William Carl Parker
July 27, 1922-Aug. 7, 1989

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, August 9, 1989, page 2, col. 2-4, microfilm Niles District Library

Services for William Carol Parker, 67, 114 Green Gable Str., Niles, are Thursday at 2 p.m. at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home in Niles by the Rev. Clyde Conley of General Baptist Church in Elkhart, Ind.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home today from 2 to 9 p.m.

Parker died Monday at 11:10 p.m. at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Ind., following a one-week illness.

He was born July 27, 1922 in Woodbury, Tenn.  He had lived in this area from 30 years, moving here from Mishawaka, Ind.  Parker was employed for 23 years at Millwright-Bertrand Products of South Bend.

He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.  Parker was a member of the Disabled American Veterans of South Bend.

Parker married Lois G. Title on June 22, 1943 in Walker County, Ga., who survives.

Other survivors include four sons, Carl E. Parker of Niles, James R. Parker of Indianapolis, Jeffrey W. Parker of South Bend and Jerome W. Parker of Dillsburg, Penn.; one brother, Perry McMinn Parker of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; a half-sister, Dovie Wilson of Chevyville, Tenn.; a half-brother, Lester Walls of Woodbury, Tenn.; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Memorials will be sent to the Michigan Heart Association.

Fred L. Peter
May 20, 1894-Feb. 5, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Friday, February 6, 1953, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Fred L. Peter, 58, of Detroit, formerly of Niles, died at 1:15 p.m. Thursday in St. Petersburg, Fla., where he had lived since Nov. 15, 1952.  He had been ill three months.

Peter was born May 20, 1894, in Niles and lived here until 1930 when he moved to Detroit where he was employed as a chief clerk for the New York Central Railroad.

Surviving are: his wife, Clara; a daughter, Mrs. John Kalosis, Detroit; a sister, Mrs. Emma Dalenberg, Niles; two brothers, Louis Peter, also Niles, and Carl O. Peter, Detroit, and four grandchildren.

The body will be returned Sunday to the Kiger Funeral Home here where funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday with the Rev. Herbert Meussling, pastor of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Chris E. Reum
Sept. 6, 1866-Dec. 9, 1942

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, December 10, 1942, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

CHRIS REUM, 76, TAKEN BY DEATH

Chris E. Reum, 76, prominent in Niles farm circles many years, died in his home on the Edwardsburg road Wednesday afternoon at 12:45. He had been ill of a heart ailment since last October.

Born near Niles Sept. 6, 1866, he lived in this vicinity all his life. He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Katherine Louise Ranft, who died 20 years ago.

Surviving are two children, Mrs. Fred Roebeck, Route 1, and Rudolph Reum, Kalamazoo; a twin sister, Mrs. Anna Swartz, and brother, William Reum, both near Niles, and seven grandchildren.

Rites Friday

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home unitl 1 Friday afternoon when the body will be taken to St. John's Evangelical church, of which Mr. Reum was a member.

The funeral will be conducted in the church at 2:30 Friday afternoon by the pastor, the Rev. Theo Eisen.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

William E. Reum
June 10, 1889-April 11, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 12, 1963, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

William E. Reum, 73, of 1529 N. 5th St., was pronounced dead on arrival at Pawating Hospital at 6:12 p.m. Thursday. He had been ill three years.

Mr. Reum was born June 10, 1889, in Niles, and lived his lifetime here. He retired from the National-Standard Co. in 1855. He married Clara H. Schneider May 15, 1917, in Niles. She survives.

Other survivors include two brothers, Herman F., Niles, and Clyde, Espanola, N.M.; and four sisters, Mrs. Larned Williams and Mrs. Lola Scholl,, both of  Englewood, Calif., and Mrs. Morris Yonker and Mrs. John Jaroch, both of Niles.

He was a member of St. John's United Church of Christ (Evangelical and Reformed), the Brotherhood of the church, and the American Legion. He was a veteran of World War I.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday in the Kiger Funeral Home. The Rev. Richard Fraser, Pastor of his church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

Arthur Richardson
abt. 1870-March 20, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, March 21, 1953, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

AUTO KILLS AGED NILES PEDESTRIAN
Traffic Fatality Second for City Within a Month
Arthur Richardson, 82, Struck Down at East Main and Thirteenth

The second traffic fatality within 30 days within a three block area on East Main street occurred here early Friday night.

Arthur Richardson, 82 of 1306 East Main street, died a 9:20 p.m Friday at Pawating Hospital of injuries suffered when he was struck by an automobile at 8:10 p.m Friday at the intersection of East Main and Thirteenth streets. The death was the 11th traffic fatality in Berrien County this year.

Niles police said Richardson was struck by an automobile driven by Russell J. Leach, 43, of rural route two, Edwardsburg.

Leach told police that he was driving east on Main street and that he did not see Richardson who started across the intersection walking south.

Richardson is believed to have walked directly into the path of Leach's car. He was struck by the front bumper and knocked to the pavement.

Leach estimated that he was driving between 20 and 25 miles an hour, and police verified his statement.  Officers said skid marks showed that Leach stopped his car almost immediately after the impact.

Richardson never regained consciousness at Pawating Hospital. His injuries were listed as a skull fracture and a compound fracture of the right leg.

Leach was released on his own recongnizance[sic] and ordered to remain available for contact pending a report by the county coroner.

The last traffic fatality here occurred Freb. 19 two and a half blocks from the scene of the fatality last night. The accident in the 1500 block on East Main street resulted in the  death of five-year-old Phyllis Brock, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Brock, 1631 Taft street.

According to Coroner Franklyn G. Rice Jr., Mr. Richardson died from a fractured skull and cerebral concussion suffered in the accident.

He was born in Raleigh, N.C. and came here from Chicago 30 years ago.  He was a laborer.

Surviving are one sister, Mrs. Lela Hubbard of Niles; and one brother, Ralph of Battle Creek. A nephew and niece also survive.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home, where funeral services will be held Monday at 2 p.m.  with the Rev. Richard Alexander of the Mount Calvary Baptist officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Grant H. Ridley
Sept. 1, 1868-Feb. 20, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 20, 1953, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Grant H. Ridley, 84, of 2374 Yankee street, died suddenly at his residence at 2 p.m. Friday.

Ridley, who was a carpenter by trade moved to Niles 44 years ago from Sturgis.  he was born in Wayne County, N.Y., Sept. 1, 1868, and was married Oct. 5, 1890, in Sturgis to Neva Williams, who survives. Also surviving are: a son, Howard, Niles; four grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday in the Kiger Funeral Home with the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.