Carol Jean (Whittaker) Paulk, of Niles
Nov. 20, 1947 — March 10, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:18am Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Carol Jean (Whittaker) Paulk, 66, of Niles, passed away, Monday, March 10, 2014, at home surrounded by family and friends. She was born on Nov. 20, 1947 in Iowa City, Iowa to Walter and Henrieta (Conklin) Meredith. Carol worked as a sales associate for Walmart and retired after 16 years.

Carol Jean (Whittaker) Paulk

Carol is survived by her husband, Terry Paulk; three sons, Lewis (Cindy) Whittaker, Michael Whittaker and Theron Paulk; two daughters, Karen (Dale) Wetzel, Tara Paulk (Jason Moore); eight siblings, David, Deb, Walt, Celia, Andy, Steve, Patty and Georgia; 13 grandchildren, Christina Whittaker, Jon, Rachel and Donna Wetzel, Cody, Destiny and Desiree Coulson, Patiences, Saphira, and Poseidon Moore, Tyler, Megahn, and Torry Paulk, and 11 great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, one brother; Bill, and one sister; Shari.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 14, 2014, at Hope Community Church, 2390 Lake St, Niles, with Pastor Michael Smith officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday, March 13, 2014, from 3 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m. at Hoven Funeral Home in Buchanan, Mich.

Memorials may be made to Riley’s Children Hospital, 705 Riley Hospital Dr., Indianapolis, Ind. 46202. Online condolences may be made at www.hovenfunerals.com

Lindsey Renee Nowicki, 28, Niles
June 27, 1985 — Feb. 28, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:13am Monday, March 3, 2014

Lindsey Renee Nowicki, 28, Niles, died on Friday, Feb. 28, 2014, at her home. She was born June 27, 1985 in South Bend to Tom Nowicki and Shawn (Collins) Nowicki.

Lindsey was a 2003 graduate of Brandywine High School. She enjoyed spending time with her dogs and watching movies.

Surviving family includes her father, Tom Nowicki of Niles, mother Shawn (Tim) Burgess of Corning, Ark., one brother, Kevin Nowicki, one sister, Carrah (Carlo) Cornell of Orlando, Fla., nephews Talon and Trey. Also surviving is paternal grandmother, Helen Westrick and maternal grandmother, Becky Landreth.

Funeral services for Lindsey Renee Nowicki will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 6, 2014, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Tim Burgess of the family officiating. Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.

Donation in memory of Lindsey may be made to your local humane society or animal cause.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Margaret Jean ‘Scotty’ Bender, 92, of Niles
Oct. 13, 1921 — Feb. 28, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:11am Monday, March 3, 2014

Margaret Jean “Scotty” Bender, 92, of Niles, died at 9:15 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 28, 2014 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles following a brief illness.

She was born on Oct. 13, 1921, in Morris, Ill. to Alexander “Alec” and Vivian (Stephens) MacDonald, Sr.

She was graduated from high school in Morris and earned both a bachelors master’s degree from the University of Illinois. She has lived in Niles since 1946, and taught at Niles Community Schools for 38 years.

Scotty was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Niles. She was also a member of the Niles Garden Club, Orchard Hills Country Club, the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority and the Niles-Buchanan YMCA where she enjoyed regular exercise classes. She also enjoyed the fellowship of friends over dinner, and her greatest joy was her family.

On Aug. 21, 1948, in Morris she married Donald F. Bender, who also taught in Niles Community Schools and earned statewide recognition in coaching. They celebrated the 61st anniversary of their wedding prior to Don’s death in 2010.

Surviving family include their son, Steve (Amy) Bender of Buchanan; grandchildren, Lauren (Justin) Bentham, Michelle Bender, and Alison (John) Quartironi and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, and by her brother, Robert MacDonald.

The funeral service for Margaret J. Bender will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 4, 2014, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of First Presbyterian Church officiating. Interment will be at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. A celebration of life will be offered in the spring at Orchard Hills.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday at the funeral home beginning at 5:00 p.m. Contributions in memory of Scotty may be made to the Niles-Buchanan YMCA.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Charlotte A. Kurty, 80, of Niles
May 9, 1933 — Feb. 27, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:01am Friday, February 28, 2014

Charlotte A. Kurty, 80, of Niles, passed away at The Timbers of Cass County in Dowagiac in the early hours of Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014.

Charlotte was born on May 9, 1933, to the late Walter and Ethel (Rowe) McKay in Owosso, Mich. After graduating from Ovid-Elsie High School, Charlotte wed the love of her life, Willard F. Kurty on August 15, 1953 in Ovid, Mich. Together they had four wonderful children. She was a homemaker her entire life, a wonderful cook and baker, and was a Michigan State Sports enthusiast. Charlotte’s greatest love was that for her family.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Ethel McKay; husband, Willard; daughter, Lisa Kurty; two brothers, C. Wayne and James McKay and two sisters, Doris Buysse and Lorraine Buchele.

Charlotte is survived by her children, Karla Schadler of Niles, Lee (Carol) Kurty of Niles, Willard I. Kurty of Niles; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral service for Charlotte will be held on Sunday, March 2, 2014, at 2 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home with a time of visitation one hour prior. A private interment will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Those wishing to make a memorial donation in Charlotte’s name may do so to the Niles District Library General Fund at 620 East Main Street, Niles.

Memories, messages for the family or photos of Charlotte may be uploaded to her personal webpage at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com/obituaries/Charlotte-Kurty.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home of Niles.

Charles L. Allen
May 24, 1828-Feb. 6, 1913

Niles Daily Sun, Friday, February 7, 1913, page 1, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

DEMISE OF CHAS. L. ALLEN

A pioneer resident of Niles and one of the oldest Masons in the city, Funeral Sunday.

Charles L. Allen, was born near Albany, N.Y., May 24, 1828. He came to Niles in 1844.  Oct. 17, 1847, he married Caroline Mittan, and the couple have resided in Niles ever since.  Fifty years and over, Mr. and Mrs. Allen have lived in the home where Mr. Allen did the evening of February 6.  he is survived by the widow, a daughter, Mrs. Frances LaPierre, a son, Charles J. Allen, and one grandchild, Guy M. LaPierre.

Mr. Allen was one of the oldest members of the Masonic Order, here, and the funeral services, to be held at the M.E. Church at 2 p.m. Sunday, will be in charge of the Masonic Fraternity.  Interment will be in Silver Brook cemetery.

Niles Daily Sun, Monday, February 10, 1913, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

FUNERAL OF C.L. ALLEN

Masonic Fraternity conducted Ceremony at Grave

The funeral services for the late Charles L. Allen were held Sunday afternoon at the Methodist church, Rev. R.A. Wright officiating.

The Masonic fraternity attended in a body and the commitment at Silver Brook cemetery was according to the impressive ritualistic ceremony of that fraternity of which the deceased had been an honored member for half a century.

Pastor Wright paid a fine tribute to the deceased and of the fine courtesy existing between the deceased and his wife during a matrimonial alliance covering a period of 68 years.

He referred to the remarkable transformation in this locality during the life time of the deceased, and said that more wonderful things had happened in the world's progress during his life time than in any five hundred years of the world's previous history.

Among those who attended the funeral from out of town were G.M. Lapierre of Battle Breek[sic], Mrs. Wm. H. Snyder of Dowagiac; E. Snoke, Mesdames Ordway, Briggs, Loane, Fred Miles and Miss Maud Bickford of South Bend and Mrs. Frank Mittan of Cleveland.

Sarah Allen
June 13,1860*-Sept. 16, 1940

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, September 17, 1940, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

MISS SARAH ALLEN, 80, TAKEN BY DEATH

Funeral services for Miss Sarah Allen, 80, who was found dead Monday night in her home, 639 Front street, will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 in the Price and Kiger chapel.

Miss Allen's body was found by neighbors who noticed the blinds closed and no sign of customary activity about the house.  Coroner William Pifer, who was called pronounced the death due to natural causes.

Miss Allen had gone to Silverbrook cemetery Sunday with her neighbor, Mrs. Emil Schrumpf. She complained of feeling ill when returning and stopped at the home of Harry Mansfield.  After a brief rest, Miss Allen and Mrs. Schrumpf returned to their homes.

She was born in Illinois in 1860, was never married and had no near relatives. She had lived in Niles most of her life and in earlier years had been a caterer.  She was a member of the Episcopal church.

The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson will officiate at services Thursday afternoon. Friends may call at the Price and Kiger chapel. Burial will be in Silverbrook.

* DOB from death record