Minnie Reum
July 8, 1892-June 8, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 9, 1953, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Body of Woman Found on Road
Autopsy Is Ordered to Determine Death Cause

The death of Mrs. Minnie Reum was due to natural causes, Dr. Robert Frost, Michigan City Pathologist, ruled today, following an autopsy of the body completed at noon. Dr. Frost said death was due to a heart attack. Investigating officers said Mrs. Reum might have been dumped from an automobile, but it is believed that she was dead at the time her body was abandoned.

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The body of a 60-year-old Niles woman was found under mysterious circumstances on the Ullrey Road about three miles north of Niles near Pucker street about three miles north of Niles near Pucker street about 10:30 p.m. Monday.

An autopsy to determine the cause of death of Mrs. Minnie Reum, 1015 North Eighth street, was ordered by Coroner Franklin G. Rice Jr.

The Berrien County Sheriff's department reported today that it “fairly apparent to investigating officers that death did not occur at the point where the body was found.”

Joseph P. Howe, 1003 Ontario street, discovered the body. He was driving north on Ullrey road when he passed the dead woman. He returned and parked near the body, which was lying on the north side of the  road.

At the same time, Eugene Murphy and his wife, rural route two, Niles, arrived at the scen in their car. Murphy called Niles police, who notified, the sheriff's department.

Conducting the investigation were Sgt. Robert Rinker, Sgt. Edward Sandera and Detective Joseph Anderson, all of the sheriff's department.

In the report made today, the officers said they found no trace of violence about Mrs. Reum's body, and nothing on her person to connect her with the scene where her body was found.  There were no footprints in the area.

Investigation officers have concluded from the evidence that the woman died elsewhere and her body was brought in an automobile  to the spot where it was found. A search for the automobile is underway, but officers today reported little hope of finding it.

Surviving are one son, Marcus Burnell Marks, Niles; four brothers, Thomas, Lonnie, Fred and Otto Applegate, all of Niles, and three sisters, Mrs. Goldie Jones, Muncie, Ind., and Mrs. Sylvia Mahoney and Mrs. Gertrude Chalmers, Marion, Ind.

Mrs. Reum was born on July 8, 1892, in Marion, Ind., and came here in 1929.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be conducted at 4 p.m. Thursday by the Raymond L. McCoy, pastor of the First Baptist Church. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Cecile Scoville Deegan
June 5, 1884-June 8, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 9, 1953, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Find Body of Niles Woman in the River

Two Niles police officers discovered the body of Mrs. Bernard Deegan, 69, of 421 North Fifth Street, about 6 p.m. Monday in the St. Joseph River approximately 300 feet north of the French Paper company footbridge.

The discovery by Patrolman James Gray and Detective Herbert Block, of the Niles police department, ended a day-long search for Mrs. Deegan after her husband informed police early Monday morning that she had disappeared from the house durng the night.

The husband informed police officers that his wife might have gone to the river. He said she had been in ill health for the past four years, and recently she had become despondent because of her physical condition. She had threatened to go to the river, her husband told police.

Police said it was obvious that Mrs. Deegan had taken her own life. Chief of Police Arthur Pears said that death was due to drowning.

Officers Gray and Block discovered the body of Mrs. Deegan about 25 feet from the east shore line. The body, fully clad, was floating near the surface.

Bernard Deegan, the husband, told police that he last saw his wife at 3:45 a.m. Monday when she attempted to put on her clothing and go for a walk.

The husband said she returned to bed, but when he awakened at 7 a.m Monday she had disappeared.  He immediately reported her disappearance to city police and the serarch was started by foot patrolmen who walked the river bank.  Two boats were launched Monday afternoon, and the body was located after an eight-hour search.

Mrs. Deegan was born in Niles on June 5, 1884, and was a lifelong resident of the city. She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church.  Surviving in addition to her husband, Bernard, is a daughter, Mrs. Roy Leiter of Buchanan.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home where private funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday.  The Rev. John Carlton, Episcopal pastor, will officiate, and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Jay Raul Wilkens
Aug. 10, 1953-Nov. 15, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 16, 1953, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Jay Raul Wilkens, 1307 South Third street, was pronounced dead at about 10:30 a.m. by the Berrien County Coroner, Dr. Franklyn G. Rice, of Niles. Niles firemen answered a call at 10:27 a.m. Sunday and rushed an inhalator to the home, but t he three -month-old child was dead upon their arrival.

Surviving  are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Almond Wilkens, of Niles; Grandparents, Paul Wilkens, of Pokagon, and Mrs. Selma Wilkens, of Niles; a twin brother, Roger Bryon and five brothers and sisters, Vince, Kim, Diana, and Cheryl, all at home.

The child was born on Aug. 19, 1953, in Mishawaka, Ind.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, with the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, Presbyterian pastor, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Note:  Per Michigan Death Certificate, burial was at Sumnerville cemetery not Silverbrook and there is no record of burial at Silverbrook.

Hazel Haslanger
July 21, 1902-June 8, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 8, 1953, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Hazel D. Haslanger, 17 River street, died at 3:30 a.m. Today after an illness of four days, at Pawating Hospital.

Surviving are are one daughter, Mrs. Ora Knott, Niles, and two grandchildren. Mrs. Haslanger was born July 21, 1902, in Niles, and had lived here all her life.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday. The Rev. L. George Beacock, Methodist pastor, will officiate, and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Gerald Fletcher
June 12, 1952-June 7, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 8, 1953, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Gerald Fletcher, one-year-old son . . .[illegible] . . . p.m. Sunday in Children's Hospital, South Bend. He had been ill for six months.

Also surviving are his grandparents, Mr.  and Mrs. Virgil Fletcher, Niles, and Mrs.[sic] and Mrs. Clarence Hellwig, Buchanan. He was born on June 12, 1952, at Pawating Hospital.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the First Methodist Church, with the Rev. L. George Beacock, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Raymond W. Eberhard
Feb. 20, 1886-June 1, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 2, 1953, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Raymond W. Eberhard, 67, a veteran of 50 years in show business and manager of the Ready Theater here for 18 years, died suddenly on Monday morning in his home at 319 Fifteenth street, Port Huron.

Eberhard was associated with Butterfield Theaters for 25 years and managed the local theater from 1932 to 1950, leaving here in October 1950 for Flint.  He later went to Battle Creek, and in November of  1952 went to  Port Huron, where he was manager of the Lake and Riviera Theaters.

He was born on Feb. 20,  1886, in Cleveland, O., and married Ruth Saunders on Aug. 10, 1915. His widow survives.

Also surviving are two sons, John G., of Saginaw, and Lt. Wallace B. Eberhard, with the U.S. Army in Germany; two daughters, Mrs. Albert Verduin and Miss Betty Rae Eberhard, both of South Bend; five grandchildren; one brother, Arthur Eberhard, Springfield, Mass., and one sister, Mrs. Grace Pierson, Needham, Mass.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete. Friends may call at . . .[illegible]. . .

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, June 3, 1953, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

EBERHARD RITES SET

Rites for Raymond W. Eberhard, formerly of Niles, who died Monday morning in his Port Huron home, have been set at 2  p. m. Friday in the Pifer Funeral Home.  The Rev. John G. Carlton, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, will officiate, and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.