Obituaries

Benjamin Callahan
Nov. 18, 1880-Jan. 31, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 2, 1948, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

     Benjamin Callahan, 67, died Saturday at the home of his brother, Clement Callahan, 1446 Sheridan avenue, a Daily Star linotype operator. He had been in ill health for three years.
     The body will lie in state at the Pifer funeral home where services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday. The Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor of the First Methodist church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.
     Mr. Callahan had been a member of the Veterans of World War I.
     Born in Dubuque, Ia., Nov. 18, 1880, he came here about 25 years ago. He was a painter.
     Besides Clement, Mr. Callahan is survived by two other brothers, Jack and Joseph, both of Niles.

Josephine Cook
July 15, 1879-March 12, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Friday, March 12, 1948, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

     Josephine Cook, 68, died at 9:55 a.m. today at her 1332 Broadway residence where she was ill two years.
     Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home where services will be conducted 10:30 a.m. Monday. The Rev. L. George Beacock will officiate. Interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery.
     Surviving is her husband, Charles E. Cook; a son Floyd Cook, of Piper, Ill.; and a daughter, Mrs. Gladys Bosler, Niles; and three grandchildren. Also surviving are a sister, Mrs. May Brydon, Niles; and a brother, John Engeser, Whiting, Kans.
     Mrs. Cook was born in Chatsworth, Ill., July 15, 1879. She was married Jan. 1, 1902 at Piper city, and has lived in Niles since 1926. She was a member of the First Methodist church and the Royal Neighbors lodge.

Margaret Hively
Oct. 3, 1860-Feb. 5, 1948

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

     Mrs. Margaret E. Hively, 87, Niles, died at 9 p.m. Thursday in the Berrien County hospital, Berrien Center. She had been ill several months.
     Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home where private services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Rev. Theo Laesch will officiate. Interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery.
     Mrs. Hively was born Oct. 3, 1860 in Whitley county, Ind. She lived in Niles many years.
     Surviving are a brother, Eli Miller, Hillsboro, Ind.; and the following nieces: Mrs. George Crane, Chicago; Mrs. Walter Koester and Mrs. John Benner, both of South Bend; Mrs. Eloise Wetzel, Ft. Wayne, Ind.; and Mrs. Roy Goodrich, Columbia City, Ind.

Mahlon J. Smith
June 15, 1909-April 7, 1999

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, April 8, 1999, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

     Funeral services or Mahlon J. Smith, 89, 16 Spruce St., Niles, will be Saturday at 11 a.m. At Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, by the Rev. Nolan Williams of Wesley Untied Methodist Church, Niles.
     Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.
     Smith died Wednesday at 6:25 p.m. at Lakeland Medical Center, Niles, following a brief illness.
     He was born June 15, 1909, in Niles. He had lived in Niles all of his life and graduated from Niles High School.
     In 1943, in Terre Haute, Ind., he married the former Thelma Irene Carr, who preceded him in death May 15, 1995.
     He was manager for the former Michigan Wire Goods division of the Washburn Co., retiring in 1962 after 40 years of service.
     Smith was a member of Wesley United Church, where he had served on many committees. The congregation recently honored Smith as he had the most years of membership at Wesley.
     His descendants date back to the fourth generation in Niles, the Reddick family, who settled in 1832; and the Studley who came with the Michigan Central Rail Road in 1900.
     Smith served several years on the Board of Public Works.
     He was a graduate of Albion College and a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.
     Smith enjoyed operas, musicals, hunting, fishing, reading the Wall Street Journal and reading novels.
     He was also preceded in death by a brother, Roland Smith and a sister, Grace Louise Apt.
     Surviving family includes a daughter, Ellen Smith Konopaski of Hansville, Wash.; two sons, Jerome B. Smith of Nashville, Tenn. and Bradford G. Smith of Portland, Ore.; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
     Visitation will be Friday from 2 to 4 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church Endowment Fund.

Thelma Carr Smith
Aug. 14, 1917-May 15, 1995

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 16, 1995, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Thelma Carr Smith
1917-1995
former Cub Scout
den mother

     Funeral services for Thelma Carr Smith, 77, of 16 Spruce St., Niles, will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles, by the Rev. Nolan R. Williams of Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles.
     Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.
     Mrs. Smith died at 9:55 a.m. Monday, at Memorial Hospital of South Bend, Ind., following an extended illness.
     She was born Aug. 14, 1917, in Terre Haute, Ind., and had lived here since 1941, coming from Terre Haute.
     On June 15, 1943, at Terre Haute, she married Mahlon J. Smith, who survives.
     Mrs. Smith was a Niles Community Schools physical eduction teacher from 1941 to 1943. She originated and, for years, headed Niles -Buchanan YMCA Women's fitness program. From 1966, until retiring in 1987, she headed Southwestern Michigan College's women's physical education program. While at S.M.C., she began their women's varsity athletics.
     Mrs. Smith was a member of Westley United Methodist Church. She received her bachelor of science degree from Indiana State University in 1939. She was a member of Cosmopolitan Club; “I. Women” Indiana Athletic Association Honorary Society; former member of Greater Niles Recreation; Niles-Buchanan YMCA, and former Cub Scout den mother.
      In addition to her husband, survivors include a daughter, Ellen Smith Konopaski of Hansville, Wash.; two sons, Jerome B. Smith of Nashville, Tenn., and Bradford G. Smith of Portland, Ore.; one grandchild; two great-grandchildren; a sister, Laura Linsenmier of Niles, and two brothers, Donald Carr of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Robert Carr, Irving, Calif.
      Visitation will be on Wednesday from 5-8- p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the Niles-Buchanan YMCA Endowment Fund.

Roberta Jean Simpson 
July 29, 1942-May 14, 1995

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 16, 1995, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Roberta Jean Simpson
1942-1995
licensed dog groomer

     Funeral services for Roberta Jean Simpson, 52, of 1619 Taft St., Niles, will be Thursday at 2 p.m., at Halbritter Funeral Home by Pastor Scott Goodman of First Baptist Church.
     Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.
     Mrs. Simpson died at 3:59 p.m. Sunday at Pawating Hospital in Niles, following a brief illness.
     She was born July 29, 1942, in Detroit, and had lived in Niles since 1952, coming from South Bend, Ind.
     Mrs. Simpson was a retired employee of Ewert's Pater Pan Pets in Niles.
     She attended Southwestern Michigan College, studying toward a degree in veterinary assistance, and was currently licensed in dog-grooming. She was a member of American Legion Post No. 26 Auxiliary in Niles. She was active in arts and crafts.
Survivors include a daughter, Dawn Marie Ford of Niles; two sons, Robert Jo Denney and Johnny Jo Denney, both of Niles; nine grandchildren; a brother, David bridges of South Bend and companion, Moses “Chip” Scott of Niles.
     Visitation will be on Wednesday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

NOTE:  Listed in cemetery records as Roberta Jean Simpson Van Sicklen.