Obituaries

Florence Gerth
March 18, 1900-March 2, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 2, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

FLORENCE GERTH SUCCUMBS

Florence F. Gerth, 1211 Cedar street, died at 9:50 a.m. Today in her home after an illness of two years.
Services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Friday by the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, pastor of the First Presbyterian church. Friends may call at the funeral home starting Wednesday. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mrs. Gerth leaves her husband, Herbert e. Gerth, Niles, her mother, Mrs. Inez Smith Marion, Ind.; a brother, Howard Alberts, of Marion; three sisters, Mrs. Crystal Jones, Niles; Mrs. Mary King, Anderson,Ind., and Mrs. Tessie Pickering, Greentown, Ind.

She was born on March 18, 1900, in Hackelman, Ind., and came to Niles from South Bend five years ago.

Blanche Hall
May3, 1887-Feb. 23, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 24, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Blanche Hall, 60, of 316 North Eighth street, died at 11 p.m. Monday at her home, after an illness of five months.

Mrs. Hall was born May 3, 1887, in Bloomingdale and came to Niles 20 years ago from Dowagiac. Surviving are her husband, Leon; a son, Oral Shriver, Niles; three daughters, Betty Jean at home, Mrs. George Wanko, Niles and Mrs. Ira Harbaugh, Roseburg, Ore., and six grandchildren.

Also surviving are five sisters, Mrs. Roy Zelner, Dowagiac; Mrs. William Bailey, Boyne City; Mrs. Belle Denecour, Mrs. Clarence Ostrander and Mrs. Francis Hart, all of Battle Creek.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday by the Rev. Clarence K. Graham, pastor of the First Baptist church. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Carrie Baker
April 4, 1866-March 19, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, March 20, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

     Carrie Baker, 81, 1115 Cedar street, died at 8:45 p.m. Friday at her home where she had been ill since Christmas.
     Services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Pifer funeral home. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.
     Surviving are the following children: Daniel J. Baker, Chicago; Mrs. Willard Collins and Mrs. George Lane, both of Niles. Also surviving are the following brothers and sisters, Mrs. Rachel Tomlinson, Mrs. Ella Shockley, and George Huff, all of Niles. Mrs. Baker's husband, George, died in 1933.
     Mrs. Baker was born April 4, 1866 west of Buchanan. She has lived in Niles 56 years.

Note: Per Berrien County Marriage and Death Records, spouse was William R. Baker.

Gustave Bauer
March 31, 1865-Feb. 18, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, February 19, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

     Gustave Bauer, 1816 North Fifth street, died at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday in the Berrien county hospital, Berrien Center, where he had been a patient six days. Bauer was injured when he fell at his home.
     Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home until noon Saturday when the body will be taken to St. Paul's Lutheran church for services at 2 p.m. The Rev. Theodore Laesch will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.
Bauer was born in Germany March 31, 1865, and has lived in the Niles area since 1889. He worked for the New York Central railroad until his retirement in 1929. He was a member of the Pioneer's association, and St. Paul's Lutheran church.
     Surviving are the following children: Mrs. Charles Heady, Henry J. Bauer, and Fred Bauer, all of Niles; and Mrs. Charles Bottoroff, Chicago. Eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren also survive.

John E. Berquist
March 25, 1884-March 17, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, March 18, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

     John E. Berquist, 68, died at his home on South Fifteenth street Wednesday evening after an illness of several years. Mr. Berquist was born in Chicago, Ill., March 25, 1884, and had lived in Niles for the past 23 years. He was married in Chicago in 1902 to Anna E. Bloom, who survives. Prior to his retirement he had been employed by the National-Standard company.
     Mr. Berquist was a member of the First Presbyterian church and the Niles' Elks lodge.
     Surviving, besides the widow, are three children, Mrs. William L. Dietz, LaPorte, Ind., Dr. Alan Berquist, State Center, Ia.; and Leonard G., of Niles; and two sisters, Mrs. Esther Keating and Mrs. Frank Pearson, both of Chicago.
     Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home where services will be conducted Saturday at 2:30 p.m.; the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, First Presbyterian church, will officiate. Interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Laura C. Blee
March 23, 1886-Feb. 3, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, February 4, 1948, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

     Mrs. Laura C. Blee, 61, of 60 River street, died suddenly at 11:45 p.m.Tuesday at her home.
     Born in Niles on March 23, 1886, Mrs. Blee lived here all her life. She had been employed at Pawating hospital.
     She is survived by her husband, Edward J.; a son, Dr. H.A. Kline, who is a Captain in the army and now stationed in Germany; one grandchild; her mother, Mrs. Agnes Kline, Niles; and the following brothers and sisters: John, Del, Harry, and Anderson Kline, all of Niles; Mrs. Ella Douglas, and Mrs. Genevieve Douglas, both of South Bend.
     Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home. Arrangements are incomplete, pending word from the son, who is returning from Germany.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, February 6, 1948, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

     Services will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday in St. Mary's Catholic church for Mrs. Laura C. Blee, 61, who died at her home at 60 River street Tuesday night. The Rev. Francis Bowen, pastor of the chuch, will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home until the hour of the service.
     Mrs. Blee, wife of Edward J. Blee, had lived in Niles all her life.