Obituaries

Nels T. ‘Ted’ Lundgren, 84
May 26, 1928-May 14, 2013

Niles Daily Star,Published online 12:32pm Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Nels T. “Ted” Lundgren, age 84 years, of Niles, Mich., died on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles following an extended illness.  He was born May 26, 1928 in Niles to Aaron and Emma (Peterson) Lundgren.

Lundgren

Ted was a 1946 graduate of Niles High School where he played on the first Niles High School baseball team.  He served in the United States Army, returning as a veteran of the Korean Conflict.  After retiring from New York Central Rail Road Company as an engineer, Ted and his family lived in Arlington Heights, Illinois for 10 years, while he worked for the Federal Aviation Agency.  In his retirement, Ted taught himself the trade of clock repair, and would tinker with most any timepiece, from pocket watches to mantel clocks.  Ted always had a passion for baseball and in 1970, he and four other men founded the Babe Ruth Baseball League in Niles.

On July 18, 1953 in Angola, Ind., Ted married the former Janet L. Jerue, who preceded him in death on Oct. 2, 2002.

From their union survives a son; Jeff (and wife Julie) Lundgren of Rochester Hills, Michigan and two grandchildren; Jeff and Joey Lundgren.  Also surviving is one sister; Arlene Brown of Niles.

Ted was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 50 years; Janet, his parents and brother Albert Lundgren.

Funeral services for Nels T. “Ted” Lundgren will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 17, 2013 at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with (Cindy VanParys unconfirmed).  Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends beginning at 11 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home.

Donations in memory of Ted may be made to the Greater Niles Baseball League at Thomas Stadium.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

The Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, is assisting with arrangements.

Julia Sue Elrod, 63
July 7, 1949-May 16, 2013

Niles Daily Star, Published online 9:01pm Thursday, May 16, 2013

Julia Sue Elrod, 63, of Niles, passed away on Thursday, May 16, 2013 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph, of natural causes.

She was born July 7, 1949 in Arkansas to Graham M. and Virgie Ann Ford.  She worked as a trucking company dispatcher.

Preceding Julia in death are her parents and one sister, Ruby.

Surviving family include her husband, Gerald Elrod of Niles; sons, William (Stacy) Edwards of Niles and Mathew (Jennifer) Edwards of Niles; daughters, Angela Whitson and Jacqueline (Jose Martinez) Edwards, both of California; 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; brothers, John, Randy and William Ford; and sisters, Mary and Debbie.

Funeral services will be held at noon, Monday, May 20, 2013 in Hoven Funeral Home, Inc, of Buchanan, with visitation one hour before the service in the funeral home. Burial will take place in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Hoven Funeral Home, Inc. of Buchanan is handling arrangements for the family.  Online condolences can be sent to www.hovenfunerals.com

Sara Sue Roach, 67
May 7, 1946-May 24, 2013

Niles Daily Star, Published 11:39am Monday, May 27, 2013

Sara Sue Roach, 67, of Niles, Mich., died at 5:38 a.m. on Friday, May 24, 2013 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Saint Joseph, Mich., following an extended illness.

She was born on May 7, 1946 in Niles to Franklin Perry and Bernice Mary (Baich) Holy.  She was graduated from Brandywine High School, and lived here all of her life.  She was employed for many years at Martin’s Supermarket, usually as a demonstrator.

Sara was a member of the Liberty Chapel Pentecostal Church in Dowagiac, Mich.  She volunteered with the Pawating Auxiliary at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles; and was a well-known and loved babysitter for many children including infants.

On August 13, 1966 at the Bertrand Bible Church in Niles she married Billy Gene Roach with whom she celebrated last year the forty-sixth anniversary of their wedding.

She is survived by her husband, Billy Gene, and by her sister, Patricia (and Larry) Conley of Niles, her aunt, Vera Holy of Niles, nephews Shannon (and Tammy) Conley and Jason (and Maria) Conley; several cousins, and Billy’s sisters and brothers, and their mother, Norma Roach of Dowagiac.

The funeral service for Sara Sue Roach will be at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28, 2013 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Pastor Mark N. Saylor of the Liberty Chapel Pentecostal Church officiating.  Committal services will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 until 8 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home.

Martha Geideman
Aug. 9, 1886-Dec. 19, 1942

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, December 19, 1942, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

MARTHA GEIDEMAN, ILL 3 YEARS, DIES

Mrs. Martha Geideman, 56, wife of Frank J. Geideman, died this morning at 2:30 in her home at 521 South Third street.  She had been ill three years of a heart ailment.

Mrs. Geideman was born in Chicago Aug. 9, 1886, the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Fred G. Teich. She was married to Mr. Geideman, who survives, Sept. 24, 1907, in Niles. The couple lived a number of years in Michigan City and moved to Niles 22 years ago.

Surviving with Mrs. Geideman are four children, Mrs. Margaret Meyer, Russell G. Geideman, Fred H. Geideman, and John W. Geideman, all of Niles, and two brothers, Pvt. Harry L. Teich, Denver, Colo., and Albert H. Teich, Chicago.

Rites Tuesday

Mrs. Geideman was a member of St.  John's Evangelical church, the G.I.A. of the B. of L.E. and the Woman's guild of St. John's church.

The body  has been taken from the Rutherford funeral home to the family home where friends may call. The service will be conducted in the home Tuesday afternoon at 2 by the Rev. Theo Eisen, pastor of St. John's church. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Etta Yahne Guiles
April 19, 1901-June 7, 1991

Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 10, 1991, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Etta Yahne Guiles, 90, of 1003 Ontario Rd., Niles, were 1:30 p.m. today at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, by the Rev. John Bair, pastor of the Bethel Tabernacale[sic].

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mrs. Guiles died at 3:15 a.m. Friday at Silverbrook Manor Nursing Home.

She was born April 19, 1901, in New Jersey, and lived in this area all her life.

A punch press operator of E.T.C Electric Company, Mrs. Guiles was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church.

Her first husband, Samuel Yahne preceded her in death in 1955, and her second husband, Ralph Guiles preceded her in death.

Survivors include two daughters, Doris Anderson of Grand Rapids, and Adella M. Jagodzinski of Niles; five sons, Robert Yahne of Grand Haven, Ronald Yahne of Grand Haven, Lawrence Yahne of Kent City, Charles Yahne of Grand Haven, and Gerald Yahne of Niles; step children, Thelma Mathis of Okinawa, Ralph Guiles of Muskegon, Gerald Guiles of Denver, Colorado; daughters who preceded her, Joan Boldt, and Edith Pitcher; four sisters, Sophie Blood of Grand Rapids, Cornelius Bowma of Wyoming, Alida  Bradish of California, and Eda Brower, who preceded her in death; eighty-eight grandchildren; over one hundred great-grandchildren; and twenty-five great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation was 2 p.m. Sunday.

Memorial contributions may be made to Casket-bearers David Pitcher, Gerald Pticher, Lawrence Pitcher, Lonnie Pitcher, Ronald Yahne, Jr., and Charles Rush.

Louis Harker
March 31, 1854-Dec. 29, 1942

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 29, 1942, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

LOUIS HARKER, 88, TAKEN BY DEATH

Louis Harker, 88 of 1238 South Fifteenth street, died this morning at 10 in the Berrien county hospital after an illness of two months.

He was born March 31, 1854, in Indiana, and was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth Gangloff Harker, in 1918.  He is survived by a son, Samuel Harker, Berrien Springs, and six grandchildren--Jack Louis Harker, Helena, Ark.; Guy Millard, Camp Carson, Colo.; Samuel Richards, Robert Lee, Donald Eldon and William Russell, Niles.

Services will be conducted in the Pifer funeral home Thursday afternoon at 2. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.