Obituary of Lucille Elizabeth Burge

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, Michigan. 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 Stars, 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 on Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at Brown Funeral Home in Niles at 11:00 a.m. with a time of visitation on Tuesday from 4 - 7 p.m., also at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made in Lucille's memory to Meals on Wheels at 31 N Saint Joseph Ave in Niles or the Niles Public Library at 620 East Main Street in Niles. Please feel free to leave a message for the family here or on our facebook page at www.Facebook.com/BrownFuneralHomeNiles.