James Monroe Johnson
May 1, 1852-Jan. 27, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 28, 1952; page 2, col. 7, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

J.M. Johnson, Local Pioneer Merchant, Dies

James M. Johnson, of 224 North Third street, one of Niles’ pioneer businessmen, died at the age of 99 on Sunday morning, after an illness of several years. Johnson founded a leather goods store here in 1876.

Surviving are a son, James Allen Johnson, of Niles; a daughter, Mrs. Thomas Stafford, of Grand Rapids; three grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren.

Johnson was born in Niles on May 1, 1852, and had lived here all his life. E.E. Garlanger became a partner with Johnson in the former Johnson and Garlanger leather goods shop, located at 213 Main street, and retired after 59 years. James A. Johnson, the founder’s son, operated the store in 1930, until it was sold in 1946.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be held at 3p.m. Tuesday.  The Rev. T. M.  Greenhoe, Presbyterian pastor, will officiate, and burial will be in Silverbook cemetery.

Arthur Leo Kane
Dec. 3, 1932-April 23, 1991

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, April 25, 1991, page 2, col. 4-8, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Arthur Leo Kane, 58, of 1240 Thompson Road, Niles, will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home by Elder William Pollock of Apostolic Christian Tabernacle.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mr. Kane died at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at St. Joseph Medical Center, South Bend, Ind., following a lengthy illness.

He was born Dec. 3, 1932 in Niles and had been a lifetime resident of this area.

A U.S. Army veteran of the Korean Conflict, he was a pressman for 50 years at Simplicity Pattern Co.

On Oct. 6, 1956, in Niles, he married Barbara Ann Sheperis, who survives.

Other survivors include his mother, Gertrude Kane; three daughters: LeAnn Kane of South Bend, Ind., Susan Welling and Cathleen Kane, both of Niles; three sons: Joseph Kane and Scott Kane, both of Niles, and Patrick Kane of Three Rivers; two sisters: Mary Nigro of St. Joseph and Margaret Randall of Niles; and six grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 6-0 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan and the Berrien County Cancer Service.

Terry Leroy Knapp
March 14, 1950-Jan. 28, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, January 29, 1952; page 2, col. 3, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

Terry Leroy Knapp, two-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Knapp, of 923 Regent street, died at 11 a.m. Monday in Pawating hospital after an illness of three months. Death was a result of leukemia.

Also surviving are his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Knapp, of New Troy, and Mr. and Mrs. Walter Nichols, of Mode, Ill., and one brother, David, at home.

Terry was born March 14, 1950, in Niles, and lived here all his life.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be said at 2 p.m. Wednesday by the Rev. Edward Turner, pastor of the First church of the Nazarene.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Olive L. Matthews
Aug. 30, 1914-April 10, 1991

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 16, 1991, page 2, col. 4-5, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Olive L. Matthews, 76, of West Palm Beach, Fla., formerly of Niles are pending further notice.

Mrs. Matthews died Wednesday following an extended illness.

She was born Aug. 30, 1914, in Niles, where she lived until 1989.

She was married for 28 years to Glen D. Matthews, who preceded her in death in 1985.

She is survived by one daughter, Faith Orem of West Palm Beach, Fla.

Mrs. Matthews was a loving friend to Marion Ossmer and son, Jack, Ruth Carson and family, Jack Spence and family, Jim Hacker and family, Val Hyde, Martha Tucker and Mary Galagher all of Niles; Bill  Lunetta and family of Lowell, Mass.; Diana Dew and family of  West Palm Beach, Fla. And Margaret Reakopf of Memphis, Tenn.

She will also be missed by her beloved pets Keela and Skeeter.

Thomas Lee Nelson
Aug. 31, 1951-Nov. 10, 1951

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, November 10, 1951; page 2, col. 2, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

Thomas Lee Nelson, 1414 Sheridan avenue, died at 8:30 a.m. today in his home after a short illness.

Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Nelson; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Middleton, all of Niles, and Mr. and Mrs. William T. Nelson, of Royal Oak, and a sister, Janet, at home.

The child was born on Aug. 31, 1951, and had lived here all his life.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday by the Rev. Theo. Laesch, pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran church.  Burial will be in Silverbrook.

Note:  Name on Death Record and gravemarker is "Tommy"

John Richard Noble
June 11, 1951-June 12, 1951

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, June 13, 1951; page 2, col. 5, Niles District Library from K. Alton

John Richard Noble, one of the twin sons prematurely born on Monday to Mr. and Mrs. Richard Noble, died at 6:25 p.m. Tuesday in Pawating hospital.

Surviving besides his parents and brother are his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Earl Noble and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Vandeboegh, all of Niles.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.