Fredericka Linsenmier
July 1, 1836-Sept. 23, 1911

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, September 23, 1911, page 4, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. LINSENMIER, SR., DEAD

 Was One of Pioneer Residents--

Funeral Monday Afternoon.

Mrs. William Linsenmier Sr., died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Daniel Nieb, 402 Sherman street, West Niles, at 7:45 o’clock, this morning.

Deceased was one of Niles' pioneer residents, and was loved and respected by all who knew her. Her death was caused from kidney trouble.

Mrs. Linsenmier was born in Wurtenburg, Germany in 1836, and was 75 years old.  She came to America in 1856 and was married the following year. Her maiden name was Fredericka Griener.

She is survived by eight children, John, who resides in Gentry, Arkansas; Charles and Will and Mrs. Daniel Nieb of Niles; Fred of Buchanan; Henry and Chris of Montensano, Washington, and Albert of Stoneybridge, Ind. Her only surviving brother resided in Farlin, Iowa.

The funeral will be held at 1:30 o’clock from the home of her daughter, Mrs. Nieb, Monday afternoon, followed with services at the Evangelical church at 2 o’clock.  Rev. Charles Howe officiating. Interment will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Christian Linsenmier
Nov. 27, 1871-Feb. 6, 1932

  Mrs. Daniel Nieb, 808 Woodruff Street today [Feb. 6, 1932] learned of the death of her brother, Christian D. Linsenier, at the Pinewwod Sanitarium, near Kalamazoo. He was born in Niles township, Nov. 27, 1871, the son of William Linsenmier, a pioneer settler in Berrien county.

Mr. Linsenmier married Ida Meyer who died in 1905. Mr. Linsenmier spent several years in the west, mostly in the state of Washington. He returned to Niles in 1929 and has since made his home with his sister, Mrs. Daniel Nieb. He is survived by six brothers, John and Albert Linsenmier of South Bend, Fred Linsenmier of Buchanan, Henry Linsenmier of Montesano, Wash, Charles and William Linsenmier of Niles, besides his sister, Mrs. Nieb. Mr. Linsemier was a member of the I.O.O.F. lodge No 29 of South Bend, the Loyal Order of Moose, No 229, Aberdeen, Wash. and the Fraternal Order of Eagles, No 363, Montesano, Wash. Rutherford funeral home handled the arrangements.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Raymond H. Lingren
May 8, 1922-Dec. 20, 2003

Raymond H. Lindgren, 81, of Dignan Lane, Niles, Mich., died at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20,  2003, in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, of a brief illness.

He was born May 8, 1922, in Niles, to Raymond N. Lindgren and Mary Wanda Kancuzewski. He had been an area resident his entire life.

Raymond served his country during World War II in the United States Army. While serving in the Pacific Theater he was listed as a POW and earned a Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars. He retired in 1982 as an engineer for the Torrington Company in South Bend.

He was a member of the St. Mary Catholic Church, Niles, and belonged to the D.A.V. in Elkhart, Ind. He attended Penn State University and later Indiana University at South Bend.

On May 9, 1942, in South Bend, he married the former Agnes M. Brothers, who survives. His surviving family includes a son, Harold R. Lindgren; and a daughter, Colleen P. (Michael) Klindworth, both of Niles; two grandchildren, Darren J. Lindgren and Amy P. (Ryan) Adams; two great-grandsons, Ryan Matthew Lindgren and Ian P. Adams; and a brother, Robert W. (Verna) Lindgren of South Bend.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23, in St. Mary Catholic Church, Niles, and the Rev. Canon Marian M. Kencik will officiate. Burial will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery.

The family will receive friends in Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles today, Dec. 22, from 5 to 8 p.m., where a rosary will be recited at 8 p.m., the Rev. Canon Marian M. Kencik also officiating.

Contributions in memory of Mr. Lindgren may be made to the American Heart Association.

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.