Obituaries

Nancy Thompson
Jan. 21, 1873-May 17, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 18, 1954, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Nancy Thompson, 911 Margaret street, did at 1:15 p.m. Monday at the Berrien county Hospital, Berrien Center. She had been ill for several years.

Surviving are: her husband, Thomas; six children, Mrs. George Howell, of Jonesboro, Ind.; Glen, William and Perley Thompson,all of Niles; Mrs. William Show, of Galesburg,and Mrs. Harry Wogoman, of Edwardsburg; 17 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren and three . . .[illegible]. Mrs. Thompson was born January 21, 1873, in Grant county, Ind., and came here from Jonesboro in 1923.  She was a member of the First Church of Christ.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, with John Kinner, pastor of the First Church of Christ, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Notes: DOB and Maiden name from Michigan Death Record

Sherley R. Thomas
June 16, 1885-Oct. 19, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, October 19, 1954, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Sherley R. Thomas, 69, of 932 Birch street, resident of Niles for the past 44 years, died at 12:15 a.m. Today at Pawating Hospital, where he had been a patient for five days.

Thomas was born June 16, 1885, in Columbus City Ind., and came here from Burkett, Ind. He was employed as a beater engineer at the French Paper Company here, and was a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.

Surviving are: his wife, Bertha; a son, John Thomas, of Niles; two grandchildren, and a step-son, Joseph Jordan, of Flint.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Kiger Funeral Home here with the Rev. Herbert Meussling, pastor of the Evangelical and Reformed Church, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home.

Mary Lou VanDyke
Feb. 28, 1947-April 7, 2001

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 9, 2001, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mary Lou VanDyke, 54, 6786 Dean's Hill Road, Berrien Center, died following a brief illness at 5:10 a.m. Saturday at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph.  Born February 28, 1947 in Niles to Fred La Roy VanDyke and Kathryn Frances Hamilton, she has lived in Niles most of her life, recently moving to Berrien Center.

VanDyke is survived by brother Wayne of Statesville, N.C., by two nephews, two nieces and their children.

VanDyke was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church in Niles and enjoyed traveling, especially to visit her family.

Services are at 11 a.m Tuesday at Halbritter Funeral Home, Rev. Richard L. Rice presiding. Friends may call at the funeral home, one hour prior to the funeral.  Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Lettie Tittle
May 26, 1954-May 28, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, May 29, 1954, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Lettie Tittle, born Wednesday at Pawating Hospital, died at 7 p.m. Friday at the hospital. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Oordes Tittle, 1314 North Fifth street.

Surviving besides the parents are her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Boyd Title, of Niles; three sisters, Virginia Sue, Linda May and Paulette, and two brothers, Roy Gene and Thomas, all at home.

Services were held at 3 p.m. today at the Pifer Funeral Home.

Laurence Vernon
Feb. 14, 1954-Jan. 1, 1955

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 3, 1955, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: DEATH OF AN INFANT

Laurence Vernon, 11-month-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Vernon of Bell road, died at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Pawating Hospital. He had been ill since birth, Feb. 14, 1954.

Survivors beside the parents are a brother, Dale; two sisters, Shirley and Linda, all at home; his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Cora Aldrich, and paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Laurence Vernon, all of Niles.

Services will be conducted by the Rev. Theodore Greenhoe at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Pifer Funeral Home. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Ida Villwock
March 5, 1888-Jan. 7, 1955

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, January 8, 1955, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Ida Villwock, 66, died at 11:30 a.m. Friday at her home 1136 North Front, after a two-year illness.

Born March 5, 1888 in Russia, she came to St. Joseph when she was 1.  She had lived in Niles since 1946 and was a member of the Assembly of God church.

In June, 1911, she marred August Villwock who died in 1950.

Survivors are two adopted children, Al Wright, South Bend, and Mrs. Bessie Gilbert, Buchanan; one grandchild; a sister, Mrs. Emma Schlutt, Berrien Springs, and five brothers, Emil Wesner, Sodus; Reinhold Wesner, Benton Harbor; Rudolph Wesner, St. Joseph; Adolph Wesner, Niles and Henry Wesner, Niles.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home. The Rev. Clarence Pedersen will conduct services at 2 p.m. Monday at the Assembly of God Church. Burial will be at Silverbrook cemetery.