Henry Henkel
July 18, 1861-Feb. 1, 1941
Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 3, 1941, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library
Niles Civic and Business Leader Dies
Member of Prominent Old Family Passes After 3 Months' Illness
Niles lost a retired business man, member of an old pioneer family and prominent member of the community in the death Saturday night of Henry Henkel, 79.
Mr. Henkel had been seriously ill for the last three months. His death occurred in Epworth Hospital, South Bend.
He was a charter member of the Elks lodge and of Calanthe lodge, Knights of Pythias. The latter honored him in 1935 with a life membership after 50 years affiliation with the order. He was also a member of the Presbyterian church, of the Royal Arcanum and of the Niles cemetery board on which he had served since 1932.
In Niles 76 Years
Mr. Henkel came to Niles 76 years ago with his parents, John and Christine Henkel. He came from Listerwald, Canada, where he was born July 1, 1861. Prominent in many area business, social and fraternal circles, Mr. Henkel [illegible] in civic and community affairs.
At the age of 21 he joined his father as partner in the dry goods business and when the latter died his brother, George, entered into partnership with him. He continued the business until 1929, several years after the death of his brother.
Marked 50th Wedding Date
Mr. and Mrs. Henkel celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary three years ago in the home on South Fourth street they had occupied for more than a half-century.
Mr. Henkel was married to the former Miss Carrie Bither of Chatham, N.Y, Jan. 18, 1838. The marriage took place in Muskegon. Mrs. Henkel survives; also a daughters, Mrs. Frances Odell, South Bend; two grandchildren, Carolyn Jean and William Henry Odell, South Bend, and a sister, Mrs. Stanford Soule, Niles. Another daughter, Carrie Maude, died in 1915.
Friends may call at the Price and Kiger chapel where services will be held Tuesday afternoon at 3:30, the Rev. G.W. Simon officiating.
Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 4, 1941, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library
HENKEL SERVICES CONDUCTED TODAY
George A. Forler and Hugh Dean, lifelong friends of the late Henry Henkel, were honorary pallbearers at the Henkel service this afternoon in the Price and Kiger chapel.
Mr. Forler shared honors with Mr. Henkel when the two were presented with life memberships in the Knights of Pythias in 1935.
Active casket bearers were R. Malcolm Hull, Jack Young, M.E. Klopfenstein, Cyrus Funk, Harry Fellas and C. Bernard Parsons.
Attending in groups were members of the organizations in which Mr. Henkel had been active. Represented were members of the Elks lodge, the Knights of Pythias and the cemetery board.
The Rev. G.W. Simon officiated and burial was in Silverbrook.