William ‘Bill’ Ortmann, of Niles
Aug. 5, 1927 — Nov. 4, 2019

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:02 am Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Aug. 5, 1927 — Nov. 4, 2019

William Henry Ortmann

William Henry Ortmann, 92, was called home to Heaven on Monday, Nov. 4, 2019, where his beloved Barbara welcomed him with open arms.

The only child of William and Ida (Light) Ortmann was born on Aug. 5, 1927, in South Bend.

After graduating from high school, Bill enlisted and served his country proudly with the U.S. Army Corps, earning his Corporal ranking and serving in Okinawa.

With great joy, Bill wed the love of his life, Barbara Jean Robbins, in Niles on Jan. 30, 1946. God blessed them with 73 years of marriage before Barbara was called home to heaven.

Bill served on the board at the Jerry Tyler airport and always enjoyed the Oshkosh airplane shows. He began fighting fires for the Niles City fire department in 1958 and retired in 1982. He spent countless hours working on his Model A, but Bill’s passion was serving God; he served at Coulter’s Chapel in many capacities for more than 50 years, but many will fondly remember him and Barbara playing the guitar. He was a man with a kind and gentle spirit, full of wisdom and always an encouraging word. He was often seen with a smile upon his face, especially when someone served him a piece of pie!

He is preceded by his parents, William and Ida Ortmann and his wife Barbara Ortmann.

Bill is survived by his children, Judy (Jim) Cripe and Jim (Jacki) Ortmann, both of Niles. He will also be missed by his six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and his seven great-great-grandchildren.

A time of visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019, at Brown Funeral Home. Funeral services to celebrate Bill’s life will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2019, at Brown Funeral Home.

An interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery with full military honors.

Those wishing to make a memorial donation in honor of Bill may do so to the Salvation Army, 424 N. 15th Street, Niles, Michigan 49120-0247.

Memories of Bill can be shared with his family at BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Askia A. Abdullah, of Niles
July 7, 1969-Nov. 5, 2019

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:53 am Wednesday, November 13, 2019

July 7, 1969 — Nov. 5, 2019

Askia Ali Abdullah, 50, of Niles, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka.

Askia was born on July 7, 1969, at 11:11 a.m. in South Bend, to Yamini and Khalilah (Maher) Abdullah.

He graduated from Niles High School in 1988 and went on to attend Michiana Business College.

Askia Abdullah is the third youngest of his siblings. He had a strong impact on the people around him. As a child, he was very athletic and enjoyed playing sports such as basketball, baseball and swimming. This earned him the nickname “Flipper.” No other sport took him further than basketball, leading him to coach his daughter’s teams with his brother Hassan and instilling lifelong lessons through his love for the game.

Other hobbies he enjoyed were cooking and baking, which often lead him to hide brownies in his drawer from his mom and “bake offs” with his sister, Sahar.

Askia was an entrepreneur by heart, owning two businesses and the third being a transportation company helped run by his significant other, Kim Bromley. He was very intelligent when it came to creating income. Out of all his roles, none would be as important than the one he played as a father.

Askia was very firm and assertive in his beliefs teaching his girls “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.” He instilled in his children to know thy yourself, know thy history, have morals and to never give up. His last message to his family and friends is to “Become the greatest version of yourself while on this earth.”

Askia is survived by his parents, Yamini and Khalilah Abdullah; significant other, Kimberley Bromley; daughters, Khadijah, Khalilah, Zakiyyah and Malikiyyah Abdullah; two grand-daughters, Zaniyah and Zamira Jackson; brothers, Hassan and Omar Abdullah; sister, Sahar Abdullah; three nieces, Danielle Howard, Chalice Abdullah and Antreese Shelton; four nephews, Omar Howard, Rashaad Abdullah, Brandon and Byron Warren; special cousins, Cordell Gray and George “Baby” Maher; many aunts, uncles and beloved cousins; and close friends, Cory Brazier and Anthony Patterson.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2019, at Brown Funeral Home in Niles. A time of visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow the service at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in Askia’s memory may be made to the donor’s choice.

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

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services, of Niles.

James C. Gillette, of Niles
Jan. 4, 1928-Nov. 12, 2019

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:47 am Thursday, November 14, 2019

Jan. 4, 1928 — Nov. 12, 2019

James C. Gillette, 91, of Niles, passed away on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019, in West Woods of Niles.

Jim was born on Jan. 4, 1928, in Niles, to the late Dr. Clarence and Ruth (Wells) Gillette.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Margaret ‘Maggie’ Ossmer. He is also preceded by his brother, John Gillette, and his sister, Ida Mae Wiersma.

Jim is survived by his daughter, Sally (David) Gillette-Jones, of Antwerp, Ohio, and his son, Thomas Gillette, of Howell, Michigan. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Sara, Peter, Andrew and Charley; four great-grandchildren and his brother-in-law, Ray Wiersma.

Jim was a fifth-generation active member of First Baptist Church in Niles, serving in a number of capacities and always generous with a strong back and a truck when needs arose in the congregation. He was also a lifelong farmer known for growing apples, grain and raising hogs.

Visitation for Jim will be from 10 to 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019, at First Baptist Church, 1446 E. Main St., Niles. A funeral service will begin at 11 a.m. in the church.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Arrangements have been made at Halbritter Wickens Funeral Home 615 E. Main St., Niles.

Online condolences may be made to the family at halbritterwickens.com.

Wanda M. Gombosi, of Niles
Feb. 17, 1929-Nov. 16, 2019

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:38 am Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Nathaniel Meredith
Feb. 22, 1844-Oct. 11, 1907

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, Oct. 11, 1907, page 3, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Nathaniel Meredith dropped near the store of C.R. Enos, 1106 Broadway, about 1 o'clock this afternoon. The deceased had been in poor health for some time and had suffered two attacks of paralysis. He was about 65 years of age and is survived by a wife and two sons, the latter being James Meredith of Chicago, and Arthur Meredith, of this place.

Duportal D. Robinson
Sept. 1, 1822-Dec. 22, 1907

Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 23, 1907, pp. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

D.D. ROBINSON'S FORGE IS COLD
VENERABLE SMITH PASSES PEACEFULLY AWAY
HAD ATTAINED THE AGE OF 85
Recently Celebrated Sixty-Eighth Anniversary of His Career as a Mechanic

D.D. Robinson, a highly respected and well known pioneer resident of Niles, passed away at his home on State street, West Niles, Sunday morning at 7:45 o'clock, aged 85 years. Death was due to heart trouble.
The deceased was a very remarkable man and his powers of endurance were great, he having labored at the forge for nearly three-quarters of a century. Mr. Robinson was born in New York, Sept. 1, 1822, and came to this state 53 years ago. For two score years he made all the chisels used on the western division of the Michigan Central, in addition to doing other tool and general blacksmith work. Subsequently he opened a shop in Niles and had been engaged in steel and iron work continuously until up to a few weeks ago, when he was stricken with illness.
Mr. Robinson was married in New York when 21 years of age and six children were born of this union, all of whom save one, Henry Robinson, who died at Three Rivers a years ago last November, survive him. There are S.L. Robinson of Petoskey, this state, D.L. Robinson of North Platte, Neb., Mrs. Mary Porter of Niles, R.E. Robinson of Chicago and J.I. Robinson of Three Rivers.
Generations of Niles children have watched the sparks fly from D.D. Robinson's forge, and they only knew him to esteem him as the years passed by. Today they miss his kindly smile and friendly greeting; they long in vain to hear the ring of his anvil and to feel again his genial presence.
"And children coming home from school
Look in at the open door,
They love to see the flaming forge
And hear the bellows roar."
Mr. Robinson was the last of a family of six children, and recently, when in conversation with the writer, he attributed prolongation of life in his case, first, to the fact that he came of good long-lived stock, his paternal great-grand-mother having lived to be a 102 years old; secondly, to the fact that he lead a judicious life, have been temperate in his habits; thirdly, because he had lived a life of incessant toil, getting plenty of exercise, which tended to prevent the atrophy of the tissues and organs connected with the changes in blood vessels, which causes death from old age, and becuase he had [continued on page 2] always cultivated a joyful disposition and performed his work cheerfully.
His kindness to everybody will long be remembered as a fragrant memory in the home which his presence brightened and with his friends generally.
The funeral services will be held at the home at 126 State street at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon, Rev. Messrs. F.H. Clapp of the M.E. church and C.J. DeCoux of Trinity church officiating.