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.