Albert VanDyke
Aug. 16, 1857-Jan. 16, 1936

PIONEER MERCHANT IS TAKEN BY DEATH

Albert Van Dyke, 78, Meat Dealer 53 Years, Dies After Long Illness

Albert Van Dyke, a pioneer Niles business man who had conducted a meat market at 213 North Second street for 53 years, died at 5:45 o'clock Thursday afternoon at his home, 213 1/2 North Second street.
Mr. Van Dyke, who was 78 years old, came to Niles 53 years ago from Paw Paw.  He established the market which he had conducted continuously since that time.  He had been ill about a year.
Mr. Van Dyke was born in Kalamazoo Aug. 16, 1857. he leaves his wife, Christina, two daughters, Mrs. Emma Merson, Niles, and Mrs. Lydia Perkins, Detroit, and one step-son, Car Hartman, Niles, also a sister Mrs. Maude Beach, Lawton.
The Rev. Theo Eisen will officiate at the funeral services Sunday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock in the Price and Kiger funeral home.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Friends of the family are asked to call at the Price and Kiger funeral home until the hour of the services.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 17, 1936, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library.

William M. Tatman
Nov. 5, 1864-July 15, 1948

William M. Tatman, 83, formerly of 923 Regent street, Niles, died at 7:10 p.m. Saturday at the state hospital in Kalamazoo. He had been ill four years.

Born in Rensselaer, Ind. on Nov. 5, 1864, he came to Niles 35 years ago, He was retired.

His wife, Rosanna, preceded him in death on March 16, 1944. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Lillian Mitchell, Niles, and Mrs. Fairy Whitney, Willoughby, O.; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a sister, Mrs. Mary Clark, of Chicago.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Pifer funeral home, with the Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor of the First Methodist church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 17, 1948, page 2 col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library.

Byron Smith
Oct. 24, 1851-Nov. 22, 1912

Niles Daily Sun, Monday, November 25, 1912, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH OF BYRON SMITH

Niles Resident found dead in bed at Sodus

The remains of Byron Smith were brought to Niles from Sodus, Mich., today and funeral services were held from the home of his daughter, Mrs. Percy Wright, 1101 Regent street this morning at 11 o'clock.

Rev. W.R. Yonker of the Presbyterian church conducted the service, Interment occurred at Silver Brook cemetery.

Mr. Smith passed away Thursday afternoon at the home of his daughter, Mrs. May Moore in Pipestone township, Mr. Smith was found dead in bed.

He has been ill for some time with heart trouble, and was 61 years of age.  He is survived by three daughters, Mrs. May Moore of Pipestone and Mrs. Percy Wright and Mrs. Carl Wedel of Niles, also two sons, William and Byron Smith, who are on the railroad.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 25, 1912, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

OBITUARY

Byron E. Smith, 63, died at home of his daughter, Mrs. W.E. Moore, near Sodus, Friday evening of heart disease. The body was brought here this morning and funeral services were held at 11 o'clock from the home of his daughter, Mrs. P.L. Wright, Rev. W.R. Yonker officiating. Interment was at Silver brook cemetery.
Deceased is survived by three daughters, Mrs. P.L. Wright and Mrs. Carl Wedel of this city and Mrs. W.E. Moore of Sodus, and two sons, Byron E. of Detroit and William of Benton Harbor.
Mr. Smith had been a resident of Niles for many years, leaving here 18 months ago to  make his home with his daughter, soon after the death of Mrs. Smith.

Wayne Baxter, 85
Aug. 23, 1925 — March 8, 2011

Wayne J. Baxter, 85, of Cherry Street in Niles, died at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at his home following an extended illness.

He was born Aug. 23, 1925 in Angola, Ind. to Harley Baxter and Nellie (Gaffney) Baxter. He lived most of his life in Niles.

He was a CB radio enthusiast and enjoyed listening to police scanners. He loved to feed the birds and squirrels.

He married Marjorie L. (Shriner) Baxter on Oct. 28, 1950. She died March 21, 1989.

Surviving family includes his sons, Danny (Ruth Ann) Baxter, Jack (Anne) Baxter of Niles and Dick (Betty) Baxter of Mishawaka, Ind.; daughters, Linda (Paul) Hess of Niles, Betty (Roland) Arndt of Mishawaka and Rose Mitchell of New Carlisle, Ind.; 23 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Patty Willard, who died May 9, 2005; two brothers and two sisters.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, March 11, 2011 at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Pastor Scott Labbe, chaplain of Lakeland Hospice, officiating.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Friends may call one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the donor’s choice.

Niles Daily Star, Published online  11:34pm Thursday, March 10, 2011, paper Friday, March 11, 2011, page 2

Richard Heckelsberg, 74
Feb. 1, 1937 — March 11, 2011

Richard Heckelsberg, 74, of Niles, passed away on Friday, March 11, 2011 at his residence with his family by his side.

Services will be held on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home with a time of visitation two hours prior. Pastor Allan Poage will officiate the service. An interment will follow the services at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home, 4025 Health Park Lane, St. Joseph, MI 49085 or Pet Refuge, 2300 W. 6th Street, Mishawaka, IN 46544.

Condolences, photos, and memories may be left for the family at www.brownfuneralhomeniles.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 3:59pm Sunday, March 13, 2011; paper March 14, 2011, page 2

Goldie B. Ralston, 100
March 16, 1910 — March 11, 2011

Goldie B. Ralston, 100, of Bell Road in Niles, died at 4:20 p.m. Friday, March 11, 2011 at Riveridge Manor in Niles following a brief illness.

She was born on March 16, 1910 in Plymouth, Ind. to Benjamin Franklin and Elizabeth (Born) Zehner and graduated from Plymouth High School in 1929. She has lived in Niles since 1942, coming from South Bend.

Goldie was a member of the Niles Chapter 332, Order of the Eastern Star. She enjoyed the outdoors and gardening and helping her family and neighbors.

On March 10, 1934 in South Bend she married Marshall Paul Ralston who preceded her in death on May 19, 1976. She was also preceded in death by a son, Eugene Ralston and by six sisters and brothers, Florence, Harvey, Ethel, Burke and Harold, Merle, Don and Reo Zehner.

Surviving family includes her children, Anne B. (C. Grover) Williams of Eden, North Carolina and Marilynn Barbour, Lila (Gary) Wallace and Edwin (Joyce) Ralston all of Niles; 17 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; her brother, Wayne Zehner of Plymouth and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Goldie Ralston will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 16, 2011 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Pastor Jim Wing of First Baptist Church officiating.

Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 until 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home with Eastern Star Rites at 7:30 p.m. by Niles Chapter 332.

Contributions in memory of Goldie may be made to the Niles Chapter 332, Order of the Eastern Star.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 4:03pm Sunday, March 13, 2011, paper Monday, March 14, page 2.