Mary Lou Johnson
Feb. 15, 1928- Sept. 8, 1982

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, September 9, 1982, page 1, col. 1-4, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles woman dies of injuries

Mary Lou Johnson, 54, of 1337 Maple St., died at 4:22  a.m. Wednesday at the St. Joseph's Medical Center, South Bend, from injuries she received in a traffic accident August 20 at Bertrand Road and 13th Street.

Michigan State Police said Johnson was driving west on Bertrand when her car was struck by a car driven by Curt Darron Hullinger, 19, of 996 S. 15th, who was driving south on 13th Street.

Police said Hullinger apparently ran a stop  sign at the intersection and was charged with careless driving. 

Police said they have turned over the report on the accident to Berrien County Prosecutors to determine if further charges will be issued following Johnson's death.

Mary Lou Johnson

Mary Lou Johnson, 54, of 1337 Maple St., Niles, died Wednesday at 4:22 a.m.  the St. Joseph Medical Facility in South Bend as a result of injuries received in an auto accident August 20.

She was born February  15, 1928 in Walkerton, Ind. She had resided in Niles for the past 30 years, coming from Dowagiac.

She married Floyd L. Johnson November 4, 1946 in Plymouth, Ind. He survives.

Survivors are: her husband; four sons, Kenneth, Karl, Keith and Kerry, all of Niles; a daughter, Mrs. Michael (Linda) Funnell, of Niles; a brother, Harold Kelver of Florida; five sisters, Mrs. Lois Klatt of Mishawaka, Mrs. Pauline Knowlton of Walkerton, Mrs. Betty Harold of Argos, Ind., Mrs. Mildred Williams of Plymouth, Ind.; eight grandchildren also survive.

Funeral services will be held at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home Friday at 10:30 a.m. The Rev. Fred Smith of the South Niles Community Church will officiate.  Cremation will follow.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 0 p.m. Thursday.

Memorials may be made to the Michigan Heart Association.

Laura Mason
Nov. 12, 1900-Sept. 23, 1982

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, September 25, 1982, page 2, col. 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Laura Mason, 81, of 750 Colony Court, Niles, died at 7:15 p.m. Thursday in Riveridge Manor of an extended illness.

Born Nov. 12, 1900 in Jackson, she had lived in this area since 1914, coming from Jackson.  On Aug. 1, 1928, she was married to Charles A. Mason, who has preceeded her in death on Aug. 23, 1982[sic].

Surviving are: two daughters, Mrs. William (Marilyn) Bigelow of Batavia, Ill., and Mrs. Gay Rutherford of Rockford, Ill., and one sister, Mrs. Helen Randall of Athens, Ohio, along with five grandchildren.

Private prayer services will be held Sunday at Halbritter Funeral Home with Rev. David Henderson of Westminster Presbyterian Church officiating.  Burial will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery.  There will [be] no visitation with local arrangements by Halbritter Funeral Home.  A memorial service will be held in October and will be announced later.  Memorial gifts may be given to the Berrien County Cancer Service or Riveridge Manor.

Luther Otto Nelson
Sept. 13, 1914-Sept. 3, 1982

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, September 7, 1982, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

L. Otto Nelson, 67, of 711 Niles Ave., Berrien Springs, died Friday at 11:40 p.m. at his home.

He was born Sept. 13, 1914, in Covington County, Alabama. He is a retired custodian from Lakeshore Public Schools and retired from Scope security.

He is survived by the former Mildred Vandenburg, whom he married on Sept. 13, 1936 in South Bend, Ind. One son, Larry Nelson of Berrien Springs, and one daughter Mrs. Donald (Francis) Bowerman of Lansing, survive along with three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren and five step-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren. One brother also survives, Ramon Nelson of St. Joseph and one sister, Mrs. William (Mary) Brown of Benton Harbor.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday at 11 a.m. At McLauchlin-Willitt Funeral Home in Berrien Springs, with Rev. Gaylord Hall of United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery. Memorials can be made to either the Berrien County Cancer Service or the Central County Senior Citizen's Center.

Dolores E. Schrumpf
March 21, 1918-Sept. 4, 1982

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, September 7, 1982, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Dolores E. Schrumpf, 64, of 103 Northview Lane, Niles, died suddenly at her home early Saturday morning.

Born March 21, 1918 in Petoskey, she has lived in the area since 1941, She was a member of St. John's United Church of Christ, a member of the Lady Elks and was a retired employee of Michigan Bell Telephone Company. On Nov. 8 1942 in Niles, she married Lawrence L. Schrumpf, who preceeded her in death on July 21, 1972.

A sister, Mrs. Dolan (Helen) Shaler of Niles survives.  Also surviving are two nieces, Mrs. Judy Gleason and Mrs. Shelley Homer, both of Niles.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Halbritter Funeral Home, with Rev. Frederick S. West of St. John's United Church of Christ officiating.  Burial will follow in the Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call from 2-4 p.m. and 7-0 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.  Memorials may be made to the Niles Community Library.

Note:  Gravemarker spells last name "Schrump"

Elsie Schmierer
March 22, 1912-May 4, 1995

Niles Daily Star, Friday, May 5, 1995, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Elsie Schmierer
1912-1995
homemaker

Memorial services for Elsie Schmierer, 83, of 1605 Bell road, Niles, will be Sunday at 5 p.m. at Niles Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses, by speaker Richard Gerisch of the congregation.

Mrs. Schmierer died at 7 a.m. Thursday.

She was born March 22, 1912, in New York city, and had lived here since 1987, coming from Queens, N.Y.

On June 9, 1835, at New York City, she married Howard Schmierer, who preceded her in death on Dec. 9, 1967.

Mrs. Schmierer was a homemaker.

She was a member of Niles Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Survivors include two daughters, Arlene Hargis of Niles and Diane Doekker of New York city; a son, Warren Schmierer of Casselberry Fla.; and six grandchildren.

There will be no visitation.

Arrangements were completed by Hoven Funeral Home in Buchanan.

Ernest Lyle Seward Jr.
Dec. 13, 1929-Aug. 31, 1982

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 1, 1982, page 2, col. 7-8, microfilm Niles District Library

Ernest Lyle Seward, Jr., 52, of 22401 Bertrand Rd., Milton Township, Cass County, died Tuesday at 11:55 a.m. At St. Joseph Medical Facility in South Bend, Ind., after an extended illness.

Born December 13, 1929 in South Bend, he was resident of Cass County for 16 years, coming from South Bend. He was a truck driver for Domestic Sales of South Bend and retired in 1979.  On October 19, 1949 in South Bend, he was married to Marie Susan, who survives.

A daughter, Miss Linda Seward of Niles, and a step-son, Don Susan of Mishawaka, Ind., survive, along with four grandchildren.  A sister, Mrs. Francis Davis of Niles, also survives.

He was a lifetime member of the Hart Club (highway aid by radio); a member of the National Rifle Association; a member of Eagle Lodge No. 465 of South Bend; a member of the Fraternal Order of Police in South Bend; a member of American Legion No. 365 in Edwardsburg; and a member of the Michigan Sheriff's Association.

Funeral services will be held at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home on Thursday at 11 a.m. with Rev. Ralph Holman of County Line Assembly of God of Nappanee, Ind.  Place of burial is pending.  Friends may call at the funeral home between 5-9 p.m on Wednesday.