Obituaries

John David Wolf, of Niles
Sept. 20, 1926 — Jan. 25, 2015

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:10am Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Irvin O. Robeck
Aug. 15, 1909-April 8, 2001

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 10, 2001, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library 

Funeral services for Irvin O. Roebeck, 91, of 816 Burns Street, Niles, are Wednesday at 10 a.m. At St. John's United Church of Christ, Niles.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Roebeck died April 8, at his home, of natural causes.

He was born Aug. 15, 1909, in Niles.

On Oct. 28, 1929, in South Bend, Ind., he married Lillie K. Christman, who preceded him in death.

Roebeck was a boilerman for French Paper Mill, Niles, He served in the army.

In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Tonya Robinson.

Survivors include: a daughter, Regina Ann Withers of Manistee; a sister, Olga Bath of Niles; 4 grandchildren; and 2 great-grandchildren.

Friends may call today from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Pifer/Smith Funeral Home, Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. John's United Church of Christ, Niles.

Emma Mittan
Jan. 29, 1826-Dec. 13, 1904

Niles Republican II, 15 Dec 1904, (from Wm. Brackett)

One Of The First Settlers Mrs. J. W. Mittan, Who Died Yesterday, Came to Niles in Wagon in 1837 

Mrs. J. W. Mittan who died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Stella Loane, yesterday afternoon, was one of Niles’ oldest citizens, having come to this town in 1837.  Mrs. Mittan was born in Ypsilanti, Mich., in January, 1826, and with her father, Ezra Derby, made the trip to Niles eleven years later in a covered wagon.  Mr. Derby left her in charge of his sister, Mrs. Jacob Messenger, and his brother, Owen Derby.  Mrs. Mittan was married in 1847, the ceremony being performed in the house now occupied by Bascom Parker at Fourth and Main streets.  She was the mother of eight children of whom six are living.  Those who survive are Mrs. Josey Bickford of Niles, John and Charles Mittan of Toldeo, Mrs. Stella Loane of Niles, Mrs. Frank Allen of Muncie, Ind., and Robert Mittan of Minit, N. D.  Since the death of her husband in 1900, Mrs. Mittan has resided with Mrs. Loane, and has always been a resident of Niles and vicinity since first coming here.  The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon at the house, the Rev. A. T. Ferguson officiating.  The remains will be interred at Silver Brook.

Note:  DOB and DOD from Michigan Death Record for Emma Francis Mittan

Ida E. Woods
Mar. 21, 1857-May 5, 1909

Niles Daily Star, May 6, 1909, page 2, microfilm, Niles District Library(from K. Alton)

Mrs. Ida E. Woods passed away about 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon at her home, 105 Lincoln avenue after months of suffering from cancer.

Mrs. Woods was born in New York Mar. 21, 1857.  She was the mother of six children, four of whom survive her.  They are Earl, the Misses Banche and Ruth Woods, the latter a member of the junior class of the high school, all of Niles and George of Chicago.  A sister Mrs. Hayes, of Chicago, also survives.

Mrs. Woods was a noble, self-sacrificing woman and has made a host of friends who mourn with the family her demise.

Mrs. Woods was twice operated upon at Ann Arbor but the best medical skill proved of no avail.

The funeral will be held tomorrow afternoon at 3 o’clock, Rev. C. J. DeCoux’ officiating. Internment will occur at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Florine Woods
March 6, 1925-Feb. 3, 2005

Niles Daily Star, Friday, February 4, 2005; page 2, microfilm, Niles District Library(from K. Alton)

Florine (Bryant) Woods, 79, of Osborn Ct. Niles, died Thursday, Feb. 3, at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph.

She was born on March 6, 1925, to the late Hewitt and Louise (Gunter) Bryant in Dell, Ark.

Woods worked for many years at Simplicity Pattern Company before her retirement in 1988.  She attended the Jehovah’s Witnesses Kingdom Hall of Niles.

She loved watching soap opera’s, working on puzzles, gardening, crocheting, sewing and spending time with her family.

Survivors include five daughters, Mary Sue Austin of South Bend, Ind., Mona Woods of Chicago, Ill., Elizabeth Woods of Niles, Gail Woods of South Bend, Ind., and Joy Ann Woods of North Miami Beach, Fla.; three sons, James Bryant of South Bend, Ind., (Joe (Vel) Woods of Cleveland, Ohio, and Willie Lee (Melody) Woods of Ypsilanti; a sister Ola Mae Thorpe of Cleveland, Ohio; 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; three great-great grandchildren; and two very special and dear friends Ophia Bledsoe and Virginia Hartman.

She is preceded in death by her parents and a sister Christine Fields.

Services will be held on Tuesday, at 11 a.m. at Brown Funeral Home, 521 E. Main St., Niles by Brother Lloyd Huber.

Visitation will be held one hour prior.  An internment will follow the funeral at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Jehovah’s Witness Kingdom Hall, 603 N. 17th St., Niles, MI 49120.

Arrangements have been made by Brown Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Niles (formerly Pifer-Smith Funeral Home).

Charles William Stubbs
April 28, 1907-Jan. 27, 1951

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 29, 1951; page 1, col. 2, microfilm, Niles District Libraryfrom K. Alton)

Avalon Ballroom Owner Found on Garage Floor

Cass County Coroner Adam B. Greenawalt, of Cass county, today ruled as accidental the death by carbon monoxide poisoning Saturday of Charles W. Stubbs, 43, owner of the Avalon ballroom here.

Stubbs was found on the floor of his closed garage, dead from fumes from the same car which killed his wife 20 months ago.  State police said no evidence of suicide was found.

Dead 10 to 20 Hours

Vivian C. Bloodgood, Stubbs step-father, found Stubbs about 2 p.m. Saturday, lying by the driver’s side of the car.  Police said he had been dead for from 10 to 12 hours when found.  The Howard township fire department pulmotor was called to the scene but was not used.  Time of death was place at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday.

Wife Died in Similar Way

Stubbs’ wife, who sang professionally under the name of Carol Kay, was found dead in the same car and garage on May 24, 1949.  The engine of the car was cold when both bodies were found.  Bloodgood had gone to seek Stubbs at his home when he had not seen him all day.

Friends said Stubbs apparently had returned home after a Tall Cedars of Lebanon party which he left at 1:15 a.m. Saturday.  The keys to the car were in his pocket when he was found.

He was born April 28, 1907, in Kalamazoo, and came here from Benton Harbor in 1931.  He is survived by his step-father and mother Mr. and Mrs. Vivian Bloodgood of Barron Lake.

Stubbs was a member of St. Joseph Valley No. 4 Free and Accepted Mason, of the Dewitt Clinton Masonic consistory of Grand Rapids, of the Niles-Cass Shrine club, and of Saladin Shrine temple, Grand Rapids.  He was a veteran of World War II.

Funeral Services Tuesday

The Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, of the First Presbyterian church will conduct funeral services at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the church.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home.