Obituaries

John Mitchell
Sept. 21, 1891-June 9, 1964

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, June 10, 1964, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

John Mitchell, 72, of 1202 Elder Court, died at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, where he had been a patient 15 days.

Mr. Mitchell, who retired in 1956 from service as an employe of the Kawneer Company, was born Sept. 21, 1891, in Braidwood Station, Scotland.  He came to Niles from South Bend in 1941.

Survivors include his widow, Catherine; a son, James, and a daughter, Miss Mary Mitchell, both of Niles; two sisters, Mrs. Ann White, Detroit, and Mrs. Sarrah Bell, in Scotland; two brothers, David and James, both in Scotland; and a grandchild.

A veteran of World War I, he was a member of St. Joseph Loyal Order of Moose, St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4, Free and Accepted Masons, the Saladin Temple of Grand Rapids, and the Eastern Star.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday in the Pifer Funeral Home.  The Rev. Kenneth Carey, pastor of Westminster Presbyterian Church, will officiate. Masonic committal rites will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

Monroe Stanley
Dec. 27, 1832-Dec. 15, 1898

Niles Weekly Mirror, Wednesday, December 21, 1898, page 1, col. 3. reprinted from Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 16, 1898.

Monroe Stanley died at his late residence, corner of Regent and Eighth streets, at 9 o'clock last evening of pneumonia and heart failure, aged 67 years.

About two weeks ago, Mr. Stanley, who was a cooper by trade, contracted a severe cold while at work, which resulted in pneumonia, and as he was a victim of heart trouble the complication of troubles proved fatal.

The deceased, who was a widely-known and highly respected citizen, was born in Ohio and came to Niles in '54.

In 1866 he was married at Buchanan to Miss Emily, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cornelious Young, old-time residents of this city. To them was born one daughter, Mrs. E.B. Storms, of his city.

Mr. Stanley was a member of the A.O.U.W. in which order he carried $2,000 insurance.

He is mourned by a wife and daughter, besides more distant relatives and hosts of warm friends.

The funeral service will be conducted at the late residence by Rev. Dr. Lowry at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon.  Interment will be in Silver Brook cemetery.

Mary C. Hill Stewart
Aug. 4, 1848-July 1, 1933

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 3, 1933, page 3, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Hold Stewart Funeral Wednesday Afternoon

Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 at the Second Baptist church for Mrs. Margaret C. Hill Stewart, 85, who died Saturday night at 9:20 at her home, 537 Howard street.

She had lived in Niles 60 years. She was born August 4, 1848 in Halifax county, Virginia.

She is survived by a son, Henry Hill, South Bend. The Rev. William Allen, Dowagiac, will conduct the services. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the Price and Kiger funeral home until 5 o'clock tomorrow afternoon to view the body, or may call  on Wednesday at the home until the hour of the funeral.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, July 5, 1933, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

HOLD STEWART FUNERAL

Funeral services for Mrs. Margaret C. Hill Stewart were conducted by the Rev. William Allen, Dowagiac, in the Second Baptist church this afternoon.  Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.  Mrs. Stewart who died Saturday night at the age of 85 years, had lived in Niles 50 years.

Note: Obituaries have name as Margaret C. Hill Stewart but gravemarker has name recorded as Mary C. Stewart and cemetery record is Hill, Mary C. (Stewart).

Odas William Stewart
Dec. 24, 1919-May 20, 1964

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 21, 1964, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Odas (Bill) Stewart, 44,of 999 S. 14th St., died unexpectedly at 11 p.m. Wednesday in Pawating Hospital, where he had been admitted earlier in the day.

Mr. Stewart, owner of the Zephyr Gas Station and Sport Center, was born Dec. 24, 1919, in Marion County, Tenn. He came to Niles from Lubbock,  Tex., 18 years ago. He married LaVoe Carr Dec. 2, 1942, in Lubbock. She survives.

Other survivors include two sons, Howard, at home, and Odas C., a June graduate of Niles Senior High school; three brothers, Calvin, Chicago, Grady, Birmingham, England, and J.B., Dunlap, Tenn.; and five sisters, Mrs. Ira Rheal and Mrs. Ray Rheal, both of Whitwell, Tenn., Mrs. Ray Hitchcock and Mrs. Avery Land, both of Dunlap, and Mrs. Leonard Standifer, Fort Campbell, Ky.

He was a veteran of World War II and a member of the American Legion.

Funeral services will be conducted at 3:30 p.m.  Saturday in the Kiger Funeral Home. The Rev. Clifford Killian will officiate. Full military graveside rites will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

Helen Vandenberg
May 31, 1899-June 19, 1964

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, June 20, 1964, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Helen Vandenberg, 65, of 915 Ferry St., died unexpectedly at 2:30 p.m. Friday in her home.

Mrs, Vandenberg was born  May 31, 1899, in Ashland, Wis. She came to Niles from West Branch 45 years ago.

Survivors include her husband, Floyd; four sons, Howard, El Caion, Calif., Harold, Sanford, and Donald and Raymond, both of Niles; two daughters, Mrs. Ralph Vandygriff and Mrs. Earl Simpkins, both of Niles; two brothers, Ralph and Ray Perkins, both of La Porte, Ind.; a sister, Mrs. Alfred Nelson, West Branch; 20 Grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 4 p.m. Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev. Lysle Schmirt, pastor of the United Missionary Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Nellie Walter
Oct. 6, 1884-June 5, 1964

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, June 6, 1964, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Miss Nellie Walter, 79, of 906 Oak St., died at 3:45 p.m. Friday in Pawating Hospital, where she had been a patient a day.

Miss Walter was born here Oct. 6, 1884, and was a lifetime resident of the community.

Surviving are a sister-in-law, Lillian Walter, Niles, and a nephew, Boyden Walter, Fresno, Valif.[sic].

She was a member of the Rebekah Lodge.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home. Dr. Maurice McKean, pastor of the First Methodist Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.