George H. Zwergel
April 13, 1893 - March 20, 1970

Niles Daily Star published Friday March 20, 1970, pg. 2 (From E. Lee)

NILES -- George H. (Polly) Zwergel, 76, of 965 S. 13th St., died at 8 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital, where he had been a patient for the past five weeks.

Born April 13, 1893, in Niles, Mr. Zwergel had lived here all his life.

He was a World War 1 veteran, a life member of the Niles Elks Lodge and a member of the Four Flags Barracks No. 1093, Veterans of World War 1.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Father Vincent A. Anderson of the Trinity Episcopal Church officiating.   Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery with graveside rites by the Elks Lodge.

Friends may call after 7 Saturday night at the funeral home.

Kathryn M. Hemphill, of Niles
Aug. 2, 1933 — Oct. 18, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:02am Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Kathryn M. Hemphill, 82, lifetime resident of Niles, Michigan died unexpectedly Sunday evening at her home of natural causes.

Kathryn M. Hemphill

She was born on Aug. 2, 1933 in Niles to Frank A. and Teresa (Buzulski) Goldfuss. She was graduated from Niles High School, and began her career in finance at the former Niles Federal Savings & Loan Association. She continued with Niles Federal’s successors including the Standard Federal Bank from which she retired.

Kay was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles. Her family was her greatest interest, providing care for her husband and her sister, and loving her grandchildren.

On June 5, 1954 in Niles she married Niles City Police Officer Elwood L. “Bucky” Hemphill with whom she celebrated last June the remarkable Sixty-first anniversary of their wedding.

Surviving family includes her husband, Bucky Hemphill and their children, Teresa Kay (Gerald) Baker of Reelsville, Indiana, Todd Elwood Hemphill of Niles, and Timothy Burgess (Paula) Hemphill of Spartanburg, South Carolina; grandchildren Ashley (Joe) Jones, Emily (Dayne) Nelson, Jacob Tyler Hemphill, Michael Todd Hemphill, and Kaitlyn (Nigel) Long; great-grandchildren Easton, Luke, and Charlotte; Kathy’s sister, Jean O’Connor of Niles; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Krysik and sisters Shirley Wert and Bonnie Medor.

Services for Kathryn Hemphill will be at 2 p.m. on Thursday, October 22, 2015 at the Graveside in Silverbrook Cemetery with the Rev. Cathi Huvaere of Wesley United Methodist Church officiating. The family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Contributions in memory of Kathy Hemphill may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Clark L. Carpenter, of Niles
Oct. 1, 1919 — Oct. 19, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:01am Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Clark L. Carpenter, 96, of Niles, Michigan died at 12:47 a.m. on Monday, October 19, 2015 at Lakeland Hospital – Niles following a brief illness.

Clark L. Carpenter

He was born on Oct. 1, 1919, in Niles to Wilbur W. and Mabel F. (Longenecker) Carpenter. He was graduated from Niles High School in 1938, and shortly after that infamous day of Dec. 12, 1941, he entered service in the United States Army. He served in the Pacific Theater, and was discharged as a Veteran of World War II. He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters labor union local #364 in South Bend, Indiana and drove a delivery truck for Troost Brothers Furniture for many years, later driving for Great Lakes Express (GLX).

Clark was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles. He was a lifetime member of American Legion Post #26 in Niles and a member of the Buchanan Lodge #449, Loyal Order of Moose. He bowled on area leagues at the former White’s Bowling Lanes in Niles and golfed on the leagues at Plym Park Golf Course where he once carded a witnessed hole-in-one. He also enjoyed fishing, especially at the family cabin on Saddle Lake, near Bangor, Michigan. He enjoyed deer hunting in Gaylord, Michigan.

On Aug. 18, 1946, at Wesley United Methodist Church he married the former Donna L. Basso with whom he celebrated the remarkable Sixtieth anniversary of their wedding prior to her death on May 14, 2007. He was also preceded in death by an infant great-grandson, Eli Matthew Rose on September 6, 2015, and by Clark’s brother, Bernard Carpenter who died on Aug. 30, 1994.

Surviving family includes their daughters, Karen S. (Thomas) Dawson of Niles and Connie L. (Steve) Magyar of South Bend; grandchildren Greg (Susan) Dawson, Stacie Dawson, Lauren (Jathan) Rose, Allison Magyar, and Kyle Magyar; great-grandchildren, Thomas, Noah, and Chase; and Clark’s sister, Wilburta DeVries of Niles; and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Clark Carpenter will be at 2 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 23, 2015, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Cathi Huvaere of Wesley United Methodist Church officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and will conclude with the Veteran’s Flag Presentation and “Taps” by the United States Army Honor Guard.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday at the funeral home from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. Contributions in memory of Clark Carpenter may be made to the Niles Veterans Memorial Committee.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Christine Baumann
July 26, 1871-Aug. 27, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, August 28, 1952; page 2, col. 2, microfilm, Niles District Library (from K. Alton)

Mrs. Christine Bauman, 81, died at 2:25 p.m. Wednesday at her home at 21 South St. Joseph avenue after an illness of several years.

She was born in Goeppigen, Germany, on July 26, 1871, and came here from Germany 68 years ago.  She was married to John Baumann, who died in September 1934.

She was a member of St. John’s Evangelical and Reformed church.  

Surviving are:  three daughters, Katherine and Eleanora Baumann, both of Niles, and Mrs. Gerald Kern, Las Vegas, Nev.; two sons, Hermann, of Niles, and Carl, of Denver, Colo.; four grandchildren.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home. Funeral services will  be held there at 2 p.m. Saturday with the Rev. Herbert Meussling, pastor of St. John’s Evangelical and Reformed Church, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

John W. Boonstra
October 17, 1880 - January 10, 1970

Niles Daily Star published Monday January 12, 1970, pg. 2 (from E. Lee)

NILES -- Funeral services for John W. Boonstra, 89, of 611 Howard St., who died at 1:20 a.m. Saturday in the Dor-A-Lin Nursing Home, were held today in the Pifer Funeral Home.

Officiating was the Rev. John Wyngarden of the First Presbyterian Church.   Burial was in Silverbrook Cemetery.

He had been in ill health for the past year and a half.

Retired from Kawneer Company in 1954, Mr. Boonstra was born Oct. 17, 1880, in Muskegon, Mich., and had lived here since 1935, coming from his place of birth.   He married the former Trena Rose on Nov. 24, 1904, in Muskegon.   She preceded him in death on April 16, 1956.   He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, a Sunday School teacher, a church elder and had served on the Silverbrook Cemetary Board from 1949 to 1964.

Survivors include three daughters, Mrs. Howard Davis, Mrs. Arthur Mould and Mrs. Andrew McCormick, all of Niles, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.   

Edward P. Brothers
Aug. 8, 1921-Aug. 21, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Friday, August 22, 1952; page 2, col. 1, microfilm, Niles District Library (from K. Alton) 

Edward P. Brothers, 31 of 2407 Bond street, died at 1031 p.m. Thursday in Pawating Hospital following an illness of two years.

Survivors include; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Brothers, of this city, his widow, Vivian and children, Darlene, Timothy, Terry and Sandra, all at home; grandparents Mrs. Josephine Lambert and Frank Pawlak, both of Niles, a brother, Walter, South Bend; and four  sisters, Mrs. Harold Lindgren, South Bend, and Mrs. Ralph Hendershott , Miss Mary Ann Brothers and Mrs. Joseph Minarik, all of Niles.

Brothers was born in Niles township on August 8, 1921, and spent his entire life in this area.  

Funeral services will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at 9 a.m. Monday, with the Rev. Cletus Rose, officiating.  Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home until time for the services.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

He was a member of St. Mary’s Church.

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