Mary Ellen Rettich
October 20, 1924 - March 8, 2015

RETTICH, Mary Ellen, Age 90, March 8, 2015.  Beloved wife of the late Charles.  Loving mother of Kathleen (Anthony) Bullard & Kevin (JeanneMarie) Rettich.  Dearest grandmother of Christopher & Ashley.  She will be missed by Max, Mandy & Molly, the family pets.  Visitation Thursday 4-8 pm.  Funeral Service Friday 10 am at McCabe Funeral Homne Canton Chapel, 851 N. Canton Center Rd., Interment Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, MI. 

www.mccabefuneralhome.com

Thomas Forsgren, of Niles
February 7, 1942 - March 5, 2015

Published 8:23am Monday, March 9, 2015

Thomas Forsgren, 73, of Niles, died Thursday, March 5, 2015. A private family burial service will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Arrangements are being handled by Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan.

Leon W. ‘Lonnie’ Fisher, of Niles
Jan. 21, 1931 — March 2, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:46am Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Leon W. Fisher, 84, of Niles, Michigan died at 3:15 a.m. on Monday, March 2, 2015, with his family gathered around his bedside at Lakeland Hospital – Niles. His death was unexpected, but of natural causes.

He was born on Jan. 21, 1931, in Niles to Leo A. and Wilma R. (Vogelsang) Fisher. He was graduated from Niles High School, and enlisted in the United States Army. After a year of service, he was transferred to the U.S. Army Reserve and served in the Michigan National Guard 246th Armored Division for over ten years. In Niles, he served the Niles City Fire Department for 28 years, retiring as a Captain, and served the Niles Community Schools as a bus driver for 25 years.

Lonnie was a member of Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles, where he also served as an usher. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus Council #708, B. P. O. of Niles Elks #1322, a member and past president of the Niles Lions Club, and a former member of the American Legion Post #51 of Buchanan. He volunteered with the local Habitat for Humanity and had served on its board, and volunteered with the American Red Cross Bloodmobile.

He could often be seen at Niles High School Athletic events, serving as the scorekeeper for twenty-four years for the girls basketball and boys basketball teams, and the girls softball team, including the 2009 State Champion team. He enjoyed gardening and fishing, bowling and golfing on area leagues, and all things related to the University of Notre Dame.

On Oct. 17, 1953, in Niles he married the former Eleanor D. Smith with whom he celebrated last year the Sixty-first anniversary of their wedding.

Surviving family includes his wife, Eleanor Fisher and their children, Thomas L. (Carrie) Fisher, David L. Fisher, and Cynthia K. Fisher, all of Niles; grandchildren Fawn Fisher, Cricket (Josh) Nelson, Lea (Tad) Germann, Tyler Fisher, Echo Fisher, Connor Fisher, and Marc Fisher; great-grandchildren Ben, Cal and Noelle; and Lonnie’s sister, Virginia Fisher of Niles and several nieces and nephews of three generations.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and by his sisters, Dorothy Hicks and Mary Magin and brothers Robert Fisher and Paul Fisher.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Leon Fisher will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 6, 2015, at Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles by the Rev. Alphonse Savarimuthu, MSFS of the parish. Committal Rites will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and will conclude with the Veteran’s Flag Presentation and “Taps” by the United States Army Honor Guard.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Thursday, from 2 until 4 and 6 until 8 p.m. at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with an Honor Guard of the Niles Fire Department, and recitation of The Rosary at 7:30 p.m. Contributions in memory of Lonnie may be made to the Niles High School Athletic Department.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

John C. Reum
Nov. 17, 1917-May 27, 1951

Niles Daily Star, Monday, May 28, 1951; page 2, col. 5, microfilm, Niles District Library, from K. Alton

John C. Reum, 33, of 602 Cass street, died at 10 p.m. Sunday in Pawating hospital after an illness of several years. He was born here on Nov. 28, 1917, and was a member of the Niles Veterans of Foreign Wars post.

Surviving are: his wife, June; two daughters, Judith and Kathryn; two brothers, Carl and Leo; and two sisters, Mrs. Alice Malone and Mrs. Derbert Godman, all of Niles.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home where funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday. The Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor of the First Methodist church, will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Charles Smith
March 14, 1864-June 10, 1951

Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 11, 1951; page 2, col. 6, microfilm, Niles District Library, from K. Alton

Charles Smith, 1265 South Eleventh street, died at 7 a.m., Sunday in the Berrien county hospital at Berrien Center. He had been ill one month.

He was born in Calvin township, March 14,1864, and lived here all his life.

Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Eva Palmer, of Niles; Mrs. Alta King, of Dowagiac; a step-sister, Mrs. Frances Rinehart, of Calmore, N.M.; three half-brothers, Stephen of (illegible) of Cassopolis; and Clark, of Edwardsburg; 20 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and one great great-grandchild.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home where services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday with the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Hester B. Stevens
Nov. 21, 1828-April 23, 1915

Berrien Springs Era, Thursday, April 29, 1915 page 1

Angel of Death Takes Two Highly Respected Pioneers of Central Berrien County.

Mrs. Hester B. Stevens Came to This Place in 1830, Funeral Held Monday. Chester Fisher Came to Berrien Township in 1845, Funeral Tomorrow Afternoon, Lutheran Church

Friday evening death took from this place Mrs. Hester B. Stevens, the oldest resident of this county. She came to this county in 1830 at the age of two, with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. Kimmel, she being the youngest of a family of 10 children.

The history of Mrs. Stevens is full of interest to the people of this township. She was born in Stoystown, Pa., November 21, 1828, and was the daughter of George and Mary Kimmel and the youngest of ten children. In 1830 her father came to Berrien county with his family, locating at Berrien Springs and purchased several thousand acres of land. He built the old colonial mansion on the bank of the river just north of the village, which later became known as the “Shaker Farm,” and was one of the show places of Berrien county. The big house with its large family of children is well remembered for its hospitality by the old residents of this vicinity.

In 1847, her father deeded to her 400 acres of land half a mile north of the village between what is known as the St. Joseph road and the river and she owned more than 100 acres of this land at the time of her death, and for the past 15 years has lived in the old farm house there. This is the largest tract of land in Berrien county that has been held by the same owner for a period of 68 years. She was greatly interested in her farm and so cleared it up and improved it that it became one of the best in the county.

In 1845 at the age of 17 she was married to Thomas L. Stevens, a pioneer merchant of this place, and moved to Niles in 1850, where he became president of the First National Bank, dying about five years before its failure, and as one fo the stock holders, she lost a considerable amount of her personal propery[sic].

Mrs. Stevens was an active member while in Niles of the Episcopal church from which place burial took place, Monday afternoon.

She leaves two daughters, Mrs. Gertrude Lewis of this place, Mrs. Fitsgerald of Nevada, and two sons, Fred and Wirt of Washington.

 About twenty years ago, Mrs. Stevens moved back to this place and has since made this her home. She was related to all of the oldest families of this locality.