Thomas Gail Dipert
June 18, 1946-Nov. 24, 1998

Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 27, 1998, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Thomas Gail Dipert, 52, 2203 Burton Road, Niles, will be Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, by Chaplain Terry Neumayer.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Dipert died Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in Lawson Park, Cassopolis, of an apparent heart attack.

He was born June 18, 1946, in South Bend, Ind. He had lived in this area his lifetime.

Dipert had married the former Rosie Lewandowski.

He was an estimator at Big C Lumber.

Dipert was Marine Veteran, serving during the Vietnam war. He was a member of VFW Post no 5315 and Peacock Post, Baldwin.

Surviving family includes his parents, Gail Dipert of Wellston and Minnie Hahn of Irons; a son, Sean Dipert of Niles; a daughter, Carmen Koselak of South Bend; a sister, Susan Moore of Irons; and two grandchildren.

Friends may call from 9 a.m. until the time of services at Hoven Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.

Ralph J. Pullano
Sept. 23, 1927-Dec. 24, 1998

Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 28, 1998, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Ralph J. Pullano, 71, 115 Market Street, Niles, will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Saint Mary Catholic Church, Niles, by the Rev. Canon Marian M. Kencik of St. Mary Catholic Church.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Pullano died Thursday at 3:54 p.m. at Lakeland Medical Center, Niles, following a brief illness.

He was born Sept. 23, 1927 in Michigan City, Ind. He had lived in Niles most of his life.

Pullano was a well-know[sic] long-time employee of the Ready Theater, and for the former Riviera Theater, Niles.

He was a member of Saint Mary Catholic Church.

He was also formerly employed at the former First National Bank of Southwest Michigan, now Old Kent Bank.

Pullano was preceded in death by a brother, Sam Pullano, in 1985.

Surviving family includes two sisters, Clementina M. (Robert) Hames and Rosemary (Don) Ball, both of Niles; and several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call Tuesday from 6-8 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

An evening prayer service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.

Walter Nelson Sr.
Sept. 12, 1907-Nov. 4, 1998

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, November 7, 1998, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Walter Nelson Sr., 91, of 2345 S. 17th St., Niles, are Monday at 11 a.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home by the Rev. W.L. Daniel of Mount Calvary Baptist Church.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Nelson died Wednesday at 8:15 p.m. at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Ind., following a brief illness.

He was born Sept. 12, 1907, in Pickins, Ark., and lived here since 1944, coming from Arkansas.

In January 1930 in Dermott, Ark., he married the former Lucinda Neal, who survives.

Nelson was a member of the United Auto Workers, He retired from Clark Equipment Co., Buchanan, in 1973 after 30 years of service.

Nelson loved baseball and was involved in the Negro League, playing against Satchel Paige. He turned down an opportunity to play with the Boston Red. Socks.

Survivors, in addition to his wife, include two sons, Walter Nelson Jr., West Borough, Mass., and John Nelson of Dorchester, Mass; two daughters, Theresa Nelson and Lorine Nelson, both of Milwaukee, Wis.; a son, Robert Earl Nelson of Milwaukee; 21 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Betty Wagner of Milwaukee.

He was preceded in death by two sisters and four brothers.

Friends may call one hour prior to the service at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Sickle-Cell Foundation.

Harry Parks
Dec. 1, 1911-Nov. 25, 1998

Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 27, 1998, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Harry Parks, 86, Horton Court, Niles, died Wednesday, Nov. 25, at Lakeland Medical Center, Niles, of an illness.

Arrangements are being completed at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 30, 1998, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Harry L. Parks, 86, 2722 Horton Court, Niles, will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, by Pastor Brad Lomax of Emmanuel Baptist Bible Church.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Parks died Wednesday at 8:17 p.m. at Lakeland Medical Center, Niles, following a brief illness.

He was born Dec. 1, 1911, in Niles, and was a lifetime area resident.

In Oct. 1934 he married the former Hazel Laura Parks, who preceded him in death on Aug. 19, 1997.

Parks had retired in 1965 after 33 years with Shipper's Dispatch, South Bend, Ind.

He was a member of B.P.O. of Niles Elks Lodge no. 1322 and the Eagles Lodge, South Bend.

Parks was also preceded in death by a son, James L. Parks, on Oct. 4, 1994.

Surviving family includes a son, Donald H. Parks of Niles; a sister, Florence Barry of Houston, Texas; and five grandchildren, Michael Parks of South Bend, Donna Jo Parks of South Bend, Sierra Parks of Niles, Gena Heatherington of Houston,and Joanie McMillan of Estacada. Ore.

Visitation will be Monday  from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home.

Josephine E. Reed
Oct. 27, 1906-Nov. 23, 1998

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 30, 1998, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Graveside services for Josephine E. Reed, 92, 2314 Zoysia Lane, North Fort Myers, Fla., will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, by Rev. Al Bastin of Saint John's United Church of Christ.

Mrs. Reed died Monday, Nov. 23, at 9:56 a.m. at Lee Memorial Health System, Fort Myers, Fla., of natural causes.

She was born Oct. 27, 1906 in Niles. She had lived in Niles most of her life, spending several years in Wisconsin before moving to Florida.

In 1927, she married William Reed, who preceded her in death in 1976.

Mrs. Reed had worked for many years at the former Wonderland Discount Store, Niles, and had also worked for many years at Bendix.

She was also preceded in death by three sons, Frederick Reed, William Reed, and Kenneth Reed; four sisters, Myrtle Eisele, Edna Wadel, Mary Smothermon, and Bernice Campbell; and two infant siblings, Mabel and Harry Reed.

Surviving family includes three step-daughters, Katherine Sorrels of Elkhart, Ind., Martha Wiese of Niles, and Virginia Marshall of St. Cloud, Fla.; 39 grandchildren; and 30-plus great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.

Larry A. Trussell
March 3, 1980-Dec. 24, 1998

Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 28, 1998, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Larry A. Trussell, 18, 424 1/2 East Division Street, Dowagiac, will be Tuesday at 1 p.m.  at First United Methodist Church, Dowagiac, by the Rev. Terry L. Neumayer of Diamond Cove Missionary Church. Neumayer is Chaplain for the Cass County Sheriff's Department.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Trussell died Thursday at 8:25 p.m. at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo, of injuries from a house fire.

He was born March 8, 1980, in Niles.  He had lived in Dowagiac most of his life.

Trussell enjoyed caring for animals and gardening.

Surviving family includes his parents, Larry R. and Debra A. Trussell; a sister, Lora Ann Whitaker of Dowagiac; two brothers, James Michael Trussell and Benjamin Allen Trussell; and his grandmother, Helen Trussell of Dowagiac.

Friends may call Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Memorials contributions may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.