A. John Kovac
July 28, 1913-July 20, 1980

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 22, 1980, page 2, col. 7-8, microfilm Niles District Library

Kovac, ex-schools director, dies

A. John Kovac, 66, retired director of community education for Niles Community Schools, died at 8:20 p.m. Sunday in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, after a brief illness.

He retired in 1977 following a 35-year career in the Niles district.  He began his career in Niles in 1939 as a machine shop teacher and, in 1940, started teaching in night war training classes in Niles.

In 1945, he returned to Niles after a  three-year  tour with the U.S. Navy, and ran a veterans institute for returning vets until 1948.

In 1947, he started the cooperative training program at Niles High School, which he operated for 20 years. It was started on a part-time basis and, in 1967, he became community schools and adult education director on a full-time basis.

In 1978, he was awarded the Berrien-Cass County Adult Educator of the Year at special ceremonies in Berrien Springs.

Mr. Kovac was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, the Niles City Club and a veteran of the World War II with the U.S. Navy.

He was born July 28, 1913 in Iron River and had lived in this area since 1939.

On July 2, 1942, he married Mary Jane Beukema in Grand Haven.

She survives along with one son, Keith J. of Niles; one daughter, Miss Beverly J. Kovac of Nles; five brothers, Joseph, Peter and Martin, all of Caspian, Mich., Louis of Denver and Rudy of Los Angeles and one sister, Mrs Cecelia Atanasoff of Iorn River.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Halbritter Funeral Home with Rev. William J. Fuerstenau of the First Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call between 2 and 4 and 7 and 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Memorials may be given to the Michigan Heart Association.

James Lightfoot
Jan. 21, 1895-July 2, 1980

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, July 5, 1980, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--James Harold Lightfoot, 83, of 36 Cass St., died at 10:15 p.m. Sunday at Pawating Hospital, following an illness of one month.

A maintenance worker for several firms in the Niles area, Mr. Lightfoot was born Jan. 21, 1895 in Cleburne, Texas. He moved to this area in 1950, coming from Cleburne.

In Cleburne in1946, he married Sallie Hassen, who survives.

Also surviving are three brothers, Fred of Los Angeles, Calif., Charles of Berkley, Calif., and Jack of Chicago; and four sisters in Los Angeles.

Funeral services will be at 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. Theodis Hadley of the Canaan Baptist Church of Elkhart, Ind., officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Wake services will be conducted at the funeral home from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday.

Florence M. Lintz
Feb. 27, 1917-July 18, 1978

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, July 19, 1978, page 2, col. 7-8, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Florence M. Lintz, 61, of 532 Clark, died at 8:22 a.m. Tuesday at Borgess Hospital, Kalamazoo, following an illness of two months.

A member of the Salvation Army, she was an employee of the Simplicity Pattern Co.

Mrs. Lintz was born Feb. 27, 1917 in Niles, and had lived here her lifetime.

On June 28, 1934 in Roseland, Ind., she married Earl L. Lintz, who died Jan. 8, 1972.

Surviving are five sons, James F., Danny D., Earl L., and Scott B., all of Niles, and Dennis L. of South Bend; five daughters, Mrs. Earlene Sever, Mrs. Mildred Davis, Mrs. Florence Joanis and Mrs. Nancy Onken, all of Niles, and Mrs. Debra Trussell of South Bend; two sisters, Mrs. Harriet George of Niles, and Mrs. Barbara Bright of Schoolcraft; 25 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Funeral services will be 1:30 p.m. Friday . . . Salvation Army . .15th St., with Lt.  . . Rowland officiating .. .will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call . . .p.m. Thursday . . . Halbritter Funeral . .

Memorials may be .  . .to the Salvation . ..Memorial Fund.

Note:  The second column of this obituary was caught in the fold when microfilmed so that only part of it is visible.

Everett Edward McBain
Aug. 12, 1906-July  19, 1980

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 21, 1980, page 3, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Everett Edward McBain, 73, of 3117 Detroit Road, died at 3:20 a.m. Saturday in Pawating Hospital after a lengthy illness.

He was born Aug. 12, 1906 in New Carlisle, Ind., and was a retired truck driver for Tyler Refrigeration Corp.

He had lived in the area since 1958, coming from Cassopolis.

On Jan. 8, 1960, he married Margaret Anne Godfrey in Edwardsburg.

She survives along with five daughters, Mrs. Marion Lintz and Mrs. Doris Vore, both of Ft. McCoy, Fla., Mrs. Richard (Mary) Hancock, Mrs. Evelyn Haskins and Mrs. Clayton (Norma) Nolan, all of Niles; three sons, James McBain, of Mt. Vernon, Mo., Charles and Robert, both of Niles; one sister, Mrs. Dean Hempel of Niles; one brother, George McBain of Berrien Springs; 26 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Services were scheduled for 10:30 a.m. today at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home with Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg officiating. Burial is in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Otto J. Burkhart
July 28, 1903-July 15, 1980

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, July 16, 1980, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Otto J. Burkart, 2808 Beebe Road, did at 7:05 a.m. Tuesday at the Berrien General Hospital, Berrien Center.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 17, 1980, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Otto J. Burkart, 76, of 2808 Beebe Road, died at 7:05 a.m. Tuesday at Berrien General Hospital, Berrien Center, following an extended illness.

A member of the Niles Moose Lodge, he was a  retired employee of the National-Standard Company.

Mr. Burkart was born July 28, 1903 in Sheboygan, Wis., and had lived here since 1946, coming from Chicago.

Survivors include seven brothers, Victor of Indianapolis, Joe of Lakeland, Fla., Eugene and David, both of Dubuque, Ia., Al of Mason City, Ia., James of Cucumonga, Calif., and Norman of Animosa, Iowa; and six sisters, Mrs. Hilda Gross of Bellevue, Iowa, Mrs. Helen Efferding of Wauksha, Wis., Mrs. Viola Arbugast of Corinth, Miss., Mrs. Frieda Putra and Mrs. Ann Lozinski, both of Oak Park, Ill, and Mrs. Ange Weaver of Wyoming, Ill.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. today at the Halbritter Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Mooseheart for Children's Fund.

Note: Obituaries spell name Burkart but cemetery record spells it Burkhart.

Malcolm E. Collins
Nov. 5, 1913-July 5, 1980

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 7, 1980, page 3, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Malcolm E. Collins, 66, of 222 Owens, died at 6:35 a.m. Saturday

at Pawating Hospital, following an extended illness.

A retired Kawneer company employee, he was a veteran of World War II, having served with the U.S. Air Force, and was a member of Niles American Legion Post 26.

Mr. Collins was born Nov. 5, 1913 in Niles, and had lived his lifetime in the area.

On June 8, 1951 in Niles he married Lillian M. Polly, who survives.

Also surviving are a son, John Hiter of Jonesboro, Ga.; a daughter, Mrs. Vernon (Aline) Shaner of Niles; a brother, Vernon L. Collins of Marion, Ind.; a sister, Mrs. Robert Stephens of Niles; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 4 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service.