JoAnn Magdalyn King of Kalamazoo
May 23, 1933-March 3, 2016

Passed away on Thursday, March 3, 2016 at the age of 82. JoAnn was born in Jefferson City, MO on May 23, 1933, the daughter of the late Joseph and Emma (Holmquist) Renterghem. She attended the University of Michigan, where she received her Bachelors of Science in Nursing. She then attended Western Michigan University, receiving her Master’s in Education. She began her career teaching Nursing at St. Joseph Hospital in South Bend, IN. She then served on the staff at St. Mary’s Hospital in Detroit, followed by teaching at Nazareth College and Kalamazoo Valley Community College. JoAnn finished her career at the Van Buren Skills Center in Lawrence. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother, who loved to take care of her family and was a wonderful cook. She enjoyed traveling and spending vacations at Hilton Head and in Saugatuck. She always enjoyed spending time with cherished friends and family and looked forward to making the holidays special. She was married to Lewis “Van” King on June 27, 1964; he survives her. She is also survived by her children, Scott (Kimberley) King and Robin (Russell) Panico; three grandchildren, Rachel King & Matthew King and Carson Panico; one brother, Lemont (Joanne) Renterghem; two nephews, John (Barbara) Renterghem, Jeffrey (Wendy Borg) Renterghem; and one niece, Julie (David) Roos. Friends may visit with the family from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. on Monday, March 7th at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Westside Chapel, 3926 S. 9th St. The funeral service will follow at 12 p.m., officiated by Rev. Fr. Ben Huynh. Private entombment will be in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. Memorial contributions may be given to the American Cancer Society.

Note: This obituary appeared on the website of Langeland Funeral Home, Kalamazoo, MI  http://www.langelands.com/obituaries/Joann-King-2/#!/Obituary

Obituary for Shirley Gowen
Sept. 17, 1940-March 2, 2016

Shirley A. (Johnson) Gowen, 75, of Buchanan, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Thursday, March 3, 2016 at Kindred Hospital of Northern Mishawaka. 

She was born to the late Kenneth and Helen (Kane) Johnson on September 17, 1940 in Niles Michigan. She was a graduate of Niles High School and a life-long resident of the area. Shirley and her former husband, Richard L. Gowen, had the joy of raising four children together.

Shirley’s family was the most important part of her life; she especially enjoyed family gatherings and being an intricate part of her grandchildren’s lives. She found joy in gardening and had a true passion for antiquing. 

Shirley is preceded in death by her parents, son; Scott Edward Gowen and grandson; Ryan Michael Gowen.

She leaves to cherish her memory to her children; Tim (Chris) Gowen of Buchanan, Tracy (Gary) Grishaber, of Niles, Kelly (Daniel) Barton of Cassopolis, brothers; Robert (Vi) Johnson, of Niles, Ronald (Sallie) Johnson , of Niles, James (Debbie) Johnson, of Niles, sister; Gloria Bennett, of Mishawaka, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

A time of visitation will be held on Sunday, March 6, 2016 from 4-6 O’clock in the Evening at Brown Funeral Home, Niles. Funeral services will be held Monday, March 7, 2016 at 11 O’clock in the Morning at the funeral home. 

Memorial contribution may be made in Shirley’s memory to; Redbud Area Ministries, 708 Red Bud Trail N., Buchanan, Michigan 49107 or to The American Heart Association, Dept. 77-3968, Chicago, Illinois 60678-3968. 

Note:  This obituary appeared on the website of Brown Funeral Home http://www.brownfuneralhomeniles.com/obituaries/Shirley-Gowen/#!/Obituary

Virginia Holt
October 9, 1928 - February 17, 2016

Frank May
March 10, 1889-Sept. 3, 1964

Niles Daily Star, Niles, Berrien, Michigan. Friday, September 04, 1964, pg. 2, col. 01.

Frank May, 75, of 1320 Breezy Beach, was pronounced dead on arrival at Pawating Hospital at 4:10 p.m. Thursday. His death was unexpected.

Mr. May, a retired farmer, was born March 10, 1889 in Locke, Ind. He came to Niles from Napanee, Ind., in 1925.

Survivors include his widow, Gertie May, three daughters, Mrs. Russell Shoemaker, Mrs. Roland Gordon and Mrs. Burnall Martin, all of Niles, two sons, George, Niles, and Wilbur, Jackson, two brothers, Marvin, Nappanee, and Charles, Battle Creek, 15 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.

He was a member of Huntly Memorial Baptist Church.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday in his church. The Rev. John Tolly, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the Pifer Funeral Home after 7 p.m. tonight.

Nancy M. (Reese) Gillette
April 10, 1822-March 22, 1880

Niles Democrat, Saturday, April 3, 1880

Mrs. Nancy M. Gillette, wife of Mahlon B. Gillette, residing a few miles south west of this city, died on Saturday morning last, after a brief illness, in the 58 year of her age. Mrs. Gillette was born in Tioga County, New York, and come[sic] with her father, Mr. Reese, to Michigan at an early day, and was married to Mr. Gillette some 31 years ago, and they have lived happily together ever since and raised an interesting family of children. Mr.[sic] Gillette was a faithful Christian lady having united with the Baptist church at an early day, and lived a consistant[sic] member up to the time of her death. As a wife, mother, neighbor and friend, She was true faithful and generous to a fault,and her death is mourned by all who knew her.

Mary Paine Mead
March 21, 1796-March 28, 1891

Niles Daily Sun, March 30, 1891, page 3.

In Memoriam

Mrs. Mary Payne Mead was born in Green county, N. Y., March 21, 1796, and died in Constantine, Mich., March 28, 1891, aged 95 years and 7 days.

The subject of this brief memoir was one of the few remaining pioneers of south-western Michigan.

It will be but a few years before the last of the old landmarks will have been removed. Her mother died when she was but four years of age. She left home soon after to live with an older sister, who lived in Amenia, Dutchess county, N. Y., whose husband was the well-known pioneer missionary in the states of Indiana and Illinois, Rev. John M. Peck, D. D., one of the founders also of Shurtleff College, Illinois. It was at her sister’s home that she met her future husband, Mr. Henry Hibbard Mead. To him she was married on the 12th day of December, 1819. In 1824 they moved to Chautauqua county, N. Y. In 1836 they moved to Cass county, Mich., and settled on Beardsley’s prairie, near the village of Edwardsburg. In 1842 her husband died and was buried in Edwardsburg, - forty-nine years ago, nearly – leaving her with a family of seven children, two of whom were married, and but three only of whom survive her to-day.

All of them became heads of families from which sprang nine grandchildren and twenty-five great grandchildren, many of whom reside in this city to-day.

After the decease of her husband, she moved to Edwardsburg and resided there until all her children were married, when she came to Niles to live in about the year 1865, with her son, Dr. Jackson Mead, deceased. With him she lived nine years, and for the past sixteen and one-half years she has lived with her daughter, Mrs. Nathan Fitch, nine of which she has lived in this city. Last October she decided to go and spend the winter with her youngest daughter, Mrs. Dr. Thomas, at Constantine, Mich.

About three weeks ago it became evident that this long life was nearing its close and the remarkable vigor which had sustained her for nearly a century, was beginning to wane and on the 28th day of March, she fell asleep conscious until the last moment of her earthly existence. When she lived in Amenia, she and her husband united with the Baptist church, baptized by John M. Peck in 1820, about seventy years ago and to the end she maintained her Christian profession in an exalted manner and grew until she possessed the Christian graces in an eminent degree. The Bible was the lamp to her feet and the light to her pathway.

In some regards she was a most remarkable woman. Generally as people grow old they grow also to be peevish, petulant and irritable until nothing but love and duty can bear with their disagreeableness.

Mrs. Mead was not soured by trouble or disappointments nor did she ever lose her genial gentle disposition by infirmities of age. While others complained and chafed and became [several words illegible] and age and infirmities [several words illegible] she alone almost. [Several words illegible] undisturbed peacefulness of disposition [illegible] of herself. Always a lady, she and trained herself to agreeableness and hence she was the friend and companion of the young, the middle-aged and the aged. She brought the sweet amenities of her early self-taught life, inspired by lofty Christian principle, along through the severest trials and troubles incident to human life and evermore, as age advanced, refused to forget and ignore the principles which she had learned to love, and which had made her so eminent an example of exalted Christian womanhood. Under whatever influence, in whatever sphere, under all skies and in all moods she was a peerless woman. In character, as pure as the unspotted snow of the north; and in all aims and purposes, social and Christian, she was a lofty as her faith in the Book which was her constant companion to the end. At an advanced age she passed over the river. Hers was no sudden call.

All preparations by her had been made both secular and spiritual. The silver cord was not cut hurriedly, nor the golden link broken in an instant. The cord was gently untied; the golden bowl melted away ‘as it were a scarf of vapory amethyst,’ or rather as the light fades away from the firmament at the coming of the evening mild. The pearl dropped from the wasted shell as the Saturday afternoon sun was creeping slowly along midway from zenith to the horizon. At the home of her youngest daughter she passed peacefully, gently away, conscious that she was merging into the light of Eternal life. Her remains were brought to this city this afternoon from Constantine.

The funeral services connected with her decease will be held to-morrow morning at 10 o’clock at the Baptist church, conducted by the Rev. Chas. Ager.

Niles Daily Star. March 30, 1891

Mrs. Mary Mead, mother of Mrs. Nathan Fitch, of this city, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Dr. Thomas, at Constantine Saturday evening, aged 95 years. The remains were brought here this afternoon.

 Same page:

Funeral services connected with the decease of Mrs. Mary P. Mead, mother of Mrs. Nathan Fitch, will be held tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock at the Baptist church.