Obituaries

Lucy May Sutter
Nov. 23, 1896-June 25, 1991

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, June 26, 1991, page 2, col. 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Lucy May Sutter, 94, of 1342 Hickory St., Niles, will be 11 a.m. Friday at Halbritter Funeral Home by the Rev. Leo E. Kostizen, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mrs. Sutter died at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday at Pawating Hospital, following an extended illness.

She was born Nov. 23, 1896, in Logansport, Ind., and lived in Niles since 1927, coming from Logansport, Ind.

Mrs. Sutter was a member of the Ladies' Auxiliary to the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen.

On Nov. 24, 1915, in Logansport, Ind., she married Edward C. Sutter, who preceded her in death.

Survivors include a daughter, Mae Smith of Niles; two granddaughters, Shirley Fender and Carol Krizenski, both of Niles; two great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; a daughter, Margaret Smith; who preceded her in death; and a great-grandson, Kevin Jones, who preceded her in death.

Visitation will be 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Thursday at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Earl Thompson
Nov. 25, 1909-March 23, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 24, 1953, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Earl (Boney) Thompson, 43, of 1315 Hickory street, died at the Hines Veterans' Hospital, Hines, Ill, Monday night.  He had been a patient there since Dec. 15, 1952.

Thompson was born in Three Oaks Nov. 25, 1909, the son of Mr.and Mrs. Lennie Thompson, He lived in Niles since 1918.

He married the former Muriel Anderson in 1946.

Thompson was steward at the Eagles Lodge, and was a member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and Associate member of the Eagles Lodge, all in Niles.

Surviving are the widow; two children, Deanna and Jayme, both at home; four brothers, Harold, Elton, Leonard and Everett, all Niles; two sisters, Miss Jean Thompson and Mrs. Ward Conrad, both Niles; and his mother, Mrs. Lennie Thompson.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home Wednesday evening. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Louise M. Troutfetter
May 19, 1864-March 10, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 10, 1953, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Louise M. Troutfetter, 88, of South Bend, formerly of Niles, died at 9:45 a.m. today at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Everett Calvert, in South Bend. She had been in ill health for the past three days.

Mrs. Troutfetter was born in Galien May 19, 1864, and moved to South Bend from Niles about a year ago.  Her husband, William, died in 1951. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and lived in Niles a number of years.

Surviving besides her daughter are: two sons, Leland of Battle Creek and William of Detroit; three grandchildren; six great grandchildren,and one sister, Mrs. John Bodle, Mishawaka, Ind.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday in the Pifer 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 after noon Wednesday.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 11, 1953, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

The service for Mrs. Louise M. Troutfetter, 88, has been changed form 1:30 to 2 p.m. Friday at the Pifer Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Minnie M. Unruh
April 23, 1876-March 2, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 3, 1953, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Word was received here today of the death of Mrs. Minnie M. Unruh, 76, who died Monday in Muncie, Ind., where she moved after leaving here seven years ago.

According to the message Mrs. Unruh died of a heart attack shortly after she swept deep snow from her sidewalk.  Local relatives include a niece and a nephew.

Funeral arrangements were not completed.

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

Funeral services for Mrs. Minnie Unruh, 2007 South Walnut street, Muncie, Ind., who died suddenly late Monday afternoon in her home, will be held at 4 p.m.  Wednesday in the Meeks Funeral Home at Muncie. A committal service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Thursday at Silverbrook Cemetery here, with the Rev. H.A. Meussling, St. John's Evangelical and Reformed pastor, officiating.

Mrs. Unruh, who was preceded in death by her husband, Phillip, is survived by one son, Elmer, of Muncie. She was born on April 23, 1876, enroute from Germany to America.

Wilbur J. VanAuken
May 18, 1878-April 23, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 24, 1963, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Wilbur J. VanAuken, 84, of 527 Grant St., died at 6:20 p.m. Tuesday in Pawating Hospital, where he had been a patient since Saturday . He had been ill six years.

Mr. Van Auken, retired from the National-Standard Company, following 34 years' service, was born May 18, 1878, in Des Moines, Iowa. He came to Niles from Paw Paw 40 years ago.

Survivors include his widow, Sadie; a son, Gordon Keith, Niles; two daughters, Mrs. Robert Schiele, Niles, and Mrs. Rena Horner, Paw Paw; a brother, John, Kalamazoo; seven grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Friday in the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev. Earl Wickstrom, pastor of his church, will officite[sic]. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Guy George VanDusen
April 23, 1883-Dec. 28, 1965

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 29, 1965, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

EDWARDSBURG--Guy George VanDusen, 82, of 105 E. Elkhart St., died at 8:20 p.m., Tuesday at Memorial Hospital, South Bend. He had entered the hospital Dec. 2.

Mr. VanDusen had served as business agent for the Niles area carpenters' union until his 1957 retirement. Previously he had worked 25 years as a New York Central telegrapher and had worked in the Niles area construction trade.

He was born April 23, 1883, in Howard Township to Frank and Mary George VanDusen.

Survivors include his wife, Edith Westfall VanDusen; a son, Jack, Durand; a sister, Etta VanDusen, South Bend; and three grandchildren.

Mr. VanDusen was a member of St. Peters Masonic Lodge, the Order of Eastern Star 476, the Presbyterian Church and the Con . .[illegible]. .

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Friday at the Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Kenneth Bowser officiating.  He will be assisted by two cousins of Mr. VanDusen, the Rev. Franklyn Bogle, retired church pastor, and the Rev. Stephen Peterson of Cassopolis.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the family home after 7:30 p.m today.

Arrangements are being handled by the Pifer-Mayhew Funeral Home.