Kathleen Lois Kehrer
Jan. 8, 1934-Dec. 2, 1945

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, December 3, 1945, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

11-Year Old Niles Girl Found

Victim's Body Found by Her Brother Sunday

A verdict of accidental death was expected to be returned today by Coroner William Pifer in the death of 11-year-old Kathleen Lois Kehrer who was found Sunday afternoon suspended by a rope from a tree near the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs Erwyn Kehrer.

The family lives two and one-half miles north of Niles on M-40.

Seventh Grade Pupil

The body of the girl, a seventh grade pupil in the Central school of Niles, was discovered Sunday afternoon by a brother, James, 15. The discovery was made about an . . .[illegible]... ed, authorities deduced.

Members of the family told state police, who investigated the accident, that the girl was playing alone. The tree, 20 inches in diameter with the lowest branch 10 feet from the ground, is located in the rear of the Kehrer residence.

Her body was found with a light rope looped around her throat The noose apparently caused death by strangulation.

Funeral Wednesday

The girl was born in Niles Jan. 8, 1934. Survivors, in addition to the parents and the brother who found her body, are a sister, Mary Lou; the paternal grandmother, Mrs. Louise Kehrer of Sister lakes, and the maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Morris of Berrien Springs.

The body was brought to the Kiger funeral home where friends may call. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday in the First Presbyterian church with the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe in charge. Burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery.

The girl was a member of the Presbyterian church Sunday school.

Coroner Pifer said he contemplated checking details of the tragedy before returning the verdict.

Joseph Kraft
Nov. 17, 1889-March 7, 1956

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, March 7, 1956, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Joseph Kraft, 66, of rural route one, Niles, died today in Ridgewood Osteopathic Hospital at Detroit. He had been ill since September, 1955.

Kraft, a New York Central Railroad passenger train engineer, was born Nov. 17, 1889, in Hobart, Ind., and came to Niles in 1920 from Michigan City, Ind.

Surviving are his wife, Carrie; three sons, Raymond, of Niles, Howard, of Detroit, and Marvin of Union City, Mich.; a daughter, Mrs. Clara Leeman, of Naples, Fla.; nine grandchildren; four brothers, Edward Kraft of Duluth, Minn.; Martin of Wheeler, Ind.; and Theodore and Willie, both of East Gary, Ind., and three sisters, Mrs. Dean Stokes and Miss Amelia Kraft, both of East Gary, and Mrs. Laurie Riche, of Duluth, Minn.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home here beginning Thursday evening. Arrangements are incomplete.

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, March 8, 1956, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

 KRAFT RITES SET

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday in the Pifer Funeral Home here for Joseph Craft, 66, of rural route one, Niles, who died Wednesday following a several months illness. The Rev. Theodore Laesch, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Kraft was a member of the Sumnerville Grange and the Brotherhood of Railroad Engineers.

Mary Maude Lamberton (Olson)
Aug. 21 1879-Nov. 1, 1945

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Friday, November 2, 1945, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Lamberton Dies in Hospital 

After nearly a year of illness, Mrs. M. Maude Lamberton, 66, of 915 Oak street, died at 7:30 p.m., Thursday in University hospital, Ann Arbor, from a heart ailment. She was admitted for treatment there last Monday.

The daughter of Frederick and Jennie Olson, she was born in Howard township, Aug. 21, 1879, and came to Niles 32 years ago. Her husband died 12 years ago.

Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. John Scamehorn, a sister, Mrs. C.W., Garrett; and two grandchildren.

Funeral Saturday

She was a member of the Methodist church and the Berean class of that church and had been a member of the Order of Eastern Star for 31 years.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home where services will be conducted Saturday at 2 p.m. by the Rev. L. George Beacock. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

John D. Painter
Nov. 27, 1931-Jan. 7, 1946

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, January 7, 1946, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles Youth, 14, Leukemia Victim

Fourteen-year-old, John D. Painter, son of Mr. and Mrs. James S. Painter, rural route two, Niles, died at 8:06 a.m. today and thus ended his two-month battle with leukemia, a rare and dread blood disease for which doctors said there is no specific.

The youth, a freshman at Niles high school, was stricken with the disease Nov. 5, 1945.

Doctors said the disease usually results from an enlargement of the spleen followed by deterioration of the white blood cells while the red corpuscles remain normal and constant.

A fairly rare disease, one Niles doctor said today that he had only two cases in his many years of practice.

Hold Rite Wednesday

The boy was born in Niles, Nov. 27, 1931. In addition to his parents, he is survived by a brother, Vernon, of Lansing, and two sisters, Mrs. Ruth K. Davis and Mrs. Rachel Hatfield, both of Niles.

Services will be held Wednesday, at 2 p.m., in the Church of Christ. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery and the Rev. Joseph Johnson will officiate. Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home.

Judson H. Peck
June 14, 1902-Nov. 7, 1945

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, November 7, 1945, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Judson Peck, 43, Dies Today at Oshtemo

Judson H. Peck, 43, 521 Pokagon street, Niles, died early today at the Pine crest sanitarium, Oshtemo.

He had been ill since last July. Born in Chicago June 14, 1902, Peck had lived here most of his life.

He is survived by Mrs. Arthur Papineau, Chicago, a sister. Services will be held at the Kiger funeral home, Friday, at 2:30 p.m. The Rev. L. George Beacock will officiate. Friends may call at the funeral home Thursday. Burial will be at Silverbrook cemetery.

Peck was employed at the Simplicity Pattern Co., He was a member of the Methodist church and of the Moose lodge.

Catherine Pinkerton
Jan. 3, 1865-Jan. 17, 1946

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, January 17, 1946, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Wife of Accident Victim Dies in County Hospital

Mrs. Catherine Pinkerton, 81, rural route four, Niles, a lifelong resident of this region, died this morning in Berrien Center hospital after an illness of six years.

Her husband, John, was killed in a highway accident last May. A son, Earl Dowd, of St. Joseph, and two grandchildren survive.

Mrs. Pinkerton was born in Berrien county Jan 3, 1865 and lived here all her life. Funeral services will be held at the Pifer funeral home Saturday at 2 p.m. The Rev. J.W. Hyink, Bertrand, will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.