Fred Kater
May 13, 1894-July 14, 1959

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, July 15, 1959, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Fred Kater, 65, formerly of Niles, died at 9:15 a.m. Tuesday in Kalamazoo Hospital. He had been ill for some time. Mr. Kater was born in Chicago May 13, 1894, and came to Niles from there 41 years ago.

Surviving are four sons, Fred, Jr., William, Richard, and Walter, all of Niles; two sisters, Mrs. Thomas Crocker and Mrs. Lelan Weaver, both of Niles, 18 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; a sister, Mrs. William Jarmes, of Cleveland, and a brother, Emil Kater, of Chicago.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Pifer Funeral Home, the Rev. John P. MacLachlan, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Friends may call at the funeral home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Phyllis Kater
Dec. 19, 1929-Dec. 9, 2001

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 11, 2001, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Pyllis J. Kater, 71, of 309 S. State St., Niles will be Wednesday, Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. The Rev. Richard  L. Rice of Niles will be officiating.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Kater died Sunday, Dec. 9 at 7:35 p.m. at Fountain View Retirement Village in Buchanan, following an extended illness.

Kater was born Dec. 19, 1929 in Bremen, Ind. to Lester Russell and Irene Young. She lived in Niles most of her life. On May 8, 1948, she married Walter E. Kater in Niles.  He survives. She retired from Michigan Bell Telephone Company in 1977, after 26 1/2 years of employment. She was a member of Michigan Pioneers of America. She enjoyed fishing, going to fairs, Ice Capades, and spending time with her family.

Survivors (in addition to her husband) include: one daughter, Pamela J. (and Mark) Miars of Niles; one son, Mark E. (and Cheryl) Kater of Hudson ville; six grandchildren; and two sisters, Marge Merica of Niles and Janet Walters of Mishawaka, ind.

Friends may call one hour prior to services at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

Richard P. Kater
Oct. 30, 1927-Feb. 13, 1974

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, February 13, 1974, page 2, col. 7-8, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Richard P. Kater, 46, of Vandalia, formerly of Niles, was dead on arrival at 1:50 a.m. today at Wayne County Hospital after suffering an apparent heart attack. Mr. Kater was in the Detroit area on business for TEK Homes, Elkhart.

Born Oct. 30, 1927, in Niles, Mr. Kater was a lifetime resident of this area. On Dec. 11, 1948, in Niles, he married the former Gwendolyn M. Davis, who survives.

Mr. Kater was a member of the American Legion Post 26 and was a World War II Navy veteran.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are two sons, Craig of Elkhart and Scott of Fremont, Ohio; his mother, Mrs. Arthur Burger of Niles; three brothers, Fred, William and Walter, all of Niles; two sisters, Mrs. Leland Weaver and Mrs. Thomas Crocker, both of Niles, and two grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, with the Rev. Donald A. Cozadd of Grace United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Walter E. Kater
Nov. 13, 1928-Sept. 20, 2004

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, September 21, 2004, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Walter Kater, 75, of South State Street, Niles, died Monday, Sept. at Riveridge Manor, of an illness.
Arrangements are pending and being completed by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 22, 2004, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Walter E. Kater, 75, of South State St., Niles, are 2 p.m. Thursday, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, by the Rev. Ken Stoll of Huntly Memorial Baptist Church.

Kater died Monday, Sept. 20, at Riveridge Manor, Niles, following a brief illness.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

On May 8, 1948, in Niles, he married Phyllis J. Russell, who preceded him in death.

Kater retired after 10 years of service from Clark Equipment at the company's closing.

He was self-employed most of his life as a contractor, building many homes in Niles, and South Bend, Elkhart and Middlebury, Ind.

Survivors include, one daughter, Pamela J. Mairs of Niles; one son, Mark Kater of Hudsonville; two sisters, Lois Crocker of Niles and Alma Weaver of Orange City; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Kater was also preceded in death by three brothers, Fred, Richard and William Kater.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.

Joe K. McBain
July 20, 1915-Feb. 2, 1974


Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 4, 1974, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Joe K. McBain, 58, of 1119 Huntly Rd., died at 9:10 a.m. Saturday at Pawating Hospital after an illness of four months.

A lifetime area resident, Mr. McBain was an employe of the Tyler Refrigeration Div. of Clark Equipment Co. He was born July 20, 1915 in New Carlisle, Ind.

On Dec. 24, 1938 in South Bend he married the former Louise Bischoff, who survives. Also surviving are one son, Dale, of Buchanan; one daughter, Mrs. Rae Ann Gates, of Niles; two brothers, Everett of Niles and George of Berrien Springs; two sisters, Mrs. Otto Everman of Niles and Mrs. George Hempel of Cassopolis, and five grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with Rev. Irvin L. Nussdorfer of Westminster Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial wll be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home beginning today.

Harriett J. Schinke
Jan. 30, 1882-July 9, 1959

Niles Daily Star, Friday, July 9, 1959, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Harriett J. Schinke, 77, of 1301 Leeper Avenue, South Bend, formerly of Niles, died at 12:05 a.m., today in St. Joseph Hospital, Mishawaka, Ind., following an illness of one day.

Mrs. Schinke was born Jan. 30, 1882 in Cass County and had lived in the Niles and South Bend areas most of her life. Her husband [illegible] April 6, 1954.

Surviving are: two sisters, Mrs. Katheryn Olson, of Freeport, Ill., and Mrs. Betha Reum, of Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. , Sunday in the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. Herbert Meussling, pastor of St. John's United Church of Christ (Evangelical and Reformed), officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home beginning Saturday.