Obituaries

Evelyn M. Houston
Jan. 22, 1925-Dec. 18, 1942

Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 18, 1942, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

EVELYN HOUSTON STRICKEN TODAY; FUNERAL MONDAY

Miss Evelyn Margaret Houston, 17, a resident of Niles nearly two years, died this morning at 7:45 in Pinecrest sanitarium, Oshtemo, after an illness of three and one-half months.

The daughter of Mrs. Laud Reed, 1207 North Ninth Street, Miss Houston was born Jan. 22, 1925 in Hulbert, Ark. She spent most of her life in Chicago where she attended grade and high schools and came to Niles Feb. 7, 1941.  She attended Niles high school one semester.

Surviving with her mother are three half-brothers, Maldwin, Carson and Jerald Reed, Niles, her grandmother, eight aunts and an uncle.

Friends may call at the Price and Kiger funeral home until 11 Monday morning when the service will be conducted in the Franklin A.M. church by the Rev. A.L. Jelks. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Florence Johnston
Dec. 10, 1885-Dec. 29, 1942

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 29, 1942, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

FLORENCE JOHNSTON 57, TAKEN BY DEATH

Mrs. Florence Johnston, 57, of 209 1/2 North Second street, died this morning at 6 in Pawating hospital where she was taken for treatment Sunday night.

Surviving Mrs. Johnston, who was born Dec. 10, 1885 in New Troy, is her husband, Raphael Johnston, to whom she was married June 26, 1904, in Goshen, Ind.

She also leaves a daughter, Miss Genevieve Johnston, Canada, and a son, Claude Ford, Plymouth, Ind.

Friends may call at the Price and Kiger funeral home, where the service will be conducted Thursday afternoon at 2 by the Rev. A.C. DeVries, pastor of the First Evangelical church of which she was a member.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Arthur C. Kelly
Oct. 29, 1903-Dec. 28, 1965

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 29, 1965, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Arthur C. Kelly, 62, of 306 S. 15th St., died at 10:55 p.m. Tuesday in Pawating Hospital, where he had been a patient since Dec. 23,

Mr. Kelly, a retired employe of the Kawneer Company, was born Oct. 20, 1903, in Lockport Township. He came to Niles from Detroit in 1945. His wife, Lydia, died July 31.

Survivors include a son, Leroy . . .and two brothers, Walter L. and Oliver, both of Niles; two sisters, Mrs. Leo C. Strong and Mrs. Sidney Tonkin, also of Niles; and three grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Friday in the Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home.  The Rev. Leonard F. Putnam, pastor of the First Evangelical United Brethren Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the funeral home after 5 p.m., Thursday.

Howard Klute
Aug. 13, 1904-June 17, 1991

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 18, 1991, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Howard Klute, 86, of 824 W. Park Drive, Niles, will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Halbritter Funeral Home with Full Masonic Rites by St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4 F&A.M., Niles.

Burial will be at Silverbrook cemetery.

Mr. Klute died at 8 p.m. Monday at his home.

He was born Aug. 13, 1904, in Three Oaks, and lived in this area all his life.

Mr. Klute was a retired owner of Klute Electric Service & Supply.  He owned Economy Repair Shop at 1548 Hickory St. in 1930 and in 1945 he moved to business as Klute Electric Service  & Supply to 1137 S. 11th St.

Mr. Klute was formerly employed in 1923 by Michigan Central Railroad as a fireman and later as an engineer.

On Jan. 24, 1924, inNiles, he married Helen M. Ducey, who preceded him in death.

Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Lucille Kachur of Niles; a brother, Edward Klute of Niles; three grandchildren, Carol Kachur of Rocky Mountain, N.C., Michael Kachur of Niles and Richard Kachur of Blue Springs, Mo.; eight great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be 5-9 p.m. Wednesday at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4, F&A.M., the Elks Lodge of Niles or donor's choice.

Susan D. Klute
May 1, 1951-Jan. 7, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 8, 1953, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

. . .daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Klute, 1340 Sheffield avenue, died at 10 p.m .Wednesday in Coldwater. She had been in poor health since birth.

Surviving besides her parents are her grandfather, Floyd Babcock, Niles; a grandmother, Mrs. Carl Niendorf, Three Oaks; one brother, David, and a sister, Darla, at home.

The child was born on May 1, 1951, at Pawating Hospital.

Private services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, Presbyterian pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Martin Kocsis
Feb. 12, 1917-June 23, 1991

Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 24, 1991, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for martin "Mooney" Kocsis, 74, of 466 Ironwood Dr., Niles, will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home by the Rev. Arnold Fitzgerald, pastor of the Second Baptist Church, Topeka, Kan.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemtery.

Mr. Kocsis did at 5:30 a.m. Sunday at his home, following an extended illness.

He was born Feb. 12, 1917, in South Bend, Ind., and lived in this area all his life.

He retired as an Electronic Technician of Wheelabrator Frye Co., Mishawaka, Ind. He was a former owner of Mooneys Radio & TV, Niles.

Mr. Kocsis was a member of Buchanan Moose Lodge and LaRue Messenger American Legion Post # 26, Niles. He was a WWII Navy veteran.

On Oct. 18, 1952, he married Beatrice E. Kocsis, who survives.

Other survivors include a son, Terrell Kocsis of Niles; a stepson, Thomas A. Taylor of Niles; two stepdaughters, Linda Planck of Dowagiac and Sherry K. Fitzgerald of Topeka, Kan.; two sisters, Mary Fogarty of South Bend, Ind. and Betty Dick of South Bend, Ind.; a brother, Emery Kocsis of South Bend, Ind.; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.