Henry Allen Jacks
June 30, 1880-May 1, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 2, 1935, page 1, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

FORMER RESIDENT OF NILES PASSES

Henry Allen Jacks, Member of Prominent Local Family, Succumbs

Henry Allan Jacks, 55, a former resident of Niles and member of one of the well known older families here, did at his home in Chicago Wednesday night. The body was brought to Niles today.

Mr. Jacks was the son of Edgar Allan and Carolyn Mallett Jacks.  Several generations of the family had lived in Niles, the family home being that more recently occupied by the Lardner family. The moved later to the house now occupied by W.A. Stanner, 541 oak street.

Mr. Jacks was born June 30, 1880, attended school here, and graduated from Niles high school. After his graduation, he was employed by the Pere Marquette railroad. Before moving to Chicago he lived in Pittsburgh.

For several years before his death, Mr. Jacks was connected with the federal relief administration purchasing food or all the shelters in Chicago.

He leaves his wife, the former Ceal Pomeroy, of Ludington, a son, Arthur Hill Jacks, and a daughter, Harriet; two brothers, Phil C. Jacks, Pittsburgh, and Arthur, of New York City; and three sisters, Mrs. Andrew Weisberg, South Bend; Mrs. J.D. Elder and Mrs. Everett Holler, both of Chicago.

The members of the family will arrive in Niles Friday and will be at the Four Flags hotel until after the services.

Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock at Trinity Episcopal church, the Rev. Harry L. Nicholson officiating.  The body will be removed from the Troost and Turner funeral home Saturday morning at 0 o'clock and will be taken to the church where it will lie in state until the four of the funeral.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, May 3, 1935, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

PALLBEARERS NAMED

Friends of the Jacks family and persoanl friends of henry Allan Jacks have been asked to act as pallbearers at the funeral services for Mr. Jacks at Trinity Episcopal church Saturday afternoon. They are: J. Walter Wood, Charles S. Quimby, Harry E. Fox, Thomas M. Swain, Dr. L.G. Platt and Walter Harter. The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson will foficiate at the services at 2 o'clock. The body will lie in state in Trinity church from 9 o'clock in the morning until the hour of the services. 

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, May 4, 1935, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

JACKS RITES TODAY

Services were held this afternoon in Trinity Episcopal church for Henry Allan Jacks, who died Wednesday at his home in Chicago.  Mrs. Jacks, Arthur Hill Jacks and Miss Harriett Jacks arrived here from Chicago Friday. Other members of the family in Niles for the funeral are two brothers, Phil C. of Pittsburg, and Arthur, of New York city,and three sisters, Mrs. Andrew Weisberg, South Bend; and Mrs. J.D. Elder and Mrs. Everett Holler, of Chicago. The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson officiated at the services at 2 o'clock this afternoon, and burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

James Wegner, of Niles
June 29, 1930 — Dec. 27, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:51am Tuesday, December 30, 2014

James P. Wegner, age 84 years of Niles, Michigan died at 10:20 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2014 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana following an extended illness.

James Wegner

He was born on June 29, 1930 in Buchanan, Michigan to Ralph H. and Virginia A. (Bell) Wegner. He was a graduate of Niles High School and had lived here most of his life. He was first employed in the former Montgomery Ward & Company Store in Niles until its closing. He continued in retail sales at the former Williams Brothers Lumber and Home Center, and in retirement he worked at Tyler Automotive.

On July 25, 1953 in Dowagiac, Michigan he married the former Nancy E. Parmeter with whom he celebrated this year the remarkable Sixty-first anniversary of their wedding.

Jim served as an elected member of the Niles City Council for twenty-two years. He also served on the Michigan Municipal League transportation and insurance committee. He volunteered at the Niles Senior Center, driving its Veteran’s van to appointments at the Battle Creek VAMC, and also volunteered with the Four Flags Apple Festival, and the Niles City Police Volunteers in Police Service (VIPs) program.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Niles, the B.P.O. of Niles Elks #1322, and the American Legion Post #26. He served a two year tour with the U. S. Army and was a veteran of the Korean Conflict.

Jim and his family enjoyed fishing and camping in the area, and traveling throughout the Unites States. Jim and his wife spent ten winters at Lake Okeechobee in Florida where he served as a navigational lock operator.

Surviving family includes his wife, Nancy Wegner and their sons, Chris James (Marti) Wegner of Niles and Robert Michael (Joyce) Wegner of Niles; grandchildren, Chris James Wegner, Jr. and Katie Erin (Alan) Furner; great-granddaughter Genevieve Josephine Wegner; and a brother-in-law, Helmut Kolig of Flintstone, Maryland.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, John Wegner and sister, Judith A. Kolig.

The funeral service for James Wegner will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Pastor Donald Fleischman of Fairland Christian Church officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and will conclude with Full Military Honors by the United States Army Honor Guard and American Legion Post #26.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home with Elks’ Rites performed at 7:30 p.m. Contributions in memory of Jim Wegner may be made to the Niles Senior Center.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Doris J. Blackmun, formerly of Niles
Nov. 16, 1925 — Dec. 21, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 8:23am Monday, December 29, 2014

Doris Jean “Dorie” Blackmun, 89, of Niles, Michigan, died on Sunday, December 21, 2014 at the Cass County Medical Care Facility in Cassopolis, Michigan. She was born November 16, 1925 in Buchanan to Beryl and Margaret (Tichenor) Harrington.

Dorie worked for the former First National Bank of Niles, retiring after many years of service. She was a lifelong member of First Presbyterian Church in Niles where she sang in the choir and played the organ and hand bells. She volunteered her time at Lakeland Community Hospital and with the local Meals on Wheels program.

Doris Blackmun

On January 1, 1949 in Niles, Dorie married William H. Blackmun. He preceded her death on September 1, 2008, after 59 years of marriage. Dorie was also preceded in death by a sister, Ann Prestine, and by a brother, Jack Harrington.

Surviving family includes two daughters, Linda (Tom) Frey of Sunman, Indiana, and Judie (Pat) Quinn of Lansing, Michigan; grandchildren, Taryn (Kurt) Bullis and Jill (Michael) Besley, all of Madison, Wisconsin, Stephanie Quinn of Lansing and Neil (Leandra) Quinn of Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Dorie is also survived by her great-grandchildren, Juniper Bullis, Genevieve Bullis, Eliza Besley, John Besley and Brielle Quinn.

Funeral services for Doris Jean Blackmun will be held at Noon on Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, at the First Presbyterian Church in Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of the church officiating and assisted by the Rev. Neil Quinn of Spring Valley Presbyterian Church, Roselle, Illinois. Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the church from 10:00 a.m. until the time of services. Donations in memory of Dorie may be made to the First Presbyterian Church’s Music Program.

Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, Michigan.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Eldon Robert Blackburn
Dec. 11, 1924-Jan. 2, 2015

Eldon Blackburn, 90, of Niles, passed away at Lakeland Hospital on Friday, January 2, 2015 with his family by his side.

Eldon was born on December 11, 1924 to the late George Herman and Thelma (Roy) Blackburn in Niles, Michigan. After school Eldon enlisted in the United States Army Air Corp where he proudly served his country. While in the service he served as a sharpshooter and pilot before his honorable discharge. Soon after Eldon came home he wed the love of his life, Donna Goodling at a ceremony in Merced, California. The two were married for 68 wonderful years before Donna passed in late 2012. 

Eldon was always a busy man. He was a supervisor at Clark Equipment Company in the Axle Engineering Department. Many times Eldon worked two jobs to support his family and give them the life he thought they deserved. Family was very important to Eldon and he cherished his time spent with them. He and Donna were members of First Presbyterian Church in Niles and he loved to hunt, fish, collect coins and play BINGO. If you couldn’t find Eldon and Donna at home you knew they were probably out enjoying BINGO or fishing at Bear Lake in Jones, Michigan. The two helped manage the campground there and made many life long friendships at the campground.

Eldon is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Donna; daughter, Gail Harmon; and brother Kenneth Blackburn.

He is survived by his children, Kathy (Jeff Burrows) Malone of Niles, Gary (Sandy) Blackburn of Byron Center, Michigan and Barbara Speers of Pinellas Park, Florida; grandchildren Thomas (Becky) Kessler, Wendy (Jeromy) Hanson, Amy (Brett) Nielsen, Kelly (Sara Gibson) Rakowski and Erin (Dylan) Brooker; 20 great grandchildren; one great great grandson; a brother Dwayne Blackburn of North Carolina; and a special friend Penny Hocker of Niles. 

A time of visitation will be held at Brown Funeral Home in Niles on Tuesday, January 6, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. with funeral services beginning at 11:00 a.m. 

Those wishing to make a memorial donation in Eldon’s name may do so to the Wounded Warrior Project at PO Box 758517 in Topeka, Kansas 66675 or The Foundation at First Presbyterian Church located at 13 South 4th Street in Niles. 

Published on website of Brown Funeral Home and Cremation services.

Mary Kaye Damouth 
September 26, 1942 - January 5, 2015 

Robert V. ‘Bob’ Ellis, of South Bend
Feb. 12, 1936 — Jan. 3, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:04am Tuesday, January 6, 2015

Robert Vaughn “Bob” Ellis, 78, of South Bend passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 3, 2015 at the St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Mishawaka. He was born February 12, 1936 in Niles, Michigan to Artie and Mildred (Poort) Ellis.

Bob retired from Tyler Refrigeration of Niles, Michigan in 1985 after 30 years of service. He was owner and operator of Ellis Furniture in Niles for 13 years of his early retirement. He was a member of many civic organizations in South Bend including the Saint Joseph Young Men’s Society, the Bowlers Country Club, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Moose Lodge, American Legion and many more. He was a devoted American and had served in the National Guard. He loved life and was always on the go. Bob was a devout Notre Dame fan attending football games there since 1963. He was an avid golfer, bowler and enjoyed playing cards. Bob and his wife proudly traveled through the capitals of all 50 states. Above all Bob was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend to all, as he cherished spending time with his family and friends.

Robert V. Ellis

On April 24, 1972, Bob married the former Ernestine Springfield and together they had celebrated 42 years of marriage. Ernestine survives with sons, Robert (Jenny), Ellis Jr. and his children, Ben, Tyrrell, Henry and Isaac Ellis; James (Sherrie) Ellis, Sr. and his children Michelle, James Jr, Lindsey, Kelly, Christopher; and Richard (Steve) Ellis; a daughter, Lois (Gregg) Longacre and her children, Christopher Eslinger and Brittany Eslinger and 12 great-grandchildren.

Bob is also survived by one brother Dan (Teresa) Ellis, one sister Edna (Steve) Burns and many loving nieces and nephews. Bob will join two older sisters who preceded him in death.

Funeral services for Bob Ellis will be held at Noon on Friday, Jan. 9, 2015 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Pastor David Szymczak of First Church of Christ-Christian officiating. Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the funeral home from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday and one hour prior to services on Friday.

Donations in memory of Bob may be made to the American Cancer Society.

www.halbritterfunerals.com