Wilbur J. VanAuken
May 18, 1878-April 23, 1963
Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 24, 1963, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library
Wilbur J. VanAuken, 84, of 527 Grant St., died at 6:20 p.m. Tuesday in Pawating Hospital, where he had been a patient since Saturday . He had been ill six years.
Mr. Van Auken, retired from the National-Standard Company, following 34 years' service, was born May 18, 1878, in Des Moines, Iowa. He came to Niles from Paw Paw 40 years ago.
Survivors include his widow, Sadie; a son, Gordon Keith, Niles; two daughters, Mrs. Robert Schiele, Niles, and Mrs. Rena Horner, Paw Paw; a brother, John, Kalamazoo; seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Friday in the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev. Earl Wickstrom, pastor of his church, will officite[sic]. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.