Dowagiac Daily News

Theola "Jane" Scott, age 78, of Cassopolis, died Thursday, August 11, 2022. Arrangements are pending at Wagner Family Funerals Connelly Chapel, Cassopolis.

Emery "Bill" Lawson, age 86, of Cassopolis, died Thursday, August 11, 2022. Arrangements are pending at Wagner Family Funerals Connelly Chapel, Cassopolis.

Darlene Bridges, 64, of Niles, passed away Wednesday, August 10, 2022. Arrangements are pending and are entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, of Niles. www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com

Danielle "Dani" D. Armstrong, 39, of Zeeland and formerly of Niles, passed away unexpectedly at her home on Tuesday, August 9, 2022. Dani was born on December 22, 1982, to Day and Joanne (Otwell) Armstrong. Dani loved watching sports and playing basketball in high school. She graduated from Brandywine High School in 2002. Dani also had a soft spot in her heart for nature, animals, and above all her two sons. She loved and cherished her sons, Jordan and Connor, more than anything. She was preceded in death by her mother, Joanne Armstrong. Dani is survived by her father, Day Armstrong of South Bend; sons, Jordan and Connor, both of South Bend; brother, Shane Armstrong of Holland,...

Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, MI.

Charlotte Ann "Charlie" Retherford, 63, of Cassopolis, died peacefully Tuesday, August 9, 2022 in the comfort of her family's presence. Her life began January 17, 1959 in Delaware, Ohio, the middle of three children born to Jim and Fay Ludwig. She married Gary Alan Retherford August 3, 1990 in Denver, Colorado. After thirty years of marriage, he preceded her in death in November 2020. Family was very important to Charlie and she loved spending time with them. She couldn't wait to be a Grandma and cherished all of her grandchildren. One memory her children will always hold on to is the family dinners they shared every night. They came together as a family and discussed, laughed, and...

Danielle "Dani" Armstrong, 39, of Zeeland, passed away Tuesday, August 09, 2022. Arrangements are pending and are entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, of Niles. www.BrownFuneralhomeNiles.com

Don George Blackmond passed away on August 9, 2022, after a brief illness. He was the son of the late George Blackmond and Catherine Gregory Neff, stepfather Dr. Robert Neff. He was the pride and joy of his grandparents Don and Nell Gregory. He is survived by his "lovely bride" of 44 years, Sharon Blackmond. His daughter Catherine "Cathy" Blackmond and son Don (Marla) Gregory Blackmond; his "only decent step-children" Scott (Malu) and Kristin Ermeti. His adoring grandchildren, Spencer Blackmond, Olivia Blackmond, Claire Blackmond, Emily Blackmond, Mehlo Ermeti and Shayia Ermeti. Don is best described as a "renaissance man...a man who could do all things if he will." Don served St. Joseph...

Patricia Lintz, 71, of Niles, passed away Tuesday, August 09, 2022. Arrangements are pending and are entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, of Niles. www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com

Lorraine Armitage, 90, of Niles, passed away Monday, August 08, 2022. Arrangements are pending and are entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, of Niles. www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com

Julien Amason, 2months, of Niles, passed away Sunday, August 7, 2022 at Memorial Hospital- South Bend. Arrangements are pending and entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Niles. www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com

Mary Elaine Labar, 79, of Cassopolis, died peacefully Saturday, August 6, 2022 in the comfort of her family's presence. Her life began August 29, 1942 in South Bend, Indiana to Ross and Maxene VanKirk. She married Marc A. Labar December 13, 1974 in Cassopolis. Mary enjoyed cooking and her grandchildren will miss her chicken and noodles and apple cake. She loved dogs. Mary loved to take care of her home and working in the yard. She enjoyed planting flowers and raking in the fall. She cherished the times she and Marc spent in Florida. Her daughters will miss the long phone conversations they enjoyed most days. Mary will be greatly missed by family and friends. She is survived by...

Errol Couveau, 69, of Berrien Springs, passed away at Hanson Hospice on Saturday, August 8, 2022. Arrangements are currently pending with Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Florence Rinehart, 91, of Edwardsburg, passed away on Thursday, August 04, 2022, at Westwoods of Niles. Arrangements are pending with Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services. www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com

Peggy Rutter, 82, of Niles, passed away Thursday, August 04, 2022. Arrangements are pending and are entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, of Niles. www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com

Rickey Shackelford, 70, of Niles, passed away Thursday, August 04, 2022. Arrangements are pending and are entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, of Niles. www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com

Anthony Workman, 77, Niles, passed away, Saturday, July 30, 2022, at Lakeland Hospital in Niles. Arrangements are pending and have been entrusted with Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services. www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Mark DeMeulenaere, 71, of Niles, passed away Tuesday, July 26, 2022. Arrangements are being made by Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services, of Niles. www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com

Donald W. "Don" Bakeman, 73, of Dowagiac, passed away on, Tuesday, July 26, 2022, at Ascension Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, with his wife and three sons by his side. A Celebration of life service will be held on Friday, July 29, 2022, at 12:00PM at Clark Chapel, 405 Center St., Dowagiac. Friends may visit with the family from 11:00AM until the time of service at the funeral home. Memorial contributions in Don's name may be made to the Decatur VFW Post #99. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.clarkch.com. Don was born February 27, 1949, in Gary, Indiana, to Robert and Ruth (Hand) Bakeman. He graduated from Decatur High School in 1968. After high school, Don...

Aletha "Joy" Holloway, 98, of South Bend, passed away Monday, July 25, 2022. Arrangements are being made by Brown Funeral Home, of Niles.

Mary Frances (Caldwell) Staggs, age 75, of Vandalia, died peacefully Saturday, July 23, 2022 in the comfort of her family's presence. Her life began January 9, 1947 in Man, West Virginia, one of fourteen children born to Walter Thomas and Virgie (Ratliff) Caldwell. She married Earl Staggs in 1968 in Chicago, Illinois. He preceded her in death February 10, 2005. Mary always put her family first and said, "Family first!" She was truly a matriarch and cherished being able to help raise her family. She was a little firecracker. Mary had an amazing green thumb and was always working on her garden. Most recently, she could be found caring for her fairy garden. She enjoyed playing with her...