Obituaries

Alviria Fisher
April 1841-Feb. 7, 1923

Niles Daily Star-Sun, Wednesday, February 7, 1923, page 6, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. A. Fisher, 81, Dies Suddenly of Heart Disease Today

Mrs. Alviria Fisher, 81 years, 313 Pokagon street widow of D.M. Fisher, died suddenly this morning about 9:30 o'clock with heart disease.  As she did not feel well this morning Mrs. Fisher remained in bed.  Mrs. Bert Fisher upon being notified that she was ill went at once to her home arriving about five minutes before the aged lady passed away.

Mrs. Fisher was born in Ohio, April 1841. She came to Michigan when she was a little child with her parents, and settled in Cass county.  She was married to Mr. Fisher in 1863. Of the three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Fisher, but one, Bert Fisher, 998 N. Fifth street, survives his mother.  Ten years ago Mr.and Mrs. Fisher celebrated their golden wedding anniversary at Odd Fellow hall as guests of the Odd Fellows of which order Mr. Fisher was a charter member.  Besides her son, Mrs. Fisher is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Mary Garwood of Minneapolis, Minn., and Mrs. Emma Parks of Long Beach, Calif., also by four grandchildren and one great-granddaughter, the latter the little daughter of Mr.and Mrs. Oren Webber of this city.  The grandchildren are Mrs. Oren Webber of this city, Misses Elaine and Gertrude Clymer of Lakeside and Mrs. Carl Martin of More, Minn.

The death of Mrs. Fisher removes a highly esteemed resident of the community for many years and many friends mourn her death.

Hulda Caroline Moon
Jan. 27, 1840-Jan. 10, 1923

Niles Daily Star-Sun, Wednesday, January 10, 1923, page 7, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Death Claims Aged Niles Resident, Mrs. Hulda Moor[sic]

Mrs. Hulda Caroline Moon, 82 years widow of Garrison Moon, died this morning about 7:15 o'clock at her home, 3989 North Second street. While the deceased had been in failing health for a year and within the last six months had steadily failed, she had been confined to her bed for the last 10 weeks and death brought release from great sufferings from anemia and cancer.

Mrs. Moon was born in Albany, N.Y., January 27, 1840. With her husband she came to Niles from Dowagiac, about 55 years ago and Mr. Moon entered the employ of Mr. Krick, wagon manufacturer. Except for a time which he was employed in South Bend as a foreman at the Studebaker company's plant, Mr. Moon had since resided here continuously until his death seven years ago.

Mrs. Moon is survived by three sons and one daughter.  They are William F. Moon of Canton, Ohio; John W. Moon of Detroit, Frank G. Moon of Niles and Mrs. Marie Ehretsman of Kalamazoo.  Two sisters, Mrs. Margaret Winters of Mt. Pleasant and Mrs. Jane Curtis of Albion, Mich., also survive. An only brother of Mrs. Moon, William Stroup, who served during the civil war, was killed as he was en route home from the war when the train in which the company of which he was a member was wrecked.

Mrs. Moon was highly esteemed by a large circle of friends in Niles.

The funeral services will be held on Friday although complete arrangements have not been made. The deceased was a member of the First Baptist church. Burial will take place in the family lot in Silver Brook cemetery where Mr. Moon is buried.

Joseph Newkirk Low
July 10, 1923 - April 15, 2013

Joseph Newkirk Low, 89, of Niles, passed away in Hospice House of South Bend of natural causes.

He was born July 10, 1923 in West Lafayette, Indiana to Willis and Mary (Healey) Low. Joseph was a WWII US Army Air Corp. veteran and attended Wesley United Methodist Church. He was a lifetime area resident and a retired attorney in Niles. He was a graduate of Niles High School and obtained his undergraduate and law degrees from Notre Dame University. He was a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Niles American Legion Post #26, Niles Elks, Niles Lions Club and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV).

Preceding Joseph in death are his parents and his first wife, Wilma Low.

Surviving family include his wife Rosemary Low and two sons, Joseph C. Low of South Bend and John (Barbara) Low of Park Ridge, IL.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30am, Saturday, April 20, 2013 in Hoven Funeral Home, Inc. of Buchanan, with visitation from 10:30am – 11:30am, also in the funeral home. Burial will take place in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles.

After the Clouds, the Sunshine, After the Winter, the Spring, After the Shower, the Rainbow, For life is a changeable thing; After the Night, the Morning, Bidding all darkness cease, After life’s Cares and Troubles, The Comfort and Sweetness of Peace.

http://hovenfunerals.com/fh/print.cfm?type=obituary&o_id=2066990&fh_id=13894

Richard Duis
May 24, 1924 – Oct. 9, 2011

Niles Daily Star, Published 7:24pm Tuesday, October 18, 2011

Richard John Duis, loving husband of Marilyn Geneva Duis for 60 years,  passed away peacefully in his home on Sunday Oct. 9, 2011.

Born in Chicago May 24, 1924, to the late Richard John Duis Sr. and Mary Duis,  Richard moved with his parents and older brother Verdan to the Niles area in 1936.  World War II led to an early graduation from Niles High School, and Richard enlisted in the U.S. Army where his mechanical talents placed him as a radar repairman. Richard was honorably discharged at the end of the conflict.

“Dick” Duis was an independent and resourceful man who was well known for his skills as a master plumber and pipefitter while a member of Local 172, South Bend for more than 55 years. Buildings he assisted in constructing still stand throughout Michiana.

A man of many interests, Richard enjoyed blacksmithing, artistic painting, writing poetry, treasure hunting with his metal detector, gem and mineral collecting, firearms restoration, playing the piano, practicing the Russian and Spanish languages and most of all, scrapping and “Dumpster diving.”

A spiritual man, he was active throughout much of his adult life in the Niles Seventh Day Adventist Church where he could be found most Saturdays conducting Bible studies and singing anthems with his wife, Marilyn, his children and many close friends.

Richard is survived by his wife, Marilyn Geneva Duis, his daughter Gail Cheeseman, his sons David (Shirley) Duis, Daniel (Theresa) Duis, Randall (Lina) Duis and Andrew (Kimberley) Duis.  He is also survived by 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his daughter, Sherry.

A memorial service is planned for Sunday, Oct.  23, at 1 p.m. at the Westside Adventist Church at Fairview and Niles-Buchanan Road.  In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Westside Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Marilyn Geneva Duis (Womack), 92
Oct. 14, 1920-April 11, 2013

Niles Daily Star, Published 12:42pm Monday, April 15, 2013

Marilyn Geneva Duis (Womack) passed away peacefully in her home Thursday, April 11 in Niles surrounded by her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Marilyn was born Oct. 14, 1920 in Manchester, Tenn., but relocated with her family to Niles where her father Rendle Burt Womack was a well-known local barber, and her mother Margaret Agnes Womack worked in the downtown Niles restaurants.  Mother attended the Niles schools and then the Chicago Secretarial School where she found employment with the Bendix Corporation after World War II. She met and married Richard John Duis, and was a dedicated mother of six children, Sherry (Wright), Gail (Cheeseman), David, Daniel, Randall and Andrew. Marilyn was also the proud grandmother to 15 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.  Marilyn knew all the birthdays, took care of all the holiday planning and inspired her children with her constant cheerfulness, kindness and patience.

She enjoyed traveling and loved to garden in her senior years. Marilyn and her husband Richard, who preceded her in meeting our Savior, were members of the Niles Westside Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

A church memorial service at 1105 Grant Street is planned for Friday at 1 p.m.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to “Hospice at Home” in Buchanan or the Niles Westside Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

Doris Irene Balos, 90
July 8, 1922-April 14, 2013

Niles Daily Star, Published 2:03pm Tuesday, April 16, 2013

Doris Irene Balos, age 90, of Niles, Michigan died Sunday, April 14, 2013 at Hilton Head Hospital, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.  She was born July 8, 1922 in Niles to Clarence William & Alta Jenny (Westerhouse) Grieger.  On November 27, 1946, Doris married Francis Michael Balos, who preceded her in death on May 3, 1990.

Balos

Doris was a lifetime resident of the Niles and Buchanan area.  She graduated from Niles High School where she was voted ‘Athlete of the Year’ in 1940.  She worked at the Niles High School for seven years after graduation and retired from Chemical Bank after 30 years of service. Doris was a member of Saint John’s United Church of Christ in Niles.

Doris was an avid college basketball and football fan; especially the teams of the Big 10.  She also loved animals and loved her daughters’ dogs and cats as her own.

Surviving family includes daughters; Linda Donohoe of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina and Patricia (and James) Mansfield of Niles, step-son F. Michael (and Evelyn) Balos of Buchanan, Michigan, two step-grandchildren, 10 great-step-grandchildren and one brother; Donald (and Louise) Grieger of Batavia, New York.

Doris was preceded in death by her parents and sister

Funeral services for Doris Irene Balos will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, April 19, 2103 at Halbritter Funeral Home with Rev. Harry Clark of Saint John’s United Church of Christ officiating.  Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

The family will receive relatives and friends beginning an hour prior to services at the funeral home on Friday.

Donations in memory of Doris may be made to Saint John’s United Church of Christ, Niles or to Pet Refuge, Mishawaka.