Edward Zwergel
Feb. 19, 1879-July 19, 1929
Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 20, 1929, page 1, col. 1 cont. page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library
EDWARD ZWERGEL STRICKEN AT SUPPER WITH HIS FAMILY
Former Manager of Telephone Office Here, Dies Suddenly
WAS WELL KNOWN MASON
Made Important Record as “Dad” of DeMolays In Niles
Edward Zwergel, died suddenly and unexpectedly last evening about 6:30 at his home 520 Sycamore street,. While Mr. Zwergel had long been in ill health and his condition had caused grave concern yet the suddenness with which he was stricken came as a shock to the family and his many friends in the community where he had spent most of the 50 years of his life.
Mr. Zwergel had been at the supper able with his family and several guests, relatives of Mrs. Zwergel from South Bend, and just and they were arising for mtheir [sic] chairs, Mr. Zwergel suddenly dropped back in his chair, dead, having been stricken with a cerebral hemorrhage.
The death of Mr. Zwergel brought to a close an interesting business career, and a life unusually satisfactory for its happy relations of home and social and fraternal contacts.
Edward Zwergel was born in Niles, on Feb. 19, 1879, a son of Phillip and Mary Krell Zwergel. His mother died when he was eight years old and his father, a well known Niles building contractor, six years ago. Thirty-four years ago he entered the employ of the Michigan Bell Telephone company in the capacity of lineman. He served also as night operator and sometimes int eh capacities of lineman and operator at the same time, until he was named a manager of the Niles exchange 21 years ago and he had since been . .. [illegible] .. 1, of this year when . .[illegible]. . Health caused him to resign because of the arduous duties of this office and assume the duties as .. [illegible] for the company. However, for several months he had steadily failed in health and was unable to be at his desk.
Mr. Zwergel was married in South Bend on December 28, 1899 to Nora Swintz, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Swintz, of South Bend. Mr. Zwergel was employed by the telephone company for three years at Three Rivers before coming to Niles and it was in that city he took his bride. Twenty-seven years ago they moved to Niles. Mr. Zwergel is survived by a widow and two children, Miss Jeannette, who hold a position in the Clark Equipment company's offices in Buchanan, and Edward Zwergel, at home, the latter's college work having been interrupted because of his father's illness.
For a number of years Mr. Zwergel (continued from Page One) had been a member of the Methodist church and a member of the official board of the church at the time of his death. The funeral services will be held in that church on Monday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery. IT is planned to have Rev. O.R. Gratton, former pastor of the church, now of Muskegon Heights, conduct the services.
The funeral services will be under the auspices of the Blue lodge, with members of Niles Commandery, as escort. The Order of DeMolay will attend the services in a body and calls have been issued for the members of these organizations to meet at Masonic temple on Monday afternoon to organize into a procession from the temple to the church. The body of Mr. Zwergel will be taken to the church one hour before the time set for the funeral services and may be viewed there. Members of Niles Commandery will serve as guard.
Mr. Zwergel was prominent and active in Masonic circles. He was a member of St. Joseph Valley lodge, No. 4, F. & A.M.; of St. Joseph Valley chapter, No. 2, Royal Arch Masons; of Niles Council, No. 19, Royal and Select Masons; Niles Commandery, No 12, Knights Templar; DeWitt Consistory of Grand Rapids and Saladin Order of Mystic Shriners. He was also a member of Niles chapter, Order of Eastern Star, was “Dad” of Niles chapter of DeMolay, Niles Tent, Knights of the Maccabees and of the Court of Honor.
Besides . . [illegible]. . .Rotary club and of the Knife and Fork club of South Bend.
During the years of his managership of the Niles exchange of the telephone company Mr. Zwergel has seen the plant grow from small quarters on a second floor of a Main street building into one of the largest and finest plants of the company in southwestern Michigan. Mr. Zwedgel [sic] had special recognition on several occasions during his business career for efficient service,and he has also been honored in his fraternal organizations. He was for a number of years recorder for the Niles Council, No. 19 and among his prized possessions was a medal given him 15 months ago by the Order of the Grand Council of DeMolay for his success with Niles Chapter of DeMolay, an honor which is given to few.
Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 22, 1929, page 1, col. 2 cont. page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library
Is Buried Today
Funeral services for Edward (Dad) Zwergel, for many years manager of the Michigan Bell Telephone company, were held this afternoon from the First Methodist church. Members of Masonic orders attended in a body The Knight Templars served as an honor guard.
LARGE NUMBER OF FRIENDS PAY LAST TRIBUTE TO ZWERGEL
Funeral Services for Late Manager of Phone Office Held This Afternoon
Funeral services for Edward Zwergel are to be held this afternoon in the Methodist church beginning at 3 o'clock. The body was taken to the church, . . .illegible . . .street, an hour before the service and while Mrs. Gordon Price presided at the organ, scores of friends viewed the body as it lay amid a great profusion of floral tributes.
The funeral services will be conducted by the Rev. O.R. Grattan, pastor of the Methodist church in Muskegon Heights, and formerly pastor of the Niles church. Members of Niles Commandery, No. 12, acted as guard over the casket until the hour of the funeral The funeral services are in charge of the St. Joseph lodge, No. 4, F. & A.M., with members of Niles Commandery as escort. The order of DeMolay will attend the services in a body. The following served as pallbearers: Paul Thayer, Harold Laberteaux, Fred Eaglesfield, Ben Bird, Lewis Hunt and earl Wright. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery.
The business office of the Niles exchange of the Michigan Bell Telephone company was closed for the afternoon. Mr. Zwergel having for 34 years been connected with the telephone company and for most of that time s local manager. Representatives of the company from a large number of cities are here for the services.
Among the telephone company's representatives who attended the funeral were W.L. Stevens, Benton Harbor, (continued from page one) , G.W. Johnson, Battle Creek; George Graham, of Hillsdale; C.H. Adler, of Jackson, A.J. Peakham, division commercial superintendent of Grand Rapids, and P.T. Smith, district commercial superintendent, Kalamazoo and Dr. VaVaghu, of South Haven. Several of these men were accompanied by their wives.
The floral tribute of the Niles telephone exchange was a blue bell suspended in an arch with over 1,000 roses used in construction.
Among those from out of the city who attended the funeral services were the following: Mrs. Irvin Sibrel, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Sibrel, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Swintz, Mr. and Mrs. . . [illegible] . .Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Gosbel and daughter, Virginia Ruth, Mr. and Mrs. W. K. Studebaker, Mrs. Sherman, Scott, Mr. and Mrs. George Goebel, Mr. and Mrs. Roland Baker, Mrs. and Mrs. L.E. Glass, and daughters, Virginia and Marjorie, Mr. and Mrs. H. Carl Williams and daughters, Margaret and Mary Elizabeth, all of South Bend; Misses Gertrude, Lida and Catherine Zwergel and Miss Mary Elizabeth Waldo, of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. Leon Karker, Mr. and Mrs. Thos. Shaw, Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Adler, Doctor and Mrs. Dan Cunningham, Jackson; Misses Mary and Helen Zwergel, Ypsilanti, Mrs. and Mrs. D.E. Waldo, Kalamazoo.
Mrs. H.H. Arehart, Detroit; Mr. and Mrs. E.F. Lohr, Ann Arbor, Mrs. Julius Schnirrings, and Mrs. Clarence Kutzel, of Saline, Mich., and Mr. and Mrs. William Swintz, Indianapolis, and Mrs. Frank Fulk, of Little Rock, Arkansas.