William P. Liebetrau
Nov. 10, 1925-Dec. 9, 2003

William Powell Liebetrau, 78, passed away on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2003,  in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, Ind.

He was born on Nov. 10, 1925 in Niles, Mich., to Ernst Johann and Gladys Aileen (Powell) Liebetrau, who preceded him in death.

William was a lifetime resident of Niles and worked as an estimator for Clark Equipment Company. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, member of The Elks Lodge No. 1322, Buchanan Moose Lodge, D.A.N.K. Club of Benton Harbor, Mich., American Legion Niles Post 26, and the Eagles of Niles.

On Oct. 12, 1946, he married V. Lucille "Lou" (Purkey) Liebetrau in South Bend, who survives him. William is also survived by three sons, William Kurt (Debra) Liebetrau of Buchanan, Mich., Robert Michael (Juliana) Liebetrau of Niles and Steven Randolph (Christal) Liebetrau of Granger, Ind.; four daughters, Linda Lucille (Charles) Shemes of Grand Blanc, Mich., Wendy Susan (Doug) Mills and Karin Heide Guy, both of Niles, and Judi Gretchen (Mark Allen Price) Peltz of Buchanan; and by a brother, Richard Ernest Liebetrau of Cadillac, Mich. He also leaves 21 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a great-grandson, Gabriel Chase Liebetrau.

Visitation will be held from 2 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 13 in the Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan. Services will immediately follow the visitation at 3 p.m. and will be officiated by Pastor Starley Baker. Interment will take place at a later date at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Veterans Memorial Committee Fund, 828 Sassafras Lane, Niles, MI 49120.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Hoven Funeral Home

Gertrude Lewis (Stevens)
Feb 2, 1864-Dec. 20, 1940

 Member of Old Niles Family is taken by death.

Mrs. Gertrude Stevens Lewis, 76, member of old Niles family, died Friday (Dec. 20, 1940), at 7:30 in her home at 526 Oak Street. She had been ill about two years.

Mrs. Lewis who spent most of her life in this city, was born Feb. 2, 1864, in Paw Paw. She left Niles to live in Berrien Springs in 1902 and returned her in 1931. She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church.

Survivors include her daughter, Miss Dorothy Lewis, Detroit; a brother, W.W. Stevens, Hollywood, Calif.; a sister, Mrs. Edith Stevens Fitzgerald, Glendale, Calif., and a niece, Mrs. Frances Gould Fox of Niles.

Friends may call at the Rutherford funeral home until the hour of the services Monday afternoon at 2 in Trinity Church. The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Ella Mae Lewis
Aug. 23, 1914-April 20, 1996

Ella Mae Lewis, 81, of 1101 N. Seventh St., Niles, died at 7:30 p.m. Saturday April 20, 1996,  in Lakeland Medical Center of natural causes. Mrs. Lewis was born Aug. 23, 1914, in Earle, Ark., and had resided in the Niles area since 1949. On April 1, 1949, in Niles, she married James Frederick Lewis, who survives.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Mount Calvary Baptist Church. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call after 10 a.m. Wednesday in the church. Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, is in charge of arrangements.

Bruce A. LeRonge
Dec. 19, 1965-April 25, 1996

Services for Bruce A. LeRonge, 30, of 1840 River Bluff Road, Niles,  who died at 2:40 a.m. Thursday April 25, 1996, in Lakeland Medical Center of natural causes, will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Niles Community Library.

Mr. LeRonge was born Dec. 19, 1965, in Niles. Surviving are his mother, Beverly D. LeRonge of Niles; a brother, Scott of Niles; and grandmothers, Ethel LeRonge and Wilma Atkins, both of Niles. He was a graduate of Niles High School, where he was active in the building trades program.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Ernest A. Lemmerhart
March 17, 1861-January 16, 1938

South Bend Tribune, South Bend, Indiana, Monday, January 17, 1938, page 16

Ernest A. Lemmerhart, aged 76, of 924 East Colfax Avenue, died at 5 a.m. Sunday at his residence following seven years' illness.  He was born in New York city, March 17, 1861, and came here  from Niles, Mich., 35 years ago.  He was married in this city in 1914 to Mrs. Ida Smith.  He was a foreman for the Michigan Central railroad until 10 years ago. Surviving besides his widow are four step-daughters,  Mrs. Edward Simpson, Mrs. Louis Voelkel, Mrs. Louis A. Murphy and Mrs. Clayton Keen all of South Bend; six grandchildren; a great-grandchild of South Bend; a brother, William Lemmerhart,  Pasadena, Calif., and two sisters, Mrs. Anna Coffinger, Niles, and Mrs. Minnie Brockway, Chicago.  The body will lie in the residence until 1 p.m. Tuesday when it will be taken to Holy Trinity English Lutheran church to lie until services there at 2 p.m. Tuesday. Rev. William C. Zimmerman, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be at Silver Brook Cemetery, Niles. 

Fred Leggett
Feb. 22, 1873-April 25, 1951

Fred Leggett, 78, 1530 North Fifth Street, Niles, died this morning at 8:10 a.m. (April 25, 1951), where he had been a patient since Sunday. He had been in poor health for some time.

Surviving are his five daughters, Mrs. Robert Campbell, Mrs. William Reed, Mrs. Julius Wadel, Mrs. Howard Eisele, and Mrs. Marvin Smothermon, all of Niles; his son, Victor Leggett, of Niles and 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Leggett was born Feb. 22, 1873, in Dayton, and came here from Dayton 45 years ago.  He was a retired railroad mechanic, and a member of Modern Woodman.Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday by the Rev. Theo Eisen, retired pastor of St. John’s Evangelical and Reformed Church. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown