Rosa Sinkes Hoyt
Feb. 10, 1888-July 26, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 26, 1954, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Osa[sic] Sinkes Hoyt, 66, of 3115 Hoyt street, died at 8:15 a.m. today at Pawating Hospital after a 16-month illness.

Mrs. Hoyt was born in Royal, Ill.  on Feb. 10, 1888, and came to Niles from St. Joseph, Ill., 21 years ago.

Besides her husband, Anson, she is survived by six sons, Rollie of Dowagiac, Robert at home, Leon of Detroit, Charles of Niles, William of Pontiac,and Norman of Monroe; one daughter, Mrs. Donald Coffman of Fort Wayne, Ind.; and one brother, Edward Sinkes of Seymour, Ind.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home until Wednesday when services will be held at 2 p.m. at the First Church of Christ with Brother John Kinner officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Note:  Cemetery records and Death certificate give first name as Rosa so it appears at “Osa” is a newspaper typo.

Edwin Llewellyn Hunter
March 25, 1874-March 30, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 2, 1935, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

DR. E.L. HUNTER SERVICES TODAY

Niles Physician Who Died Late Saturday Buried in Silverbrook

Funeral services for Dr. E.L. Hunter, who died at his home on M-$0 four miles north of Niles late Saturday, were held at the Price and Kiger funeral home this afternoon at 2:30.  Rev. Guy W. Simon, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, officiated and burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Since coming to Niles about twelve years ago with his sister, Miss Jessie Hunter, Dr. Hunter had been associated with the Kawneer company as company physician. He was serving in that capacity when his illness in July made it necessary for him to give up his work.  Before coming to Niles, he had practiced for several years in Chicago, after his graduation from Honemann college where he also served his internship.

Surviving are one son, Thomas H. Hunter, now at Harvard university, and his sister, Miss Jessie Hunter, Niles.

Casket bearers were Lowell Chapin, Fred Eaglesfield, George Kneeshaw, F.J. Plym, Walter Milligan and William Thayer.

Mary Hydorn
April 11, 1947-June 17, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Friday, June 18, 1954, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Car Kills Cassopolis Girl, Seven

Niles-Buchanan Road Scene of Traffic Death

Mary Hydorn Struck by Auto Driven by Mrs. Schneider of Buchanan

A seven-year-old rural Cassopolis girl on a summer holiday visit with her grandparents here died at 7:10 p.m. Thursday in Pawating Hospital from injuries sustained when she was struck by a car at 5:35 p.m. on the Niles-Buchanan road.

Listed by Niles State Police as Berrien County's 15th traffic fatality this year, was Mary Hydorn, 7, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hydorn, rural route, Cassopolis.  Hospital officials said she sustained a basal skull fracture and fractured leg.  Coroner Harding Dey of St. Joseph was expected to issue a statement today.

The driver of he car, Mrs. Lillian Schneider, 305 Days avenue, Buchanan, told police she was traveling west on the Niles-Buchanan road and as she approached Kings road she saw the child standing on the north shoulder of the road. The next thing she knew, she said, the little girl was standing out in the road near the centerline.

Mrs. Schneider also stated that she applied her brakes and attempted to swerve her car to avoid hitting the child.  Police said the injured child was found lying more than 91 feet from a mail box on the north side of the road and said skid marks made by the car measured over 61 feet.  

Fred Heide, 1307 Grant street, the victim's grandfather, told police that he and his granddaughter had just returned from town and that he had let out at the mailbox to pick up the mail.

He said he drove into the drive, parked the car in the garage and was just getting out of it when he heard the child scream. She had been visiting the Heides since Monday.

Mrs. Schneider and a motorist who witnessed the fatal mishap were scheduled for a conference with Prosecutor William S. White here today.  Police are holding their investigation open pending the prosecutor's decision.

Surviving besides her parents and grandparents are two sisters and brother, Bonnie and Joan and Jerry, at home, and a grandmother, Mrs. Nona Strange, Buchanan.

She was born April 11, 1947, in Niles, and had lived in this area all her life. She attended Dibble Dale School in Howard Township and had just completed first grad.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home after 4 p.m. today.  Services will be held at the funeral home at 4 p.m.  Saturday with the Rev. R.L. McCoy, pastor of the First Baptist Church presiding.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Henry Allen Jacks
June 30, 1880-May 1, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 2, 1935, page 1, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

FORMER RESIDENT OF NILES PASSES

Henry Allen Jacks, Member of Prominent Local Family, Succumbs

Henry Allan Jacks, 55, a former resident of Niles and member of one of the well known older families here, did at his home in Chicago Wednesday night. The body was brought to Niles today.

Mr. Jacks was the son of Edgar Allan and Carolyn Mallett Jacks.  Several generations of the family had lived in Niles, the family home being that more recently occupied by the Lardner family. The moved later to the house now occupied by W.A. Stanner, 541 oak street.

Mr. Jacks was born June 30, 1880, attended school here, and graduated from Niles high school. After his graduation, he was employed by the Pere Marquette railroad. Before moving to Chicago he lived in Pittsburgh.

For several years before his death, Mr. Jacks was connected with the federal relief administration purchasing food or all the shelters in Chicago.

He leaves his wife, the former Ceal Pomeroy, of Ludington, a son, Arthur Hill Jacks, and a daughter, Harriet; two brothers, Phil C. Jacks, Pittsburgh, and Arthur, of New York City; and three sisters, Mrs. Andrew Weisberg, South Bend; Mrs. J.D. Elder and Mrs. Everett Holler, both of Chicago.

The members of the family will arrive in Niles Friday and will be at the Four Flags hotel until after the services.

Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock at Trinity Episcopal church, the Rev. Harry L. Nicholson officiating.  The body will be removed from the Troost and Turner funeral home Saturday morning at 0 o'clock and will be taken to the church where it will lie in state until the four of the funeral.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, May 3, 1935, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

PALLBEARERS NAMED

Friends of the Jacks family and persoanl friends of henry Allan Jacks have been asked to act as pallbearers at the funeral services for Mr. Jacks at Trinity Episcopal church Saturday afternoon. They are: J. Walter Wood, Charles S. Quimby, Harry E. Fox, Thomas M. Swain, Dr. L.G. Platt and Walter Harter. The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson will foficiate at the services at 2 o'clock. The body will lie in state in Trinity church from 9 o'clock in the morning until the hour of the services. 

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, May 4, 1935, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

JACKS RITES TODAY

Services were held this afternoon in Trinity Episcopal church for Henry Allan Jacks, who died Wednesday at his home in Chicago.  Mrs. Jacks, Arthur Hill Jacks and Miss Harriett Jacks arrived here from Chicago Friday. Other members of the family in Niles for the funeral are two brothers, Phil C. of Pittsburg, and Arthur, of New York city,and three sisters, Mrs. Andrew Weisberg, South Bend; and Mrs. J.D. Elder and Mrs. Everett Holler, of Chicago. The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson officiated at the services at 2 o'clock this afternoon, and burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

James Wegner, of Niles
June 29, 1930 — Dec. 27, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:51am Tuesday, December 30, 2014

James P. Wegner, age 84 years of Niles, Michigan died at 10:20 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2014 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana following an extended illness.

James Wegner

He was born on June 29, 1930 in Buchanan, Michigan to Ralph H. and Virginia A. (Bell) Wegner. He was a graduate of Niles High School and had lived here most of his life. He was first employed in the former Montgomery Ward & Company Store in Niles until its closing. He continued in retail sales at the former Williams Brothers Lumber and Home Center, and in retirement he worked at Tyler Automotive.

On July 25, 1953 in Dowagiac, Michigan he married the former Nancy E. Parmeter with whom he celebrated this year the remarkable Sixty-first anniversary of their wedding.

Jim served as an elected member of the Niles City Council for twenty-two years. He also served on the Michigan Municipal League transportation and insurance committee. He volunteered at the Niles Senior Center, driving its Veteran’s van to appointments at the Battle Creek VAMC, and also volunteered with the Four Flags Apple Festival, and the Niles City Police Volunteers in Police Service (VIPs) program.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Niles, the B.P.O. of Niles Elks #1322, and the American Legion Post #26. He served a two year tour with the U. S. Army and was a veteran of the Korean Conflict.

Jim and his family enjoyed fishing and camping in the area, and traveling throughout the Unites States. Jim and his wife spent ten winters at Lake Okeechobee in Florida where he served as a navigational lock operator.

Surviving family includes his wife, Nancy Wegner and their sons, Chris James (Marti) Wegner of Niles and Robert Michael (Joyce) Wegner of Niles; grandchildren, Chris James Wegner, Jr. and Katie Erin (Alan) Furner; great-granddaughter Genevieve Josephine Wegner; and a brother-in-law, Helmut Kolig of Flintstone, Maryland.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, John Wegner and sister, Judith A. Kolig.

The funeral service for James Wegner will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Pastor Donald Fleischman of Fairland Christian Church officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and will conclude with Full Military Honors by the United States Army Honor Guard and American Legion Post #26.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home with Elks’ Rites performed at 7:30 p.m. Contributions in memory of Jim Wegner may be made to the Niles Senior Center.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Doris J. Blackmun, formerly of Niles
Nov. 16, 1925 — Dec. 21, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:23am Monday, December 29, 2014

Doris Jean “Dorie” Blackmun, 89, of Niles, Michigan, died on Sunday, December 21, 2014 at the Cass County Medical Care Facility in Cassopolis, Michigan. She was born November 16, 1925 in Buchanan to Beryl and Margaret (Tichenor) Harrington.

Dorie worked for the former First National Bank of Niles, retiring after many years of service. She was a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church in Niles where she sang in the choir and played the organ and hand bells. She volunteered her time at Lakeland Community Hospital and with the local Meals on Wheels program.

Doris Blackmun

On January 1, 1949 in Niles, Dorie married William H. Blackmun. He preceded her death on September 1, 2008, after 59 years of marriage. Dorie was also preceded in death by a sister, Ann Prestine, and by a brother, Jack Harrington.

Surviving family includes two daughters, Linda (Tom) Frey of Sunman, Indiana, and Judie (Pat) Quinn of Lansing, Michigan; grandchildren, Taryn (Kurt) Bullis and Jill (Michael) Besley, all of Madison, Wisconsin, Stephanie Quinn of Lansing and Neil (Leandra) Quinn of Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Dorie is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Juniper Bullis, Genevieve Bullis, Eliza Besley, John Besley and Brielle Quinn.

Funeral services for Doris Jean Blackmun will be held at Noon on Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, at the First Presbyterian Church in Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of the church officiating and assisted by the Rev. Neil Quinn of Spring Valley Presbyterian Church, Roselle, Illinois. Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services. Donations in memory of Dorie may be made to the First Presbyterian Church’s Music Program.

Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, Michigan.

www.halbritterfunerals.com