A.Z. Riley
Feb. 11, 1911-May 5, 1998

    Funeral services for the Rev. A.Z. Riley, 87, 2575 N. Drake, Kalamazoo and formerly of Niles, are Friday at 1 p.m. at Pifer-Smith Funeral  home in Niles.  Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.
    Rev. Riley died early Tuesday evening at Kalamazoo Living Center, Kalamazoo, of natural causes.
    He was born Feb. 11, 1911 in Indianola, Miss.
    Rev. Riley was a retired farmer and minister.
    Survivors include two daughters, Precious Sanders of Toledo, Ohio and Louise Riley of Park Forest, Ill.; two sons, Willie Riley of Chicago and Donald Riley of Marion, Ill.; 11 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
    Friends may call Friday one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 7, 1998, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Clyde L. Stickrod
Oct. 2, 1897-July  1, 1966

    Clyde L. Stickrod, 68, 2912 S. 3rd St., died at 3 a.m. Friday in Memorial Hospital, Little Rock, Ark., after being ill for two weeks.
    His widow Minnie survives. Also surviving are their children: Mrs. Vivian Koutvios, Santa Ana, Calif.; Mrs. Hazel Augustine, Niles; Mrs. Bernice Peterson, Davenport, Iowa; Mrs. Betty Beck, Davenport; and nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
    Also surviving are his brothers and sisters: Ray, Moline, Ill.; Hartcel, Cecil, Lyle, Mrs. Galdys Haverman, all of Rock Island, Ill.; and Mrs. Avis Young, Benton, Ark.
    Mr. Stickrod, was born Oct. 2, 1897, in Rock Island, Ill. He came to Niles in 1936.
    Mr. Stickrod retired from Simplicity Pattern co., 3 1/2 years ago.
    Funeral services will be conducted by Mr. Aleck Dickson, Church of Christ, Tuesday at 2 p.m., in the Pifer Funeral Home.
    Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home after 7 pm.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 2, 1966, page 2, col 1, microfilm Niles District Library.

Henry Fred Kwast
March 29, 1883-December 30, 1948

    
    Henry Fred Quast, 65, rural route five, died 9:30 a.m. today in Pawating hospital after being a patient there five days.
    Services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Pifer funeral home with Elder William Ortner, South Bend, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home.
    Kwast was born March 29, 1883 in Russia and came to Niles 20 years ago from Benton Harbor.  He was an employe of the Sollitt Construction company, South Bend, and was a member of the South Bend carpenters' union.
    Surviving are his wife and the following children:  Mrs. Ralph Syson, Mrs. Albert Kanarr, Mrs. Frank Taylor, Eugene Kwast, all of South Bend; Charles Kwast, Carlton, Tex.; Mrs. Clayton Goff, Marcellus; Pfc. Edwin Kwast, . . .[illegible]. .. all at home.  Eleven grandchildren also survive.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, December 30, 1948, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library.

Pvt. Robert Dale Riley
Nov. 4, 1921-July 7, 1944

The News-Palladium (Benton Harbor, Mich.), Wednesday, August 16 1944, page 3, col 3


    Niles, Aug. 16--Two more Niles men have been reported killed in action, raising Niles' war-time death toll to 22 today.
    Pvt. Robert D. Riley, 22, with the U.S. Marine Corps, was reported killed in the Pacific area. Wounded twice previously, Pvt. Riley had been overseas since November, 1942, and had fought in the Solomon and in other major battle areas. He was born November 4, 1921 in Buchanan and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Riley of 24 Parkway, Niles.
    . . .

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 12, 1948, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library


    The body of Pvt. Robert Dale Riley, of the marine corps, who was killed at Saipan on July 7, 1944, is enroute to the United States, according to notice received by his parents today.
    A military funeral will be conducted upon arrival of the body at the Pifer funeral home.  No date has been set for arrival.
    Private Riley was the son of Mr. and Mrs. J.H. Riley, 24 Parkway, who survive.  Other survivors are three brothers, Harold, Mishawaka; Donald, rural route three; and John, at home; three sisters, Mrs. June Frazier, rural route four; Norma Jean and Beverly Ann, both at home.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 14, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library


    Last rites for Pvt. Robert Dale Riley, 22, late son of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Riley, 24 Parkway, will be held at 2 p.m. , Wednesday at the First Methodist church, the Rev. L. George Beacock officiating.
    Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home Tuesday night, where the body will be held until the services on Wednesday.
    Pvt. Riley's body will arrive here Tuesday after having been shipped from over-seas, where he was killed in action as a member of the marine corps on July 7, 1944, at Saipan.
    Announcement has been made that members of the Navy Mothers are requested to meet at 1:45 p.m., Wednesday in front of the postoffice before attending rites for Riley.
    Members of Mothers of World War II are requested to meet at 1:45 p.m., in front of the First Methodist church to attend services for Pvt. Riley.
    Daughters of America members are requested also to  meet at 1:45 p.m., Wednesday at the Methodist church to attend the Riley services.

Infant Daughter Cogswell
May 3, 1949


    Committal services for the infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Cogswell, of Benton Harbor, born prematurely, which died at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, will be conducted at 2 o'clock this afternoon.
    The Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor of the First Methodist church, will read the service at the Pifer funeral home. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 4, 1949, page 2, col 2, microfilm Niles District Library.

Doris C. Cogswell
Dec. 1, 1902-May 11, 1998

    Funeral services for Doris C. Cogswell, 95, of Sycamore St., Niles, are Thursday at 11 a.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles by Dr. Glenn McNiel of Grace United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.
    Mrs. Cogswell died Monday at 3:50 p.m. at Silverbrook Manor, Niles, following a brief illness.
    She was born Dec. 1, 1902 in Paoli, Ind., and lived in Niles since 1929, coming from Paoli.
    On May 21, 1921 in Paoli she married David W. Cogswell, who preceded her in death July 1, 1966.
    Mrs. Cogswell was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Niles and a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America.
    She retired in 1967 after 20 years as an operator for Michigan Bell Telephone.
    Survivors include a daughter, Joan Schmeltz of Walkerton, Ind.; a son, Kenneth Cogswell, Plainwell; nine grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by a son, Jack Cogswell on May 21, 1995; and six sisters and brothers.
    Friends may call Wednesday from 2 until 4 p.m. and 6 until 8 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home.
    Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 13, 1998, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library