Obituaries

Dr. Paul Van Riper
1875-February 16, 1970

Niles Daily Star published Wednesday February 18, 1970, pg. 2 (from E. Lee)

CHAMPION -- Funeral services for Dr. Paul Van Riper, 94, pioneer Marquette physician and former Niles resident, who died Monday in Champion, Mich., will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in the Champion Methodist Church.

Officiating will be the Rev. Cecil Lutey.   Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Niles funeral arrangements were made by the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Survivors include two sons, Dr. Joseph E. Van Riper of Vestal, N. Y., and Dr. Charles G. Van Riper of Kalamazoo; a daughter, Mrs. Sam Dibble of Northville, Mich.;   six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. 

Herman A. Volkhardt
February 15, 1885 - January 21, 1970

Niles Daily Star published Thursday January 22, 1970, pg. 2 (from E. Lee)

NILES -- Herman A. Volkhardt, 84, of 1438 Regent St., died at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday in Berrien General Hospital.

A retired Simplicity Pattern Company employee, Mr. Volkhardt was born Feb. 15, 1885, in Niles and had lived here all his life.   He married the former Lillian Hess on Nov. 25, 1909, in Niles.   She preceded him in death in October 1947.

Survivors include a son John H. Volkhardt, Grand Rapids, a daughter, Mrs. Homer Pierce, Niles; a sister, Mrs. J. C. Squiers, Ypsilanti, Mich., five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m Friday in the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. Arlan E. Schlundt of St. John's United Church of Christ officiating.   Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 tonight at the funeral home.       

Harriet Weist
June 18, 1873-Nov. 11, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, November 11, 1952; page 2, col. 3, microfilm, Niles District Library (From K. Alton)

Mrs. Harries Weist, 1411 ½ Ferry street, died at 5 a.m. today in the Berrien County Hospital, Berrien Center. She had been in poor health quite a length of time.

Surviving are her husband, Joe; five sons, Joe Jr., Fred and Roy, all of Niles, Paul of Findley, O., and William, of Akron, O.; two daughters, Mrs. Helen Mathes, South Bend, and Mildred Greer, Torrance, Calif,; 31 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren, and two sisters, Mrs. Clarisa Dopp, and Mrs. Maude Boyce, both of Ravena, N.Y.

Mrs. Weist was born on June 18, 1873 in Hawley, Pa.  She came here in 1918. She was a member of the Royal Neighbors of America and the First Methodist Church.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday by the Rev. L. George Beacock, Methodist pastor. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Melvin R. Williams
May 10, 1902 - Jan. 28, 1970

Niles Daily Star published Thursday January 29, 1970, pg. 2  (from E. Lee)

NILES -- Melvin R. Williams, 67, of 2118 Miller Dr., died at 2:15 p.m. Wednesday in Pawating Hospital, where he had been a patient since Sunday.

A retired repairman for Bendix Corporation, Mr. Williams was born May 10, 1902 in Cedar Bluff, Neb., and had   lived here since 1950, coming from Buchanan.   He married the former Lucile P(illegible), who survives, on Sept. 24, 1929, in Central City, Mich.

Mrs. Arleene Yeager
Feb. 12, 1946-Jan. 6, 1970

Niles Daily Star published Wednesday January 7, 1970, pg. 2 (from E. Lee)

NILES - Funeral services for Mrs. Arleene Yeager will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. John Wyngarden of the First Presbyterian Church officiating.   Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mrs. Yeager, 23, died Tuesday in Kalamazoo of injuries suffered in a Dec. 21 auto accident.

Survivors previously unlisted include two sons, Joseph --- and Charles J., both at home; a daughter Cindy L. at home; and grandparents, Frank Treiber of Niles and Mrs. Jennie Eggleston of Three Rivers.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 tonight. 

Angela Cross
November 20, 1967 - January 26, 1970

Niles Daily Star published Tuesday January 27, 1970, pg. 2 (from Elaine Lee)

NILES - Angela Cross, two year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ivery Cross, 2267 Mulder Dr., died at 4:20 p.m. Monday in Pawating Hospital.

She was born Nov. 20, 1967, in Niles.

In addition to her parents, the child is survived by her grandparents, Mrs. Jessie Bell Robinson, Chicago, and Mrs. Minnie Kirkwood, Niles; three brothers, William E., with the U.S. Army, and Ivery Jr. and Wayne, both at home, and seven sisters, Mrs. Lodine Fox, Kathy, Merilyn Jean, Nancy Marie, Jeanette, Cheryl Ann and Brenda Lee, all at home.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m.