Fred W. Heide
Apr. 5, 1890-Nov. 26, 1969
Niles Daily Star, Friday, Nov 28, 1969, pg 2,
Fred W. Heide, 79, of 1307 Grant St., a colorful Niles personality, died at 10 p.m. Wednesday in Pawating Hospital.
Born April 6, 1890 in Germany, the retired coal dealer and musician had lived here since 1928. He married the former Margaret Hohensee, who survives on Aug. 17, 1912 in Forest Park, Ill.
Arriving in Niles in 1928, Mr. Heide bought a 105 acre farm on the St. Joseph River, between Niles and Buchanan. In 1935, he started a steam-operated flour mill on North Second Street in Niles.
In 1940, Mr. Heide became a coal dealer, using the depression slogan “Don’t Go In The Hole –Buy Heide’s Coal.”
He was a member of the First Baptist Church and the Gideons.
An extremely musically-inclined person, Mr. Heide taught all his children to play an instrument. For 10 years, Mr. Heide’s band played for affairs in and around Niles. His eldest son, Victor, became a world renowned professional.
The Heide property on Grant Street is a famous local landmark, with yards full of colorful steam traction engines.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Heide is survived by three sons, Victor, Eric Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and Robert, South Bend; a daughter, Mrs. Charles Hydorn, Niles; two brothers, Victor and Ernest, both in Germany; two sisters, Mrs. William Rekatzky, Philadelphia, Pa.; and Mrs. Joana Trunderburg, Germany; 22 grandchildren and 36 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Ray Cunningham officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.
Friends may call after 7 p.m. tonight at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the Gideons.