles, Michigan to Donald and Doris Mae (Sandberg) Brewer. He was a lifelong resident and graduated from Niles High School. Upon graduation, he started his career at A.M. General where he retired and was a member of the UAW local #5. During his retirement he enjoyed working part time at Orchard Hills country club in Buchanan, MI. On May 6, 1983, he married Cathy Marie Chenez who preceded him in death on April 6, 2002. Don is also preceded in death by an infant son Raymond Robert Brewer and his parents, Don and...

Robert G. Anton, age 94 years of Niles, Michigan; father, grandfather, great-grandfather, local sports enthusiast, champion dog trainer, and barber died peacefully at 11:22 p.m. on Saturday, February 3, 2024 with his family gathered around his bedside at West Woods of Niles following a brief illness. He was born on March 6, 1929 in Chicago, Illinois to Robert and Bessie (Klapp) Anton, but moved as a child with his family to Cassopolis, Michigan where he played football on a very successful high school team, and was graduated from Ross Beatty High School. He moved to Niles, and began his career as a barber at the O.K. Barber Shop in the lower level of the Masonic Building. A few years...

Harry Robert Trescher, age 95, of Niles, Michigan; father, grandfather, great-grandfather; insurance agent, photographer, and Honorable Veteran of both the United States Army and Navy passed away at 1:56 a.m. on Sunday, January 7, 2024 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, IN. His family is grateful for the efforts of the first responders and the medical staff following an accident in his home. He was born on November 22, 1928 in Chicago, Illinois to Harry and Lenora (Bauer) Trescher, and graduated from Lakeview High School in Chicago. He enlisted in the United States Army and served as a medical technician at Fort Eustis, Virginia before being honorably discharged. He returned to...

Jane Foster Lewallen, age 90 years of Niles, Michigan, wife, mother, grandmother, school librarian, traveler, and cook died peacefully at 12:15 a.m. on Friday, December 15, 2023 at Woodland Terrace at Longmeadow following a brief illness. She was born on March 4, 1933 in Goshen, Indiana to Thomas and Florence (Foster) Tilley, and graduated with the Class of 1951 from Goshen High School. She continued her education at Indiana University, and earned her Bachelors Degree in Library Science and Home Economics from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She came to Niles in 1958, and was employed by the Niles Community Schools for twenty-four years, primarily as school librarian at...

Jane Foster Lewallen, age 90 years of Niles, Michigan, wife, mother, grandmother, school librarian, traveler, and cook died peacefully at 12:15 a.m. on Friday, December 15, 2023 at Woodland Terrace at Longmeadow following a brief illness. She was born on March 4, 1933 in Goshen, Indiana to Thomas and Florence (Foster) Tilley, and graduated with the Class of 1951 from Goshen High School. She continued her education at Indiana University, and earned her Bachelors Degree in Library Science and Home Economics from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She came to Niles in 1958, and was employed by the Niles Community Schools for twenty-four years, primarily as school librarian at...

Stephen Moore was born in November of 1946 in South Bend, Indiana, and spent his early childhood in Jackson, Michigan before the family relocated to reside in Niles, Michigan in 1950. Steve attended Central Elementary and Junior High Schools before graduating from Niles Senior High School in 1964. From 1964 to 1968 he was a student at the University of Michigan, working summers at Hunziker's Landscape Nursery in Niles. After receiving his BA degree and teaching certificate, he joined the faculty of Orchard View High School in Muskegon, Michigan. Steve served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1972. Upon completion of Basic Combat Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, he was awarded the American...

Stephen Moore was born in November of 1946 in South Bend, Indiana, and spent his early childhood in Jackson, Michigan before the family relocated to reside in Niles, Michigan in 1950. Steve attended Central Elementary and Junior High Schools before graduating from Niles Senior High School in 1964. From 1964 to 1968 he was a student at the University of Michigan, working summers at Hunziker's Landscape Nursery in Niles. After receiving his BA degree and teaching certificate, he joined the faculty of Orchard View High School in Muskegon, Michigan. Steve served in the U.S. Army from 1970 to 1972. Upon completion of Basic Combat Training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, he was awarded the...

Jeanette Marie Kiehl, RN, age 55 years of Niles, Michigan; wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, and sister died unexpectedly Thursday afternoon, November 2, 2023 at her home. Her family is grateful for the efforts of the first responders; and chose to extend and enhance the lives of others through Gift of Life Michigan. She was born on July 16, 1968 in Niles to Richard K. and Marsha J. (McConnell) Warburton II, and was graduated from Niles High School. She continued her education at Southwestern Michigan College, earning a Bachelors degree, and certification as a Registered Nurse. She was first employed at the Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center when it was in South Bend, Indiana, and...

Linda Janice DeBroka, age 79 years of Niles, Michigan; wife, mother, grandmother, and sister died Wednesday afternoon, October 25, 2023 with her family gathered around at Center for Hospice in Mishawaka, Indiana following an extended illness. She was born on March 8, 1944 in Tinsman, Arkansas to Lawrence G. and Gladys A. (Payne) Bryant, and moved as a young child with her family to Niles. She graduated the first class in 1963 of Brandywine High School. She began her long career in banking as a teller from former First National Bank of Southwestern Michigan, and its successor, Fifth-Third Bank, and ultimately becoming the branch manager. She chose a different career path with the...

Maj. Leon R. Bertschy II, USMC, Ret'd, age 62 years of Niles, Michigan; husband, father, son, brother, bird hunter, gardener, always a proud Marine "Oorah!", and friend died peacefully at 12:50 p.m. on Friday, October 6, 2023 with his family gathered around at his home following a 2 week battle against an aggressive cancer. He was born on January 13, 1961 in Gravette, Arkansas to Leon Ray and Peggy Sue (Sandlin) Bertschy, Sr. He was graduated from Gravette High School in 1979, and continued his education at the University of Arkansas, earning a bachelor degree, and earned a Master of Business Administration from Colorado Technical University. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps...

Joe Levi Ferguson, age 95 years of Niles, Michigan; father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, neighbor, golfer, Freemason, animal lover, and friend died peacefully on Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at his home while taking a nap in his recliner, having represented the Shriners in the parade on Saturday, and played a round of golf on Monday. His family and friends are grateful and comforted by his gentle, if unexpected, manner of passing. He was born on June 10, 1928 to Thomas Jefferson and Virginia Inez (Gearhart) Ferguson of Lepanto, Arkansas, but Lepanto had no doctor, so he was born in the town of Peach Orchard. He attended Lepanto schools, but left in the ninth grade to help with the...

Barbara Jane Wood Cook, age 85 of Sumnerville, Michigan; sister, friend; educator, community leader, historian, and lifelong equestrian died peacefully on Monday, October 2, 2023 with a friend at her side at Corewell Health Lakeland Hospital Saint Joseph following a brief illness. She was born on July 1, 1938 in Niles, Michigan to Jerome W. and Priscilla J. (Barbary) Wood, and was graduated from Niles High School. She earned an Associate degree from Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, a Bachelor of Science in Business from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, and later a Master of Arts in Education from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. She began her career at Brandywine...

Orla Leroy (Lee) Holcomb, Jr. (93) passed away peacefully at his home Saturday Evening, September 16th of 2023 surrounded by family. Orla was born at home in Toledo, Ohio on September 20, 1929, to his parents Orla Leroy Holcomb, Sr. and Evelyn Mae (Garey) Holcomb. He had one brother, James Edward Holcomb, who passed away in June of 2016. On July 7, 1951, he married his high school sweetheart, Donna Marie Young who survives. Their children, who also survive, are Mark Holcomb, Linda (Holcomb) Kubiak, and Matthew Holcomb. Also surviving are their 5 Grandchildren: Lisa (Holcomb) Rathsack, Heather (Morris) Littlefield, Carla Holcomb, Jennifer (Holcomb) Balo, and Ryan Kubiak. 2 Great...

Sally Louise Ginter, age 87 years formerly of Niles, Michigan died at 8:00 p.m. on Friday, September 15, 2023 with her family gathered around at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana following a brief illness. She was born on October 14, 1935 in New Haven, Connecticut to Edward C. and Isabel (Dicks) Roberts. After graduating from high school in New Haven she continued her education at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina earning a bachelor's degree in English, and earned her master's degree from the University of Indiana - South Bend. She began her career as an aide in the elementary schools of the Niles Community Schools, and then was a professor of English and Children's...

Robert 'Bob' Burton, 96 of Dowagiac, passed away on Friday, August 11, 2023 with his family by his side. Bob was born on May 6, 1927 in Niles to the late Mead and Helen Burton. On August 4, 1957 Bob married the former Barbara Davis. Sadly, Barbara passed away on February 27, 2021. He is also preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Helen Dohm and his brother, Jim Burton. Bob is survived by his daughters, Zelda (& Dallas) Cloud of Edwardsburg, Michigan and Meghan "Molly" (& Carl) Kass of Sioux Falls, SD; grandchildren R.J. (& Samantha) Lee, Micheala (& Jon) Moody, Angela (& Jeremy) Brown, J.R. (& Julie) Kass, Sara (& Devon) Adair, Riley Kass, Alex Kass,...

Allen Richard Blackall, age 74 years formerly of Niles, Michigan, passed away on Wednesday, August 2, 2023 in Fort Wayne, Indiana following an extended illness. He was born on November 20, 1948, in Chicago, Illinois to June (Sorensen) and Matthew Blackall. The family moved to southwest Michigan in 1956 and Allen graduated from Niles Senior High School in 1966. He continued his education studying philosophy and psychology at Eastern Michigan University where he earned his Bachelor's Degree. He moved to Fort Wayne in 2002. Allen was first employed for many years in banking before taking a position with Ameriprise Financial in Fort Wayne as a Financial Advisor. When not at work, Allen...