Rudolph S. Kompass
August 23, 1860-July 6, 1957

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, July 6, 1957, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Rudolph S. Kompass, 96, veteran Niles industrialist, died at 10:30 a.m. today at his home, 311 North Fourth St.

Mr. Kompass was born Aug. 23, 1860 at London, Ontario, Canada. He established the Kompass and Stoll Co., a furniture manufacturing firm, Niles many years ago.

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, July 8, 1957, page 2, col. 4-5, microfilm Niles District Library

Rudolph F. Kompass Rites Held Today

Services were held at Trinity Episcopal Church this afternoon for Rudolph F. Kompass, 96, one of Niles’ oldest residents, who died Saturday.

Mr. Kompass, a prominent figure in Niles’ industrial life for 40 years with his furniture building business, died in his home at 3111 North Fourth Street at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

He was also known in the city for having initiated the sport of bowling on the green here.

Mr. Kompass was born August 23, 1860, in London, Ontario, the son of Frederick and Johanna Kompass.  He was married to Lillie Adell Bunker in Buchanan. Mrs. Kompass died in 1953.

Surviving are a son, Frederick B. Kompass, and two grandchildren, Mrs. Edward J. Klopp of Battle Creek and Mrs. Jack B. Glasner, Appleton, Wis. There are also two great-grandchildren.

A resident of Ontario until 1885, Mr. Kompass came to Michigan and settled in Niles in 1890.  He established a furniture business, Kompass, Stone & Stoll, in Buchanan with Matthew Stoll, father of Arthur Stoll, and the father of A.G. Sone, former postmaster.

In 1894, they moved the firm, then Kompass & Stoll to Niles.  Mr. Kompass was active in the business until his retirement in 1929, when he sold out his interest.

After his retirement, he and Mrs. Komplass took several trips, including visits to California, Florida and his native Ontario.  In each of these places, he witnessed the sport of bowling on the green.

He came home to build Niles’ rink on the corner of Barrett and West Main Streets. The green remained one of his hobbies throughout his life.

Mr. Kompass was active in city affairs. He was a member of the Board of Public Works when it acquired a grist mill on Dowagiac creek north of the city and converted it into the city hydro plant. He also served on the Niles Board of Education for a number of years, during the period when the Central School building on Main Street was constructed.

He was a member of the Trinity Episcopal Church.

The Rev. John G. Calson officiated at the services this afternoon at 2:30 p.m. at the church, and burial at Silverbrook Cemetery.  The body had been taken to Kiger-Halbritter funeral home.

Martha Miller
January 6, 1887-November 28, 1966

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, November 29, 1966, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Martha Miller, 79, of 1206 N. 12th St., died at 3 p.m., Monday at Berrien General Hospital, Berrien Center, after a two-year illness.

Born Jan. 6, 1887, in South Bend, Mrs. Miller had lived in Niles most of her life.  Her husband, Stuart, died in 1960.

Survivors include two sisters, Mrs. Alice Rinehart and Mrs. Edna Reid, both of Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. John MacLachlan, poster of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m., today. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Opal Orrick
March 7, 1920-July 14, 2001

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, July 16, 2001, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Opal Orrick, 81, of Lake Street, Niles, will be held Wednesday, July 18 at 11 a.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home by Mr. David Thompson of Church of Christ of Niles.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery I Niles.

Orrick died on Saturday, July 14 at 9:10 p.m. Riveridge Manor in Niles, following an extended illness.     

Orrick was born on March 7, 1920 in Manchester, Tenn. to Perry and Eva (Harner) Tucker.  She moved to Niles in 1936.  On May 16, 1936 in South Bend, she married Dosher Frank Orrick, who preceded her in death on Jan. 19, 1986.  She retired from Simplicity Pattern Company in Niles in 1980 after 36 years of service.  She was a member of the Graphic Arts International Union, Bookbinders Local #158-B. She was one of the founders of the Church of Christ of Niles.

Survivors include: one son, Willard (and Jane) Orrick of Niles; five grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; one brother, Esten Tucker of Niles; and one sister Vernia Freeze of Buchanan.

She was also preceded in death by one daughter, Ruby Lindsey; two brothers, Cecil Tucker and Carroll Tucker; and three sisters, Maude Hazelwood, Lois Tucker, and Juanita Vandergriff.

Heber Dennison Parker
December 26, 1899-February 26, 1965

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, February 27, 1965, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Heber Dennison Parker, formerly of Niles, died at 10:15 a.m., Friday in Pawating Hospital, following a two-day illness.

Mr. Parker, a former wholesale lumber dealer in Edwardsburg, was born in Salem, Ind. He moved to Mishawaka from Niles nine years ago. He married Mary Della Bailey May 5, 1917, in Syracuse, Ind. She survives.

Other survivors include a son, Jack R., Milan, Ind.; a brother, B.M. Parker, Hillsboro, Ore.; and three grandchildren.

He was a member of the Mishawaka First Presbyterian Church; St. Joseph Lodge No., 45, Free and Accepted Masons of South Bend; and was a past high priest of the Royal Arch Masons and the Messiah White Shrine, both of South Bend.  He was also a member of the Niles Knights Templar, the Saladin Temple of Grand Rapids and the Niles Elks Lodge.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Pifer Funeral Home.  The Rev. John H. Meengs, pastor of the Mishawaka First Presbyterian Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Masonic memorial services will be conducted at 8 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home, where friends will be received after 7 p.m. tonight.

Mary Della Parker
December 7, 1889-January 14, 1988

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, January 14, 1988, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Mary Della Parker, 98, 2293 S. 14th St., Niles, died today at 4:30 a.m. at Pawating Hospital following a short illness.

She was born Dec. 7, 1889, in Wolf Lake, Ind., and lived in the Niles area for many years. She was a homemaker and on May 5, 1917, she married Heber Parker in Flint. He died in 1965.  A son, Jack died April 18, 1983.

She was an advisor for Rainbow Girls and a member of the Order of Eastern Star, Messiah White Shrine in South Bend, Ind., and the Fulkerson Park Baptist Church.

Survivors include: a sister, Marie Strock of Butler, Ind.; four grandchildren, Steven of Nashville, Tenn., Jerry of Indianapolis, Ind., Mark of Niles and Mary Dilts of Bridgeton, N.J.; and five great-grandchildren.

Services are Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, Niles, where the Rev. Edwards Villaba will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbook Cemetery.  Friends may call beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Richard Alan Ramsby
September 16, 1969

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, September 18, 1969, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

BATTLE CREEK—Committal services for Richard Alan Ramsby, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Ramsby, 114 Indian Road, who died Tuesday after being born prematurely, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in Silverbrook Cemetery.

The Rev. John R. Wyngarden of the First Presbyterian Church will officiate.

Arrangements are being handled locally by the Halbritter Funeral Home.