Carol Ann Thurston, of Niles
July 12, 1937-Oct. 18, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:31am Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Miss Carol Ann Thurston, 77, of Niles, Michigan and long-time Brandywine Community Schools Teacher and Coach died at 2:32 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014, at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles following an extended illness.

She was born on July 12, 1937, in Niles to George P. and Thelma L. (Wedel) Thurston, and was graduated from Niles High School. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo and began her teaching career in the Niles Community Schools in 1958. Brandywine hired her in September of 1959 as a PE/health teacher, and she served for 32 years before retiring in 1991.

Carol Ann Thurston

Miss Thurston advised Brandywine’s Pep Club and cheerleaders, and in 1971 became Brandywine’s first varsity volleyball coach at the beginning of its volleyball program. She continued to coach volleyball through the 1976-77 season. In 1975, she became the varsity softball coach, leading that year’s team to the first district championship for any Brandywine girl’s team. Her 1989 team was also the district champ, and the 1977 team competed all the way to the state tournament. She remained as the softball coach until her retirement in 1991.

She served on the Michigan High School Athletic Association Softball/Baseball committee from 1987 until 1989, and was an active member of the Michigan Softball Coaches Association, chairing both the all-district and all-regional selection meetings.

Carol was a fan of the Chicago White Sox and University of Michigan football. She enjoyed the wide variety of wildlife in her backyard where she maintained feeding stations, and fed some by hand. She also enjoyed travelling throughout the United States, and had completed a cruise through the Panama Canal. She enjoyed participating in Brandywine School’s Fiftieth Anniversary.

She was preceded in death by her parents; but is survived by cousins Karen “Susie” (Jim) Renfro, Patricia Delancy, and Gerald Wedel; and by a wide circle of friends, colleagues, and former students.

The Memorial Service for Miss Carol Thurston will be at 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 25, 2014 at the Brandywine High School Softball field and will include the dedication of a tree planted in her memory. Chaplain Scott Labbe of Hospice at Home will officiate. Committal services will be private, earlier at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Carol Thurston may be made to the Carol Thurston Scholarship Fund at Michigan Gateway Community Foundation, 111 Days Avenue, Buchanan, Michigan 49107; or to Hospice at Home, 4017 Chamberlain Avenue, Buchanan, Michigan 49107. Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Wayne L. Miller, of Niles
July 28, 1959—Sept. 29, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:10am Thursday, October 2, 2014

Wayne L. Miller, 55, of Niles, formerly of Goshen, went peacefully to be with the Lord on Monday, Sept. 29, 2014, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, following a brief illness.

Wayne Miller

He was born in Goshen on July 28, 1959 to Elmer J. and Ida (Slabaugh) Miller.

Wayne graduated high school and pursued a career in nursing.

He worked as a Qualified Medical Assistant at Portage Manor for nearly 20 years. He enjoyed caring for the patients and his co-workers were like family.

Wayne enjoyed quiet time sitting by the river, biking, traveling and time spent with family and

his cats.

He was a member of the Buchanan Seventh-day Adventist Church and loved singing. He was a devoted son that enjoyed being a help to his mother.

He is preceded in death by his father Elmer Miller and a brother Kenny Miller.

Wayne is survived by his mother Ida Miller of Shipshewana, two sisters; Etta (Amos) Glick of Shipshewana, Nora (Sam) Brandenberger of Wolcottville, Indiana, two brothers, Harlen (Ruby) Miller of Shipshewana and Vernon (LuAnn) Miller of Shipshewana, four nieces and seven nephews.

A time of visitation will be held at Brown Funeral Home in Niles on Thursday, Oct. 2 from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. at the Buchanan Seventh-day Adventist Church at 3115 Niles-Buchanan Road. An interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in Wayne’s memory to Portage Manor at 3016 Portage Av., South Bend, Indiana 46628 or a charity of one’s choice.

Those wishing to leave a message for the family, upload a photo of Wayne or send their condolences may do so at our website at

www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or on our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/BrownFuneralHomeNiles.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Niles.

Delores ‘Dee’ (Love) Miller, of Niles
May 24, 1932 — Oct. 22, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:21am Friday, October 24, 2014

Delores “Dee” (Love) Miller, 82, of Niles, passed away quietly with her family by her side on Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014. Having been fighting Leukemia for 25 years, Dee fought the disease head on.

Below is the obituary that she wrote in her own words.

Delores ‘Dee’ (Love) Miller

“I want to say I am very proud and take great pride in the three fine sons we have raised and the ten grandchildren they among them have produced; all are intelligent and handsome young people who will do well and contribute to the world in a positive way.“ She was preceded in death by her parents Jabez and Anna Love of Benton Harbor and Indian Lake. She was married on Dec. 20, 1950 to Edward F. Miller. She is survived by her loving husband and caregiver Edward F. Miller. Also surviving are her three sons, Edward J. Miller (Jane), Jeffrey (Sheila) Miller, and Richard L. (Margo), ten grandchildren, Kasey (Cole) Duddleson, Erin, Lindsey, Brian (Emilie), Wesley, Landon (Linzi), Spencer, Brennan, Brittany, and Connor Miller, Three great grandchildren, Lucas and Olivia Duddleson, and Kean Miller. Also surviving are brother Roy Love of Nebraska, sisters Sharon Love of Mesa, Arizona, Tanya Love of South Bend, Indiana, and Jan Love of Tennessee.

Dee spent many years volunteering and served as an officer in Westside PTA, Service League, City PTA Council, Monday Reading Club, Ladies Reading Club as well as Chairman of the Pawating Hospital Gift Shop and Candystrippers. She was also a member of Orchard Hills Country Club and Indian Lake Yacht Club.

She was devoted to her grandchildren and spent many evenings playing “hide the thimble” and Tripoli, and cooking with and for them. The annual decorating and baking a gingerbread house was a real joy for both her and her grandchildren.”

Memorial donations may be made in Dee’s name to the Niles-Buchanan YMCA at 905 North Front Street, Niles, Michigan 49120.

A memorial service to honor Dee’s life will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2014 at Brown Funeral Home in Niles beginning at 11 a.m. with a time of visitation beginning at 9 a.m.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Niles.

Lucinda Elizabeth Eggleston
Sept. 21, 1841-Dec. 7, 1934

Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 7, 1934, page 2,col. 6-7, microfilm Niles District Library

OLDEST WOMAN HERE DIES EARLY TODAY

Death Takes Mrs. Eggleston at 93; Came Here in Covered Wagon

The death of Mrs. Lucinda Elizabeth Eggleston early this morning removed the oldest resident of Niles. Mrs. Eggleston was 93 years old.

Coming to Niles 76 years ago in a covered wagon drawn by a team of oxen, she left her home in New York state with her family and has watched Niles grow from a small village to a city of its present size.

The family was among the early settlers attracted to this section of the state by tales from those who had preceded them about the fine soil and rich agricultural possibilities of this section.

Mrs. Eggleston was born in Copake, Columbia county, N.Y., Sept. 21, 1841. She was married to Elensey Eggleston in Niles, in 1861. Of the four children born to them only one son, William E. Eggleston, at whose home she died, survives. Three others, Milton G., Ralph R. , and Katherine P. died several years ago.

Other surviving relatives are a brother, William Chapman, Baroda; two sisters, Mrs. Ava Shinn, Pelleston, Mich., and Mrs. Lydia Merwin, Petoskey; also five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at the Price and Kiger funeral chapel Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock.  Friends of the family may call at the funeral home prior to the hour of the funeral. The Rev. A.R. Kuehn, pastor of the Evangelical church, will officiate and burial will be in the family lot at Silverbrook cemetery. 

Mary Ausmus
Feb. 18, 1858-Nov. 21, 1933

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 22, 1933, page 1,col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Mary Ausmus, 75, Succumbs on Tuesday

Funeral services for Mrs. Mary Ausmus, 75, who died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. George Knott, 1219 North Fifth street, early Tuesday night, will be held from the Rutherford funeral home at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon.  The Rev. Theodore Laesch, of the St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran church, will be in charge and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

The husband, Charles, died Dec. 10, 1932. She is survived by a daughter and three sons, Arthur and George L. Knott of Niles and Edward Knott of Detroit.  Mrs. Ausmus was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, Feb. 18, 1858, coming to this country with her parents when a young girl. The family settled in Three Rivers and Mrs. Ausmus lived there until her marriage.  Mrs. Ausmus was ill but two weeks and death was due to age and a weakness of the heart.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 24, 1933, page 1,col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Hold Ausmus Rites Saturday Afternoon

Services for Mrs. Mary Ausmus, 75, who died Tuesday night at the home of her daughter, Mrs. George Knott, 1219 North Fifth street, will be held at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon at the Rutherford funeral home. The Rev. Theodore Laesch of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran church will be in charge and burial will follow in Silverbrook cemetery.

Surviving Mrs. Ausmus are three sons, Arthur and George L. Ausmus, Niles and Edward Ausmus, Detroit, and the daughter at whose home she died.  The husband, Charles, died about a year ago.  She was a native of Germany and came from that country with her parents to settle in Three Rivers where she was married.

William R. Baker
June 20, 1865-Nov. 25, 1933

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 27, 1933, page 1,col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

William R. Baker Dies on Saturday

William R. Baker, 68, well known Niles resident and former business man, died Saturday night at his home, 1115 Cedar street, following several days' illness from a paralytic stroke. A similar stroke suffered in 1921 caused him to retire from active life.

Funeral services will be held at the home Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock with the Rev. H.L. Nicholson of Trinity Episcopal church officiating.  Burial will follow at Silverbrook cemetery in charge of Niles Elks lodge of which the deceased was a charter member. Friends may call at the residence until the hour of the funeral.

Mr. Baker was born in Castine O., on June 20, 1865, and had resided in Berrien county from an early age. He was married to Caroline Huff of Buchanan on October 24, 1888.  With the wife, three children survive. They are two daughters, Hazel, and Mrs. Willard Collins, Niles, and the son, Dan, Chicago.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, November 28, 1933, page 1,col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Baker Funeral Rites Held This Afternoon

Funeral services for William R. Baker, 68, who died Saturday night at his home, 115 Cedar street, were held this afternoon at 2 o'clock at the home with Rev. H.L. Nicholson of Trinity Episcopal church officiating.  Burial was to follow in Silverbrook cemetery with the Niles' Elks lodge in charge.

Death came after many years suffering from paralysis. Mr. Baker suffering the first stroke in 1921 when he was forced to retire from active life. Surviving are the widow and three children, Hazel and Mrs. Willard Collins, Niles, and a son, Dan, Chicago.