Obituaries

Janet Goble, of Niles
Feb. 26, 1941-May 9, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:00am Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Alfred Neal Goble, of Niles
Feb. 15, 1941 — March 23, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:41am Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Alfred Neal Goble, 73, of Niles, passed away on Sunday, March 23, 2014, at Cardinal Nursing & Rehab in South Bend, Ind.

He was born Feb. 15, 1941 in Missouri to Raymond Gobble and Ethel Clark. He was a part of the first class to graduate from the new Niles High School.

Alfred is survived by his three daughters, Kelly Stewart, Christina Goble and Carrie (Ray) Adkins; son, Ted Goble; seven grandchildren, Elizabeth Goble, Sergeant Michael Stewart of the U.S. Army, Olivia Adkins, Gabby and Sarah Smith, Kennon and Jaydon Studer; and one great-grandchild on the way, Izabelle Wilson.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Ethel; daughter, Tonya Goble Studer; two brothers, Kenneth Goble, Doyle Goble, and sister; Maxine Zick.

A memorial service for Alfred will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, March 28, 2014, at Hoven Funeral Home in Buchanan, Mich.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Hoven Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.hovenfunerals.com

Jean Funk, formerly of Niles
May 24, 1926 — Sept. 23, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:00am Thursday, October 1, 2015

Jean Welch Funk, 89, formerly of Niles, Michigan, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2015 in Vero Beach, Florida where she and her husband retired after living in Niles for 65 years.

Jean Funk

She was born to the late Dr. William H. Welch and Sylvia Pettit Welch in Lansing, Michigan. Jean attended University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, but transferred and graduated from Michigan State University at East Lansing, Michigan. She was a member of Gamma Phi Beta sorority. She met her husband Lee Funk during their college years at MSU. After graduation they married on September 25, 1948 in East Lansing and then moved to Lee’s hometown, Niles, Michigan. They celebrated over 65 years of marriage and the birth of two children, Linda Jean and Lee Welch. She was a dedicated mother and homemaker, taught lower school intermittently and was the caretaker of her mother in her later years. She later tutored children with special needs at the Assembly of God Church School. Jean was a life-long member of Wesley United Methodist Church and served as a Sunday school teacher, choir member and chaired various committees. She was a member of several clubs in Niles including the Orchard Hills Bridge Club, couples bridge club, The Methodist Bible Club, and the Four Flags Dance Club and volunteered at her children’s school during their early years. She was a member of The Niles Community Book Club and was a voracious reader.

Jean is survived by her parents and sister Wilma Young, her son, Dr. Leland Funk and daughter in law, Ruth Ann Colvin Funk, of Vero Beach, Florida and their children Haley and Leland Jack and her daughter Linda Jean Funk Vaintrub of Chicago, Illinois and Linda’s children, Isabel Lee, Amelia Mei, and Sonja Lin. Jean and Lee adored their grandchildren (dubbed Papa and Gammi) and spent weekends with them at Linda’s summer home, holidays in Niles, Chicago, and Arizona as did Lee and Ruth Anne who later blessed them with two more grandchildren.

Lee and Jean moved to Vero Beach eight years ago to be near Lee and Ruth Ann and their family. As the years passed Lee and Ruth Ann were dedicated to them and Linda and her children visited from Chicago as school vacations allowed. Jean and Sonja, were especially close and often chatted on the phone for no less than an hour gossiping about Linda and Uncle Lee’s childhood. Thankfully, Lee and Ruth Ann were close by and cared for them in their last years and even their last hours.

A memorial service to celebrate Jean’s life as well as her husband Leland P. Funk who preceded her in death last year, will be held on Sunday, October 4, 2015 at Wesley United Methodist Church at 2:00 p.m. with Pastor Cathi Huvaere, officiating. Mrs. Funk will be laid to rest next to her husband at Silverbrook Cemetery as they planned long ago.

Memorial contributions may be made in Jean and Lee’s memory to Wesley United Methodist Church, 302 Cedar Street, Niles, Michigan 49120.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles. www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Clarimond ‘Jean’ Backus, of Niles
Nov. 29, 1933 — Sept. 27, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:12am Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Clarimond “Jean” LaJean Backus

Clarimond “Jean” LaJean Backus, 81, of Niles passed away on Sunday, September 27, 2015 at Lakeland Hospital, Niles.

Jean was born on Nov. 29, 1933, to the late Myrle and Ardene Grubbs in South Bend, Indiana. On May 29, 1976, she married Ernest Backus at a ceremony in Buchanan, Michigan.

She worked as a beautician for many years and owned her own shop, LaJean’s Hair Salon in Niles. Jean loved the Lord and was a devoted mother and grandmother. She mostly enjoyed being with her family, but also loved playing the piano, fishing, knitting, playing cards and games, bowling, cooking, gardening, hanging out at “the lake,” and her beloved dog Benji. Jean was very giving and active in church.

She is survived by her husband of 39 years, Ernie; children, Dan Hushower, Randy (Pam) Hushower, Roxanne (Don) Wolfram, Tammy Smith, and Deborah (Randy) Strefling; sister, Lorelei Smith; brother, Jim (Melody) Grubbs; grandchildren, Derek (Megan) Hushower, Hillary (A.J.) Hushower-Jones, Jonathan Parrott, Hunter Wolfram, Garrett Wolfram, Vanessa Wolfram, Stephanie (Casey) Brooks, Erika Smith, Matthew Smith and Miranda (Dustin) Companion; 10 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson.

Jean is preceded in death by her parents, Myrle and Ardene and grandson Dameon Hushower.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday Oct. 2, 2015, at Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2015, at Hoven Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service Friday from 12-1 pm at Hoven Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.hovenfunerals.com

Henry E. Price
July 28, 1863-June 28, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, June 28, 1945, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Henry E. Price, 81, Dies Today

Resident of Niles for more than 50 years, Henry Edward Price, 81, died at his home 318 North Fourth street, at 10 this morning following an illness of seven weeks.

The son of Joathan[sic] and Mary Price, he was born July 28, 1863 in Coshocton, O., and was married to Lottie A. Gorton, who died in April 1938.

Retired Last Spring

For 45 years he had been in the undertaking business in Niles and retired last spring after selling his interest in the Price and Kiger funeral home to Fred Kiger.

In addition to being a life member in the Masonic order and the Knight of Pythias, he was also a member of the Methodist church, the Elks, Modern Woodmen of America and the IOOF.

Surviving are a son, Gorton, of Detroit; two brothers, John of Toledo, and Simon, of Coshocton; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home and services will be conducted at 3:30 Saturday afternoon by the Rev. L. George Beacock at the Methodist church.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 1, 1945, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Rites for Henry Price Held Saturday Afternoon

Funeral services for Henry E. Price, 81, a retired mortician, were conducted in the Methodist church Saturday afternoon by the pastor, the Rev. L. George Beacock,. Price died Thursday.  Pallbearers were Arthur Stone, L.S. Storms, Paul Thayer, Fred Kompass, LeRoy Forler and B.H. Smith.  Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Those from out-of-town attending the services were Mr. and Mrs. Gorton Price, Detroit, son and daughter-in-law of the deceased; Mr. and Mrs. John Parsons and son Jeffery, Detroit; Mrs. R.A. Wright, Coldwater; Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Wright, Dearborn, and John Price, Toledo, O., brother of the deceased.

Mae Bowen
Dec. 5, 1873-July 9, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 10, 1945, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Mae Bowen Dies Last Night

Funeral services will be held Wednesday for Mrs. Mae Bowen, 71, of 526 Oak street who died at 8:40 p.m. Monday in Pawating hospital.  She was the widow of Charles B. Bowen.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. in the Kiger funeral home with the Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor of the Methodist church, in charge. Burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery.

Native of Three Rivers

Mrs. Bowen was born in Three Rivers, Dec. 5, 1873, and came to Niles from Cassopolis 35 years ago. She was married to Charles Bowen, Sept. 7, 1904, in Hastings. She was a member of the Methodist church and had been active in missionary and church work for many years.  She was one of the oldest members of the Monday reading club.

Surviving is one brother, John G. Van Norsdall of three Rivers.  Mrs. Bowen has been ill for two years and had entered Pawating hospital Oct. 17, 1944 suffering from a broken hip.

Mrs. Bowen's husband for many years operated a milling concern which was situated on Front street just north of the railroad underpass.  The mill obtained its power from a canal which ran form the Dowagiac creek to the St. Joseph river. The mill was razed in the 1920s.