Patricia Jeanne Challis
July 5, 1925-Jan 26, 2014

South Bend Tribune, Tuesday, January 28, 2014; obituary page, St. Joseph County Public Library Free Source

Patricia Jeanne Challis, 88, of South Bend, passed away Sunday, January 26, 2014, in Healthwin Specialized Care.

Patricia was born July 5, 1925, in Kalamazoo, Michigan, to the late Bliss and Laura (Schafer) Bonfoey. On October 25, 1947, Patricia (Bonfoey) married Bertram Wallace Challis, who passed away April 29, 1986. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Gwendolyn Bonfoey, brother, Clair R. Bonfoey, and Aunt Clara Clark of Niles, MI, who lovingly raised her during the Depression years, as well as a very special grandson, Jeremy Groth of Granger, IN.

Patricia is survived by her daughters, Rita J. (Stephen) Bagley of Granger, and Kathryn A. Barnes of Sherwood, Michigan; sons, Greg Challis of Portage, Michigan and Mark Challis of Central Lake, Michigan; nine special grandchildren, Quntessense (Carl Loveday) Challis of Bradenton, FL, Christopher (Joy) Groth of LaPorte, IN, Shawn Barnes of Coldwater, MI, Aaron Barnes of Auburn Hills, MI, Jillian Groth of Mishawaka, IN, Brian Groth of Mishawaka, IN, Adam Challis of Port Charlotte, FL, Stacey Groth of Granger, IN and Alesha (Ben) Flynn of Traverse City, MI, and ten precious great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her loving companion of the last three years of her life, Ralph Bartells of South Bend, IN.

Patricia graduated in 1946 from Borgess School of Nursing in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and began a varied and dedicated professional career. She worked in several hospitals, as a Physician's office RN, private duty care, and as the head RN for Allied Products in South Bend. Many were thankful for her loving care and compassion.

She was a very active member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church of South Bend.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 30, 2014, at Welsheimer Family Funeral Home North, 17033 Cleveland Rd., with Rev. Gregory Fiechtner officiating. Committal service and burial will follow at Silver Brook Cemetery, Niles, Michigan. Friends may visit with the family from 9:00 a.m. Thursday until the time of service at 11:00 a.m.

Memorial contributions may be made in her honor to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 51490 Laurel Rd., South Bend, IN 46637. Family and friends may leave e-mail condolences at www.welsheimer.com.

Oneida R. Collier
June 8, 1929-March 2, 1972

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, March 4, 1972; page 3, microfilm, Niles Daily Star

NILES – Mrs. Oneida R. Collier, 42, of 1925 Bell Rd., died at 10:10 p.m. Thursday in the South Bend Osteopathic Hospital, where she had been a patient for a week.

A self-employed beautician, Mrs. Collier was born June 8, 1929, in Madisonville, Ky., and had lived here for 17 years, coming from South Bend.  Her husband, Herschel F. survives.

Also surviving are a son, Vernon, at home, two daughters, (illegible) two brothers, Donald Herd of South Bend and Samuel Herd of Niles, a sister, Mrs. Brenda Hill of Niles, her mother, Mrs. Martha Herd of Niles and her father, Walter Davis of Evansville, Ind.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the Faith Temple Church of God of Dowagiac with the Rev. Versie Flake officiating.  Burial will be (illegible) Niles (illegible)

Friends may call after 7 tonight at the Pifer Funeral Home.

Mary Frances (Denney) Schaber Cass*
Nov. 13, 1915-Dec. 12, 1971

Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 13, 1971; page 2, col. 1, microfilm, Niles District Library

NILES-Ms. Mary Frances (Denney) Cass, 56, of 24 Carriage Ln., died at 7:50 p.m. Sunday in the Essex Nursing Home, South Bend, after an extended illness.

A former employee of the Niles Holiday Inn, Mrs. Cass was born Nov. 13, 1915, in Chicago, and had lived in Niles for three years, coming from South Bend.

Mrs. Cass was a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the Bertrand American Legion and the South Bend Veteran’s of Foreign Wars Ladies Auxiliary.

Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Betty J. (Schaber) Paholski and Cynthia K. Cass, both of South Bend; a brother, Raymond Rockwell of Sturgis, and one grandchild.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Orvis-Palmer Funeral Home, South Bend, with the Rev. Jack O. Burrell of the Calvary Baptist Church officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 7-9 tonight and from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday.

*Burial is with 1st husband Lorenzo Schaber.

Warren W. Clark
Nov. 26, 1886-Feb. 19, 1966

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 21, 1966; page 2, col. 3, microfilm, Niles District Library

Private Funeral services for Warren W. Clark, 79, retired director of the University of Wisconsin Agricultural Extension will be conducted at 10 a.m. Tuesday at his residence at 508 Springfield Circle.

The Rev. Vincent J. Anderson, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mr. Clark died at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in South Bend Memorial Hospital, following a two-day illness. He was born Nov. 26, 1886, in Whitewater, Wis., and came to Niles three years ago from Madison, Wis.

Survivors include the widow, Laura Edwards Clark; a son, John L., San Francisco, Calif.; a daughter, Mrs. John F. Bechtel, St. Joseph; a sister, Mrs. Alice Struck, Camp Hill, Pa; and two grandchildren.

Friends are being received at the Pifer Funeral Home.

Linda Faye Darnell
Nov. 29, 1948-June 12, 1966

Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 13, 1966; page 1, microfilm, Niles District Library

 SMASHUP KILLS NILES GIRL, 17

 Linda Darnell Dies After Indiana Crash

 MISHAWAKA - A Thursday Niles High School graduate was killed in an early Sunday accident that ripped her auto apart.

 Linda Darnell, 17, of 1402 Regent St., died at St. Joseph Hospital here about three hours after the mishap on New Road about nine miles south of Mishawaka.

 TWO PASSENGERS in the auto remain in area hospitals today:

 Gene Bella, 19, of 1559 S. 11th St., “fairly good” condition at the Mishawaka hospital with arm and body cuts and bruises.

 William Cox, 19, of 1529 Country Club Drive, “satisfactory” condition at Memorial Hospital, South Bend, with cuts, bruises and severe upper lip cut.

 St. Joseph County sheriff deputies said Miss Darnell died at 4:56 a.m. Sunday of severe internal and external injuries.

 An auto operated by Miss Darnell was traveling west on New Road about 1:50 a.m. Sunday and attempted to pass another westbound car, the deputies said.

 Facing an eastbound auto, Miss Darnell swerved her car to the right and it went out of control, skidding some 230 feet, the deputies reported.

 THE CAR crashed into a tree stump and flipped over, ripping apart, the deputies added.   The auto Miss Darnell was driving was owned by Robert Cox, 1829 County Club Drive, according to the deputies report.

 A blue-eyed blonde, Miss Darnell was among the entrants in this year’s Miss Niles contest.  She received her diploma in Thursday night Niles High School graduation ceremonies.  She was born in Niles in November, 1948, and was a life-time resident of the Niles community.

 SURVIVING in addition to her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Bell, of Niles, are a sister, Mrs. Charlene Kelems, Visalia, Calif.; two brothers Charles Darnell, Niles, and Robert Darnell, Lansing; and grandparents and Henry Charles Darnell, both of Bald Knob, Ark.

 Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Tuesday in the Pifer Funeral Home.  The Rev. Gary Hickok, associate pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

 Friends are being received at the funeral home.

Dewey Cox
Oct. 9, 1898-June 25, 1973

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 26, 1973; page 2, col. 1, microfilm, Niles District Library

NILES – Dewey Cox, 74, of 416 S. Fifth St., died at 1:25 a.m. Monday, Hines, Ill., after an illness of many years.

A retired employee of the Berrien County Road Commission, Mr. Cox was born Oct. 9, 1898, in Cass County, Ind., and had lived here since 1929, coming from LaPorte.   On April 29, 1939, in Goshen, Ind., he married the former Pauline J. Johnston, who survives.

He was a life member of the Disabled American Veterans.’

Surviving is a brother, Brian of LaPorte, Ind.

Grave side committal services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday in Silverbrook Cemetery, with military rites conducted by LaRue Messenger Post 26 of the American Legion.

Friends may call after 7 tonight at the Pifer Funeral Home.