Obituaries

S/Sgt. Richard W. Shipperley
Nov. 28, 1922-June 13, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, June 27, 1945, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Memorial Rites for Shipperley

Memorial services for S/Sgt. Richard W. Shipperley, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Shipperley, rural route four, who reportedly died after parachuting from his plane when it was damaged on a bombing mission over Munich, Germany, June 13, 1944, will be held Sunday at 2:30 p.m in the First Methodist church with the Rev. L.G. Beacock, pastor, officiating.

According to a letter received from a buddy of his, S/Sgt. Shipperley had bailed out over the Alps mountains after being ordered to do so by the pilot. The fuel tank had been hit and the plane was running out of gas.  The pilot headed the plane for the Swiss border but the plan was abandoned and the entire crew parachuted to safety.

The soldier who wrote the letter said they saw the plane crash on the other side of the mountain.  The crew became separated in the jump and he and another soldier headed toward a valley where they found the body of Shipperley. At first they thought he was wounded but then found that he had died possibly of internal injuries. They believed his parachute had become entangled in a mountain rock and had been ripped from him since it was gone when the body was found.

Shipperley was buried in the valley after short funeral rites.  The next day the survivors of the crash were captured by the Germans and were liberated sometime in May. The letter was written after the soldier's return to the United States.

Members of the American Legion Post will present the colors and act as guard of honor.

John C. Squiers
July 1, 1880-June 19, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, June 20, 1945, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Former Resident of Niles Dies at Home in Mason

A former resident of Niles, John C. Squiers, 64, died at his home in Mason, Mich., and will be buried here in Silverbrook cemetery with a graveside military service Friday afternoon.

Squiers was a brother-in-law of Mrs. Walter Wright, of 903 North Third street and left here about 30 years ago after having been employed at Dean's drug store.  He had retired at the time of his death.

In addition to a son, John, a lieutenant in the Navy he is survived by four daughters and his widow.

The funeral party is expected to arrive here about 2 Friday afternoon when a prayer service at the grave will be conducted by the rev. Theo Eisen and the military rites by Spanish-American war veterans, of which he was a member.

Adela W. Tappan
1900-June 17, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 19, 1945, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Former Resident of Niles Dies at Gary Sunday

Miss Adela Tappan, formerly of Niles, died suddenly Sunday night in Gary of a heart attack, according to word received in Niles Monday afternoon.  She was a teacher of English in the Gary High School.

Funeral services will be held and interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery, Niles, at 1:30 Wednesday afternoon in the family lot where her parents, the C.Q. Tappans, are buried.

A graduate of the University of Michigan, she is survived by a brother, Clarence and a sister, Elaine.  Her father was a mail carrier here for many years.

Mrs. Nellie Edna Wagmer
September 4, 1889 - February 20, 1970

Niles Daily Star published Friday February 20, 1970, pg. 2 (from E. Lee)

SOUTH BEND -- Mrs. Nellie Edna Wagner, 80, of 19996 Auten Road, formerly of Niles, died early this morning in the Melrose Manor Nursing Home of Mishawaka, after an extended illness.

Born Sept. 4, 1889, in Kewanna, Ind., Mrs. Wagner had lived in the South Bend-Niles area all her life.   Her husband, George, proceded her in death on Dec. 10, 1959.

Survivors include two sons, Dale and Jack Wagner, both of South Bend;   two daughters, Mrs. Lucile Prieve of South Bend and Mrs. Betty McCormick of Niles;   a sister, Mrs. Dola Clinton of South Bend;   four grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Charles W. Fenton of St. Paul's Lutheran Church of South B end officiating.   Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. 

Mrs. Nellie Edna Wagner
September 4, 1889 - February 20, 1970

Niles Daily Star published Friday February 20, 1970, pg. 2 (from E. Lee)

SOUTH BEND -- Mrs. Nellie Edna Wagner, 80, of 19996 Auten Road, formerly of Niles, died early this morning in the Melrose Manor Nursing Home of Mishawaka, after an extended illness.

Born Sept. 4, 1889, in Kewanna, Ind., Mrs. Wagner had lived in the South Bend-Niles area all her life.   Her husband, George, proceded her in death on Dec. 10, 1959.

Survivors include two sons, Dale and Jack Wagner, both of South Bend;   two daughters, Mrs. Lucile Prieve of South Bend and Mrs. Betty McCormick of Niles;   a sister, Mrs. Dola Clinton of South Bend;   four grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Charles W. Fenton of St. Paul's Lutheran Church of South B end officiating.   Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. 

Bertha M. Watson
June 12, 1863-June 28, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, June 28, 1945, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral Saturday for Mother of Dailey Resident

Mrs. Bertha M. Watson, Buchanan, who formerly made her home with a son at Dailey, died at 6:15 a.m.  today at a rest home in Buchanan where she had been taken two weeks ago.  She was a former resident of Chicago.

Mrs. Watson was born in Effingham, Ill., June 12, 1863. She was a member of Eastern Star, Francis Willard chapter 433, Chicago. Survivors are two children, Forest Watson, of Daily[sic], and Alvin Watson, Chicago; and two sisters, Mrs. Sophie Henenthal, East St. Louis, Mo., and Mrs. Vina Moffett, Chicago.

The body is at the Pifer funeral home where services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday with the Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor of the Methodist church, in charge. Burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery, Niles.