Elton Neumann
Oct. 3, 1915-Feb. 8, 2005

Elton Neumann, 89, of East Bertrand Road, Niles, Michigan, died at 10:50 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2005  in his home unexpectedly but of natural causes.

Mr. Neumann was born October 3, 1915, in Minot, North Dakota, to Emil and Finis (Bennett) Neumann. After the death of his parents, Elton was raised by his grandmother, Emila Neumann.

Mr. Neumann retired in 1978 after working for 38 years from Bendix Corporation.

He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church where he served both as treasurer and usher and taught Sunday School. Elton graduated with the class of 1933 from Barron High School, Barron, Wisconsin. After high school he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps. Elton was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Army. He was president of the Winkler School Board. Elton volunteered as a 4-H leader. He held several positions with Milton Township, including treasurer, deputy treasurer, clerk and was a member of the zoning board. Elton served on the VanCassCap Board. He was a member of the Berrien County Kennel Club and joint owner of Acorn Hill Kennel, which raised St. Bernards. Elton enjoyed fishing, gardening, traveling and reading, and always helping people.

On December 5, 1937, in St. Paul Episcopal Church in St. Clair, Michigan, he married Elizabeth Louise Smith, who survives. Also surviving are two sons, Gary (Shirley) Neumann and Larry (Sharon) Neumann, both of Niles; three granddaughters, Carol, Mary and Sarah; a great-grandson, Brandon; and a sister, Dorothy Hull.

A brother, Wesley Neumann, and a sister, Doris Nystrom, preceded him in death.

Funeral services for Elton Neumann will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, February 12, 2005, at Trinity Episcopal Church, Niles, with the Reverend Franklin P. Schuster III officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today in the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Gracie Nelson
Dec. 11, 1911-May 19, 2001

GRACIE NELSON — 89 - of 1811 Fulkerson Road, Niles, MI died at 4:00 PM, Saturday, May 19, 2001 at West Woods of Niles, MI. Born Gracie Rathey on December 11, 1911 in Desha County, Arkansas. She moved to Buchanan in 1945, and to Niles in 1962. She was a member of the Bethlehem Baptist Church. On January 21, 1942, she was married to the late McKinley Nelson of Pickens, Arkansas. Two sons survive McKinley Nelson Jr. of Milwaukee and Clarance Nelson of South Bend. Also surviving are sister-in-law Edith Rathey of South Bend. Nephews Obie Rathey, Fr. of South Bend, Winston Rathey of South Bend, Gerald Rathey of Chicago, and niece Joyce Rathey of Chicago, grandsons Kenneth Nelson of South Bend, Kenney Nelson of Milwaukee and Joseph Nelson of Jackson, MI. She was preceded in death by one sister Jessie Rathey Harris and four brothers, Chester, Willie, Frank and Obie Rathey. Graveside services will be conducted on Wednesday, May 30, 2001 at 11:00 AM (MI time) at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, MI. Funeral services entrusted to Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, MI.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Betty J. Nason
March 28, 1925-Dec. 1, 2006

Betty J. Nason, 81, of Floral Court, Niles, Michigan, died at 9:30 p.m. Friday, December 1, 2006, in her daughter's home in South Bend, Indiana, following an extended illness.

Mrs. Nason was born on March 28, 1925, in Niles, Michigan, to Cecil C. and Bertha May (Fansler) Zeider. She had been a lifetime area resident and enjoyed gardening and flowers. She retired from Henco Inc. of Niles, where she worked as a purchasing agent.

March of 1951, in South Bend, Indiana, she married Richard Nason who died on October 19, 1968.

She is survived by three daughters, Cathy (Dale) Shreve of South Bend, Indiana. Lori (John) Stasko of Lubbock, Texas and Karen Nason of Berwyn, Illinois; four grandchildren, Marc, Paul, Matthew and Lauren; and four great-grandchildren, Cody, Aidan, Kinzie and Trenton; and a brother, Jack Zeider of Columbus, Nebraska.

Funeral services for Betty J. Nason will be held at 11.a.m Tuesday, December 5, 2006, in Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Rev. Emmett H. Kadwell Jr. of the Wesley Untied Methodist Church in Niles officiating.

Visitation will be held on Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. in the funeral home. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Contributions in memory of Betty J. Nason may be made to the Friends of the Green House, South Bend, IN or to a Hospice of the donor's choice.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Mae (Clark) Juday
March 25, 1902-August 29, 1982

South Bend Tribune 08/30/1982 p. 22

Mrs. Mae C. Juday, 80, of 921 E. Madison, died at 5:25 a.m. Sunday (August 29) at St. Joseph's Medical Center, after a brief illness.  She was a former circuit court clerk and had retired from St. Joseph County Abstract Co.  She was born March 25, 1902, in Michigan and lived in the South Bend area most of her life. On May 2, 1935, in South Bend, she married Russell W. Juday, who died in 1966. She is survived by a son, Clark W. Juday of South Bend; and a brother, Roscoe Clark of Niles. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Orvis-Palmer Funeral Home, 336 N. Main Street with Dr. Max B. Hayden, pastor of St. Peter's United Church of Christ officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.  Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.

Billy M. Lewis
Dec. 30, 1930-April 14, 2009

Billy M. "Bill" Lewis, 78, of Snyder Road, Berrien Springs, died at 2:58 a.m. Tuesday, April 14, 2009, in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, IN, following a brief illness.

Mr. Lewis was born on December 30, 1930, in Spartanburg, SC, to Grover C. and Ruth D. (McCarter) Lewis. He graduated from Spartanburg High School and earned his associate degree from Wayne State University in Detroit, MI. Bill moved to this area in 1955. He retired in 1987 after 33 years of service with the AT&T Telephone Company, serving in both the Niles and South Bend locations.

Bill was a veteran of the Korean Conflict having served in the United States Navy Air Corps.

Mr. Lewis was a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose Lodge #978 and the Fraternal Order of Eagles #2094, both in Niles. He enjoyed fellowship with friends, gardening, and all types of movies.

In South Bend, IN, in June 1956, he first married Roselle Meszaros. On November 12, 1992, in Niles, Bill later married Karen (Walker) Lewis, who survives. He is also survived by his son, George E. (Lori) Lewis, and daughter, Vickie L. (Jay) Anderson, both of South Bend; stepdaughters, Diana (John) Baxter of Niles and Sandra Bowling of Berrien Springs; grandchildren, Lindsay, Joshua, Daniel, Kenny, Lauren, Dylan and Taylor; a sister, Betty Vickery of Savannah, GA; many nieces and nephews.

Bill was preceded in death by his brothers, Robert E. Lewis and George G. Lewis; and sisters, Ruth Floris and Mevlyn Atkinson.

The funeral service for Billy M. "Bill" Lewis will be held Friday, April 17th, at 1 p.m. in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Rev. Mark J. Smith of Berrien Center Bible Church, Berrien Center, MI, officiating.

Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, with full military honors following the service at the graveside by American Legion Post #51, Buchanan, MI. The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today in the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Bill may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Evelyn M. Burnham
February 2, 1915-March 29, 2009

Evelyn M. (Leach) Burnham, 94, of Niles, passed away on March 29, 2009, in Silverbrook Manor, Niles, following an extended illness.

Evelyn was born February 2, 1915, in Niles, Michigan, to the late Adrian and Hazel (Pierce) Leach.

In Chicago, Illinois, she married the late Charles C. Burnham.

A homemaker all of her life, Evelyn enjoyed first and foremost spending time with her family and loved being a grandmother. Being around her grandchildren always brought many smiles and great happiness. She also enjoyed traveling the U.S. with her husband.

Evelyn was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and her four brothers, Albert Leach, Frank Leach, Frederick Leach and Robert Leach; and by three sisters, Annabelle Betz, Elizabeth Leiler and Joyce Backus.

Evelyn is survived by her son, James (Janice) Burnham of Angola, Indiana; three grandchildren, James Burnham of Jackson, Michigan, Christopher Burnham of Manchester, Michigan, and Jeanine (Kenneth) Bartholomew of Paw Paw, Michigan; two sisters, Gertrude (Harold) Johnson of Goshen, Indiana, and Wilma Cole of Niles; and her brother, John (Doris) Leach of Florida. She also leaves many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, April 1st, in the Brown Funeral Home, with a time of visitation one hour prior. Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Condolences, photos and memories may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Those wishing to make a memorial donation may do so to The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 1150, Niles, MI 49120.

Services have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown