Obituaries

Bror C. Erickson
March 29, 1892-Sept. 19, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, September 19, 1953, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Bror C. Erickson, rural route three, Stafford road, died at 5 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital. He had been ill for three weeks.

Surviving are his wife, Anna; one daughter, Mrs. Leo O'Connor, South Bend; one son, Eric, in the Navy at Norfolk W. Va.; another daughter, Helen, at home; one grandchild, and one brother, Edwin, of Waukegan, Ill.

He was born on March 29, 1892, in Sweden, and came here from Chicago about eight years ago.  He was a farmer and was a member of the Berrien County Farm Bureau and of the Gloria Dei Swedish Lutheran Church South Bend.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home beginning Sunday noon. Services will be held at the Funeral Home at 2 p.m. Tuesday, with the Rev. Paul Berggren, of the Gloria Dei Church, presiding, and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Richard Edward French
Sept. 4, 1953-Sept. 6, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, September 8, 1953, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Richard Edward French, 1717 Howard street, died at 4 a.m. Sunday at Pawating Hospital after living for two days.

Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Richard French; a sister, Connie Sue, at home, and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. E.A. Cordell, of Indianapolis, and Mr. and Mrs. Lyle French, of Frankfort, Ind.

The child was born on Sept. 4 at the Hospital.

Services were held at 10 a.m. today at the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. John Kinner, pastor of the First Church of Christ, officiating. Burial was in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Josephine Grasenack
June 19, 1893-Oct. 14, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, October 14, 1953, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Edwardsburg--Mrs. Josephine Grasenack, 60, rural route two, died today at Cass County Hospital, Cassopolis. She had been ill for the past two years.

Her husband, Gustave, died on June 16, 1947. Surviving are a daughter, Miss Allegra Grasenack, at home; two brothers, Ferdinand Pietales, of Tomahawk, Wis., and Louis Pietales, of Chicago, and one sister, Mrs. Clayton Mau, of Chicago.

Mrs. Grasenack was born on June 19,1893, in Chicago, and came here from Chicago 21 years ago. She was a member of Coulter's Chapel Church.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Coulter's Chapel, with the pastor, the Rev. A.J. Martin, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Elizabeth A. Kirkendall
July 19, 1878-Sept. 14, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, September 15, 1953, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Eliazabeth[sic] A. Kirkendall died at 8:30 p.m. Monday, rather suddenly, in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Lawrence Warburton, Baron[sic] Lake.

She is survived by her daughter, Mrs. Warburton; one son, Kenneth R. Kirkendall, of Niles; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, and one sister, Mrs. Inez Butterworth, of Niles.

Mrs. Kirkendall was born on July 19, 1978, in Bradford County, Pa., and came here from Chicago in 1936.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home after 12 noon Wednesday. Services will be held at the Funeral Home at 2 p.m. Friday, with the Rev. L. George Beacock, Methodist pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mary (Crandall) Lesley
Oct. 13, 1895-Oct. 26, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 26, 1953, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Mary Lesley, of San Antonio, Tex., died at 11 p.m. Saturday at a hospital there after a lengthy illness. She was the daughter of the late Mr.and Mrs. George W. Crandall, of Niles.

Her husband, Jack, died about two years ago. Surviving are three brothers, Kurt, Walter and Raymond Crandall, all of Niles, and one sister, Mrs. Felicia Stewart, of Marion, Ind. Mrs. Lesley was born on Oct. 13, 1895, in Niles.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, starting Tuesday night. Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home by Lt. Arthur Homer of the Salvation Army. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Cora Mark
1879-Sept. 1953

Niles Daily Star, Friday, September 25, 1953, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

WORD RECEIVED

Word was received here today of the death of Miss Cora Mark of Chicago, formerly of Niles.  Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday in Chicago and committal rites will be held at 3 p.m. Monday at Silverbrook Cemetery here. Her parents and a brother preceded her in death.