Amy Smith
Dec. 25, 1863-March 12, 1951

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 13, 1951; page 2, col. 6, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

Dowagiac, March 13 – Mrs. Amy Smith, 87, of Dowagiac, died at 2 p.m. Monday in Helens Rest Haven here.  She had been ill for several years.

Mrs. Smith was born in Niles December 25, 1863.  She was a member of the Episcopal church.  There are no survivors.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home in Niles where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday.  The Rev. Percy Jones will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Marion S. Sroka
Nov. 23, 1908-June 13, 1951

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

Marion S. Sroka, 42, of 1018 Herbert street, was found dead in his car at 8 a.m. today on a road about six miles east of Valpariso, Ind. Porter, Ind., county officials said he had committed suicide by running a rubber hose from the exhaust pipe of his car through a window.

He was born Nov. 23, 1908, in Posen, Poland, and came here from Chicago in November.  He was a machine operator for the Bendix corporation in South Bend.

Surviving are his wife, Wanda, and a daughter, Pamela Wendy, at home, and a brother, Leon, of Dallas, Tex.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home after today. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Fred Swartz
March 16, 1869-May 9, 1951

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 10, 1951; page 2, col. 5, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

Fred Swartz, 82, of Friendship house, Richmond, died at 8 a.m. Wednesday after being ill for 12 days.

He was born March 16, 1869, in Niles.  A nephew Charles Swartz, of rural route four, survives.

The Rev. L. George Beacock, of the First Methodist church, will conduct funeral services at 4 p.m. Friday at the Pifer funeral home.

Floyd E. Thomas
June 19, 1911-April 21, 1951

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 23, 1951; page 2, col. 5, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

Floyd E. Thomas, 39, of 1440 South Thirteenth street, died at 4:45 a.m. Sunday at his home after an illness of one year. He was born in Niles on June 19, 1911.

An employee of the French Paper company for 21 years, Thomas lived in Niles all his life.   He married Dorothy Partridge in Kentucky on June 16, 1933.  He was a member of the South Niles Community church.

Surviving are: his wife; a daughter, Madelyn at home; his father, Sherley, of Niles; and a brother, John of Niles.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home where funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday.  The Rev. C.L. Jones, pastor of the South Niles Community church, will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Lawrene Thompson
Oct. 17, 1946-Jan. 12, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 14, 1952; page 2, col. 6, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

Miss Lawrene Thompson, five, of rural route six, died at 3 p.m. Saturday at Blodgett hospital, Grand Rapids, after an illness of 10 weeks.

Surviving are her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence Thompson, of rural route six; a grandmother, Mrs. Pansy Thompson, of Afton, Okla.; her grandfather, L.D. Cheney, of Niles, and a brother Larry, at home.

Lawrene was born on Oct. 17, 1946, in Welch, Okla., and came here about five years ago.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday by the Rev. Charles Johnson, pastor of the South Niles Pentecostal church.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

William Henry Thurston
Dec. 18, 1938-July 27, 1951

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 28 1951; page 1, col. 8, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

First of year at Barron

The first drowning of the year in Barron lake occurred at 7 p.m. Friday night as a 12-year-old Niles boy died in front of Bartak’s resort.

The boy was William Henry Thurston, rural route two, the son of Thomas Thurston, of the same address, and Mrs. Mildred Cullons 712 Oak street.

No details of the boy’s death were known.  Niles state police said his father working at the resort, missed the boy about 6 p.m., but thought he was playing with other children.  A fisherman discovered his body in five feet of water in front of the resort.  Police said he had been under water about 20 minutes.

Howard township fireman worked over the boy with a resuscitator for more than an hour without success.  He was pronounced dead at 8:10 p.m.

The boy was born in Niles Dec. 18, 1938, and lived here all his life.  Surviving in addition to his parents, are a sister, Sally, and James; and grandparents Mr. and Mrs. William Thurston, of Buchanan, and Mr. and Mrs. Henry Green, of Niles.

Friends may call at the Pifer (illegible) then the body will be taken to St. Paul’s Lutheran church, where the Rev. Theodore Laesch will conduct services at 2 p.m. Monday. Burial will be in Silverbrook.