Barbara Jean VanKirk
June 28, 1948-June 29, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, June 30, 1948, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Infant Daughter Dies

Barbara Jean VanKirk, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy VanKirk, rural route five, died at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Pawating hospital.

The infant, who was born at 12:05 p.m. June 28 lived about 11 hours.  Surviving besides her parents are brothers and sisters, Wlater[sic], Bessie, Noah, Eugene, Jerry and Mary.

Committal services were performed at 1:30 p.m. today by the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, at Silverbrook cemetery, arrangements were in charge of the Pifer funeral home.

Charles Frederick Visel
July 16, 1868-Nov. 12, 1946

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 13, 1946, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Charles Visel, 78, Succumbs Tuesday Following Illness

Charles Frederick Visel, 78, of 721 North Fourth street, died Tuesday at 7 p.m., in Pawating hospital following an illness of seven weeks.

A lifelong resident of Niles, he was born July 16, 1868.  Visel was a retired railroad signal corpsman. His wife, Minnie, died in 1929.

Services will be held Friday at 2 p.m., in the Kiger funeral home, with the Rev. Theo Eisen officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Surviving are his daughters, Mrs. E.A. McLauchlin, Miss Ruth Visel, and Mrs. L.E. Weldy, all of Niles; and Mrs. A.W. Maas, Detroit; a brother, George Visel, Evanston, Ill. ; a sister, Miss Anne Visel, Niles; and a granddaughter, Mary Margaret McLauchlin, Niles.

Visel was a member of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church, Pioneer association, NYC railroad and the Elks lodge.

Joseph Walters
Nov. 18, 1890-Nov. 26, 1946

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 26, 1946, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Joseph Walters, 56, Dies Suddenly on Tuesday Afternoon

Joseph Walters, 56, of 1525 Cherry street, did Tuesday at 3:50 p.m. at Pawating hospital, where he had been taken only a few hours before.

A railroad engineer, Walters had lived in Niles for the past 30 years, coming here from South Bend. He had been born in Elkhart, Ind., Nov. 18, 1890. In Niles he was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.

Survivors include his wife, Mabel; a son, Eugene Walters, Calveras county, Cal.; a daughter, Mrs. Lavone Walsh, Montreal, Can.; a nephew, Jack Woods; a niece, Juanita Woods; a granddaughter; a sister, Mrs. Glenn Heitz, Gould City; and two brothers, Wolford Walters and Clyde Walters, both of Mishawaka.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where the Rev. Clarence K. Graham will conduct services Friday t 2 p.m.  Burial will be in Silverbook cemetery.

Samuel Starr Walker
1855-July 18, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 20, 1948, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Ex-Nilesite, Pioneer in Mills, Dead

Samuel Starr Walker, 92, former Niles resident who became one of Michigan's leading pioneers in the knitting industry, died Sunday at his home in Grand Rapids after a brief illness.

Started First Mills

Walker moved from Niles to Grand Rapids in 1892 and started the first knitting mills there. Prominent in civic affairs, he was a member of the committee which brought the first motored fire equipment to Grand Rapids. Prior to his retirement he had operated Knitting mills in Memphis, Tenn.

Surviving are his wife, three sons, eight grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. Lewis H. Beeson, 61 North St. Joseph avenue, Niles.

To Be Buried Here

Funeral services are being held in Grand Rapids and private committal service will be held Wednesday at Silverbrook cemetery here.

Verne A. Watson
Aug. 6, 1889-Nov. 16, 1946

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, November 16, 1946, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Watson Expires Early Today After Extended Illness

Verne A. Watson, 57, of 456 South St. Joseph avenue, died at 5:10 a.m. today at Pawating hospital, where he has been ill the past several months.

Supervisor of the Cass county bureau of social aid until illness forced his resignation last spring, Watson had come to Niles a year ago from Dowagiac because of his health.

Born in Blandenville, Ill., Aug. 6, 1889, Watson was a resident for years in Edwardsburg. He was a veteran of World War I and was service officer of the Cassopolis Veterans of Foreign Wars post for many years and was a member of the Edwardsburg Presbyterian church. He was married to Leona Culp in 1919.

He leaves his wife, a daughter, Jean, at home, and a sister, Mrs. R.C. Osborn, Streeter, Ill.

Services will be held Monday at 2 p.m. at the Pifer funeral home, where the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Mary Louise Weiss
July 30, 1918-Aug. 27, 1995

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 28, 1995, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mary Weiss, 77, of 808 Iroquois, Niles, died at 11 p.m. Sunday, at Pawating Hospital in Niles.

Arrangements are being completed by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 29, 1995, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mary Louise Weiss
1918-1995
avid bridge player

Funeral services for Mary Louise Weiss, 77, of 808 Iroquois Trail, Niles, will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles by the Rev. A.E. Bastin of St. John's United Church of Christ.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Mrs. Weiss died at 11 p.m. Sunday at Pawating Hospital in Niles, following a brief illness.

She was born July 30, 1918, in Niles, and was a lifetime resident of Niles.

On March 24, 1946, in Niles, she married Paul L. Weiss, who survives.

Mrs. Weiss was a retired employee of Kawneer Co.

She was a member of St. John's United Church of Christ, Niles; Niles YMCA Duplicate Bridge Club; Lady Elks, Niles; Niles Chapter 332, Order of Eastern Star; and was a former legal secretary for Grathwohl and Grathwohl.

In addition to her husband, survivors include two sons, Paul E. Weiss of Davison, and Jerry Weiss of Germany; and five grandchildren.

Friends may call today from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Niles Community Library.