Justina B. Palmer
Feb. 11, 1832-Aug. 15, 1888

The Republican (Niles, Michigan), Thursday, August 23, 1888, page 4, col. 3 (microfilm Niles District Library)

OBITUARY

Died in this city, Aug. 15, 1888, after a painful illness of several weeks, Justina B., wife of Harvey Palmer, in her 57th year.
The deceased was a daughter of Chad Brown and wife, deceased, and was their last surviving child.
She was born in York State February 11, 1832, and while she was yet a small child, her parents took up their abode in the vicinity of the then thriving village of Bertrand, about the time Michigan sought admission to the Union.

She has spent the greater part of her life in and about Niles, and was too well and favorably known in th community to need words of encomium from us at this time.

About 1850, she was married to a Mr. A. B. Young, and two sons were born unto them. Mr. Young died in a few years and the younger of the sons a few years later. The old one, L.C. Young, of Chicago, surviving to bear the loss of a devoted, loving mother.

In May, 1881, she accepted the hand of Harvey Palmer in matrimony with whom she lived in devotion and faithful companionship until her death.

In this dispensation a home has been robbed of its light and sole attraction, and a heart again made desolate. The husband parts with a devoted, loving wife, a son buries from his sight his fond mother, to whom he had ever been a dutiful son, and these suffering ones are entitled to the sympathies of the community in which the deceased was known.

Her nobility of character, her Christian fidelity, her unselfish charitableness had won for her a host of friends, many of whom attested their regard for her in many kind offices for her relief during her last illness.

In her death the Methodist society and church lose a consistent, devoted member. She died in a full faith of a blessed immortality, joyfully anticipating a blissful reunion with her dear ones gone before. She was laid to rest in Silver Brook Cemetery to await the assembling of the just at the last day.

Niles Democrat (Niles, Michigan), Saturday, August 25, 1888, page 5, col. 1
(microfilm Niles District Library)

Mr. L.C. Young of Chicago, was called here on Wednesday by the illness of his mother Mrs. Harvey Palmer.

Niles Democrat (Niles, Michigan), Saturday, August 25, 1888, page 5, col. 2
(microfilm Niles District Library)

Mrs. Justava [sic] B. Palmer, wife of Harvey Palmer, Esq., died at her residence.

Justena Batson Putnam
Sept. 29, 1861-Dec. 29, 1945

News-Palladium, Monday, December 29, 1945, page 14, col. 6

Mrs. Justena Putnam Taken By Death At 84

Mrs. Justena Batson Putnam, 84, 172 Lake avenue, died at Mercy hospital at 8 p.m. Saturday. She had been in failing health for the past year.

She was born in Bertrand, Sept. 29, 1861 and lived in this vicinity her entire life.

Mr. Putnam, who was accidenty[sic] killed in a flour mill in Fremont, which he operated, had the ownership and manager of other mills in Shanghai, Baroda and engaged in the milling business in Benton Harbor with the firm of H.P. Boehm & Co.

Mrs. Putnam lived from 1913 to 1939 with two sons in South Have, when she moved to her her Lake avenue residence here.

She leaves three sons, Harold and Frank of Benton Harbor and Albert, South Bend; two sisters, Mrs. Gertrude Estes, Benton Harbor, and Miss Lena Batson, Chicago; three grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Florin funeral home, the Rev. Glenn M. Frye, Methodist church pastor officiating. Burial will be in silver Creek cemetery, Niles.

Betty Viola Colcord-Jewell, of Buchanan
April 5, 1940-Dec. 6, 2018

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:35 am Thursday, December 6, 2018

Betty Viola Colcord-Jewell, 78, of Buchanan, passed away on Saturday, Dec. 1, 2018, at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles.

She was born April 5, 1940, in South Bend, to Ralph K. and Edith McHone. Betty attended and graduated from Niles High School.

Betty Viola Colcord-Jewell

On Dec. 18, 1959, she married Norman D. Colcord; later in life she married Jim Jewell, whom both preceded her in death.

Betty is survived by her children, Diana (Robin) Herwick, David (Janice) Colcord, Melody (Mark) Mercado; sister, Virginia (Herbert) Yost; brother, Ralph Jr. (June) McHone; grandchildren, Brianne (David), Justin (Stephanie), Anthony, Ronnie (Amanda), Annieta, Arielle, Blake, Sarah, Alannah; and 12 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph K. and Edith; and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral service for Betty will be at 6 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 7, 2018, at Hoven Funeral Home Inc., Buchanan.

Visitation will be two hours prior to the service. Burial will be at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2018, at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, PO Box 1000, Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38148-0142. Online condolences may be made at hovenfunerals.com.

Thomas DeForest, Sr.
June 17, 1934-Dec. 23, 2018

Thomas O. DeForest, 84, of Niles, passed away at The Chalet of Niles on Sunday, December 23, 2018.

He was born on June 17, 1934 in Plymouth, Indiana to the late Garold and Thelma DeForest.

 On August 29, 1954 he wed Donna Belle Robbins at a ceremony in Niles and to that union three children were born. Thomas enjoyed hunting, golf, bowling and was an avid Notre Dame and Chicago Cubs fan.

 Thomas was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Donna Belle DeForest; a grandson, Nick Hansen and a sister, Sharon Holmes.

 He is survived by sons, Thomas (Fawn) DeForest Jr. and Tim DeForest; daughter, Debra (Gene) Hansen all of Niles; eight grandchildren, Thomas DeForest III, Robert DeForest, Mary (Tony) Johns, Jamie (Chuck) Stockton, Mindy Hansen, Steven DeForest, Christopher (Jaymee) DeForest and Amanda (David) Fuller; fifteen great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren; twin brother, Richard DeForest Sr; a sister, Jackie (Bob) Hess and a sister-in-law, Emma Summers all of Niles.

 Funeral services will be held Thursday, December 27, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home with a time of visitation one hour prior. An interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

 Memorial contributions in his memory may be directed to the Berrien County Cancer Services.

https://brownfuneralhomeniles.com/tribute/details/2342/Thomas-DeForest-Sr/obituary.html#tribute-start

Evelyn I. Nelson
MAY 16, 1931 ~ DECEMBER 2, 2018 (AGE 87)

Evelyn Irene Nelson, age 87 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 7:50 p.m. on Sunday, December 2, 2018 with family gathered around at The Timbers of Cass County in Dowagiac, Michigan following a brief illness.

She was born on May 16, 1931 in Mishawaka, Indiana to John A. and Pearl I. (Wordinger) Hull.  She was graduated from South Bend Central High School, and was employed as a laboratory technician at the former Valley Lea Dairies, Inc. in South Bend.  She has lived in Niles since 1957.

Evelyn enjoyed travelling, and had visited much of Europe, Egypt, Mexico, the southwest United States, North Carolina, and New York City.  She also enjoyed reading, usually mysteries, and completed many cross stitch projects.

On October 22, 1949 in South Bend she married Robert J. Nelson with whom she celebrated the thirty-ninth anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on February 22, 1989.  She was also preceded in death by their son, Kenneth J. Nelson on December 5, 2015, by her parents, and by her brothers, John Hull, Donald Hull, and Jay Hull.

Surviving family includes daughter, Deborah N. (& Kenneth) Grooms of Niles and son, Gregory A. (& Kathleen) Nelson of Williams Bay, Wisconsin; daughter-in-law Karen Nelson of Edwardsburg, Michigan; grandchildren Jason Nelson, Vincent (& Kendelle) Nelson, Jacob (& Tesha) Grooms, Jacquelyn Grooms, and Alexander Grooms; great-grandchildren Bo Nelson, Ellie Nelson, Abel Grooms, and Willow Grooms; and several nieces and nephews.

The memorial service for Evelyn Nelson will be at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 9, 2018 at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles with Pastor Jim Wing of Niles officiating.  Committal will be on Monday, privately, at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday at the funeral home.  Contributions in memory of Evelyn may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service, www.bccancerservice.org.  

https://www.halbritterwickens.com/notices/Evelyn-Nelson

William R. Shipperley, Sr.
MAY 27, 1936 ~ DECEMBER 21, 2018 (AGE 82)

William R. “Bill” Shipperley, Sr., age 82 years formerly of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 1:04 p.m. on Friday, December 21, 2018 at Spectrum Lakeland Medical Center in Saint Joseph, Michigan following a brief illness.

He was born on May 27, 1936 in Fort Sheridan, Illinois to George H. and Jean (diBlasio) Shipperley.  The Shipperley family followed George’s military career, moving to Texas, California, and Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan before settling in Niles.  Bill was graduated from Niles High School, and enlisted in the United States Navy.  He served in the Fleet Air Service, including time onboard the USS Yorktown aircraft carrier, and was Honorably Discharged from peacetime duty.  Back in Niles he became successful in home remodeling, owning and operating Shipp’s Home Improvement.  He moved to Buchanan, Michigan in 2017.

Bill was a member of Saint Anthony Catholic Church in Buchanan, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Father Allouez Council #708 in Niles.  He was an excellent percussionist, playing drums in the country/western style most of his life, and once played in the band for a concert by Loretta Lynn.  He was also proficient on the organ and harmonica.  As a young man he enjoyed playing basketball and softball, enjoyed swimming and boating, and later coached a KC basketball team.  He lived for a while on Mackinac Island, Michigan where he was employed at the Grand Hotel Golf Course.  He collected transportation destination stickers from airlines, trucking, and shipping.

Above all, Bill was a people person.  He never met a stranger, striking-up a conversation with anyone, and genuinely enjoyed visiting with friends.  His family remembers his great example to them, and to the next generation.

On July 8, 1962 in Las Vegas, Nevada he married the former Carol Ann Johnson with whom he celebrated the fortieth anniversary of their wedding just days prior to her death on July 28, 2002.

Surviving family includes their children, William Shipperley, Jr. of Buchanan and Susan (& John) O’Brien of South Bend, Indiana; grandchildren Alexis O’Brien and Shane O’Brien; Bill, Sr.’s brother, George (& Lois) Shipperley, Jr. of Aurora, Illinois and their children, Lori, Leanne, and Lynn; and a wonderful circle of great friends.

The Mass of Christian Burial for William Shipperley, Sr. will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 24, 2018 at Saint Anthony Catholic Church, 509 West Fourth Street in Buchanan by the Rev. Fr. Leo Cartagena of the parish.  Immediately following the Mass, the United States Navy Honor Guard will perform the Veteran’s Flag Presentation and “Taps” just outside of the church entry.  Committal Rites will be read at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 26, 2018 at the graveside in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles by the Rev. Fr. Christian Johnston of Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Monday, at the church, beginning at 9:30 a.m.  Contributions in memory of Bill may be made to the Niles Veterans Memorial at Riverfront Park, c/o Niles City Hall, 333 North Second Street, Niles, Michigan 49120; http://www.nilesmi.org.  Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 East Main Street in Niles

https://www.halbritterwickens.com/notices/William-ShipperleySr