Obituaries

Elizabeth Bidwell
March 25, 1891-Aug. 20, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, August 20, 1953, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Elizabeth Bidwell, 715 Cass street, wsa found dead early this morning in the basement of her home. Coroner Franklyn G. Rice ruled the death a suicide.

Mrs. Bidwell had been in poor health for some time. Her husband, Henry, died on May 30, 1952.

Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Howard Hughes, Rock Rapids, Ia., and Mrs. Fred Petty, of Roann, Ind.; one son, E.L. Bidwell, of Diamond Lake, Cassopolis; three grandchildren; two brothers, Everett and Clarence Horner, of Niles, and four sisters, Mrs. O.M. Worvey and Mrs. Albert Felhauer, Niles, Mrs. John Deditch, of Laporte, Ind. and Mrs. Henry Deditch, Carp Lake, Mich.

She was born on March 25, 1891, in Niles, and had lived here all her life. She was a member of the Loyal Star and of the First Presbyterian Church.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home. Services will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church, with the pastor, the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mary C. Bracken
1868-Aug. 8, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 10, 1953, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Mary C. Bracken, about 87, a former Niles resident, died at 7:40 p.m. Saturday at the home of her son, Harold, in Wabash, Ind. Three grandchildren in Wabash and a brother, Frank Blodgett of Tampa, Fla., also survive.

Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Silverbrook Cemetery here.

George P. Eisele, 71
Oct. 31, 1881-July 31, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, August 1, 1953, page 2, col. 5-6, microfilm Niles District Library

George P. Eisele, 435 South Fifth street, died at his home at 6:50 p.m. Friday.  He had been in poor health for a year.

Surviving are his wife, Eva, and one sister, Mrs. Anna Forrest, Niles. He was born on Oct. 31, 1881, in Buchanan and came to Niles from there. He was lived here most of his life and was a machinist at the National Standard Company.  He was a member of Modern Woodmen of America.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be held at 4 p.m. Monday. The Rev. H.A. Meussling, pastor of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church, will officiate, and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Elizabeth Fink
March 21, 1862-Aug. 7, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 10, 1953, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services were held at 4 p.m. today in the Pifer Funeral Home for Mrs. Elizabeth Fink 91, of Niles, who died Friday at the Berrien County Hospital in Berrien Center following a long illness. The Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, officiated and burial was in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mrs. Fink was born March 21, 1862, in Massillon, O., and came to Niles from Fort Wayne, Ind., 72 years ago. She was a member of the Mothers of World War I. Her husband preceded her in death.

Surviving are two sons, Elba J. and George E., both Niles; two grandchildren; one great grandchild, and a step-brother, William Romy, Harvey, Ill.

Paul Gano
Sept. 17, 1926-Aug. 28, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, August 29, 1953, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

YOUNG NILES AREA FATHER ELECTROCUTED

Paul Gano, 26

Killed as Crane

Strikes a Wire

Tragic Accident Occurs

as He Directs Operations

of Crane at State Line

A young Niles area man, the father of three small children, was accidentally electrocuted Friday when the boom of a crane struck a high tension wire about 1:45 p.m.

Paul C. Gano, 26, of 1516 South Thirteenth Street road, was killed instantly as current from the 7,200-volt line coursed through his body.

According to a report from the Niles State Police, Gano, a plumber, was working at the home of Robert Burroughs, State Line road.

Gano, the report stated, was directing operation of a crane by Harold Briney, 1339 Phoenix street.

Another worker, Don Mills, 2436 Lake Street, who witnessed the accident, said Gano's body came in contact with the crane as the boom touched the wire.

Mills told troopers that Gano cried out, and that Briney went to his aid. Briney told troopers that he had felt a slight shock from the contact.

A workman was applying artificial respiration when state police arrived a few moments after being summoned. The troopers took up administration, and yielded when Niles firemen arrived with a resuscitator.

After respiration had been applied with the resuscitator for about 15 minutes, Dr. Grover R. Fattic of Niles arrived and pronounced Gano dead.

The body was taken to the Kiger Funeral Home, and Coroner Franklyn G. Rice Jr. notified of the accident.

Gano was born in South Bend on Sept, 17 1926, and was a Niles resident most of his life. On May 8, 1947, he married the former Wanda Weaver who survives. He was engaged in the plumbing contracting business with his father and was a member of the American Legion and Auxiliary Police.

Also surviving are: his parents, Mr.and Mrs. Robert Gano of Niles; three children, James, Peggy Ann and Nancy Joan, all at home; a brother, Dean, of Niles; and two sisters, Mrs. Frank Snyder of Shawnee, Kas., and Mrs. Philip Vanderburg of Niles.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home where services will be held at 4 p.m. Monday. The Rev. G.A. Steeby, pastor of the First EUB Church, will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

All members of the Pythian Sisters are requested to meet at 3:45 pm. Monday at Kiger Funeral Home, to attend services in a group for Paul Gano at 4 p.m.

William Krueger, 67
Oct. 19, 1885-July 31, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, August 1, 1953, page 2, col. 4-5, microfilm Niles District Library

William F. Krueger, rural route one, died at 1:45 p.m. Friday at Blodgett Hospital, Brand Rapids. he had been in poor health for one and one-half years.

Surviving are his wife, Bertha; his children, Wilbert Krueger, Mrs. Harley Frantz, Mrs. Jack Layman, and Henry Kreuger[sic], all of Niles, LeRoy Kreuger[sic], of Berrien Springs, and Mrs. Robert Clark, of Edwardsburg, and 26 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Also surviving are two sisters, Mrs. Levina Spencer and Mrs. Anna Beal, and one brother, Arthur Krueger, all of Michigan City, Ind.

He was born on Oct. 19, 1885, in  Michigan City, and came to Niles from there in 1919. He was a car repairman for the New York Central Railroad Company, and was a member of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at St. John's Church, with the pastor, the Rev. H.A. Meussling, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.