Obituaries

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.

Henry Weaver
March 2, 1852-Nov. 13, 1902

Niles Republican, Thursday, November 20, 1902, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

THE HAND OF DEATH

REMOVED THREE PROMINENT NILES CITIZENS TODAY

George Deuth[sic] Died Suddenly

Henry Weaver and H.D. Gallup Passed Away

From Thursday's Sun

. . .

Henry Weaver, for many years a resident of Niles, died this morning at 4:30 o'clock at his home in west Niles, near the Buchanan bridge. Mr. Weaver was 50 years old and leaves a wife and two daughters. For a number of years he was employed at the Michigan Wood Pulp Co., but two years ago was incapacitated for labor on account of injuries received in an accident.  The deceased was a member of the German Workingmen's Benevolent Association. The funeral services of Mr. Weaver will be held Sunday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock at the hours and will be conducted by Rev. F. Rahn. Interment in Silver Brook cemetery

Sue Ann (Rhodes) Starkson, 47
Aug. 19, 1965-Jan. 14, 2013

Niles Daily Star, Published 12:05pm Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Sue Ann Starkson, age 47, of North Mankato, Minn., and formerly of Niles, Mich., died unexpectedly, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013 at her home.

Starkson

Sue was born August 19, 1965 Niles, Mich.  She was the daughter of Garland and Kate Rhodes.  She graduated from Fulkerson Park Christian School in 1983. She was united in marriage to Lloyd E. Starkson on April 20, 2012 in Rochester, Minn.  Sue was a stay at home mom for her two daughters until they started school.  She then worked at jobs including, Tyler Credit Union in Niles, Lakeland Hospital, and Edwardsburg Public Schools.  She was a member of Portage Road General Baptist Church.  Sue loved her family, her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, her kids, NASCAR, hummingbirds, and was a great cook.

Sue is survived by her husband, Lloyd of North Mankato, Minn.; two daughters, Katie (Keven) Searfoss and Kimberly (Taylor) Hammonds all of Niles, Mich.; step-granddaughter, Hailey Searfoss; parents, Garland and Kate Rhodes of Niles, Mich.; two brothers, Lonnie (Donna) Rhodes of Niles, Mich., Greg Rhodes of Mishawaka, Ind.; mother-in-law, Arlene Starkson of Rochester, Minn.; step-children, Nicole and Charles Starkson, Danielle and Ben Giestfeld; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters-in-law, and extended family.

Sue was preceded in death by her grandparents, Burton & Orlie Rhodes and George & Vivian Wyburn.

A Funeral Service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013 at Portage Road General Baptist Church in Niles, with Pastor Robert Wood officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.  Visitation will be held from 12-2 p.m., Saturday at the church.  Hoven Funeral Home, Inc. of Buchanan is assisting the family.

Larry L. Griffith, 74
Oct. 25, 1938-Jan. 16, 2013

Niles Daily Star, Published 4:17pm Thursday, January 17, 2013

Larry L. Griffith, 74, of Fifth Street in Niles, Mich., died at 5:50 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013 at Cass County Medical Care Facility following an extended illness.

He was born on Oct. 25, 1938 in Niles to Murrel A. and Ruth Kathryn (Asmus) Griffith. He graduated from Niles High School in 1956, and then entered the United States Air Force.  He worked for Englewood Electrical Supply in South Bend, Ind. He was a licensed amateur radio operator and was proud of his involvement in CERT (Community Emergency Response Team). He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Niles, where he had been a Deacon. He was also very involved with the Senior Center in Niles.

Surviving family includes his brother Robert Louis (& Elaine) Griffith of Niles; niece Christine (& Dennis) Kuemin, nephew Timothy Griffith, both of Niles; and his grand-nephews Brian (& Melody) Kuemin of Cassopolis, Tony (& Brandy) Kuemin of Niles, and Duane (& Marlena) Kuemin of Mishawaka, Ind.

The funeral service for Larry Griffith will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 21, 2013 at the First Presbyterian Church in Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of the church officiating. Committal will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.  Contributions in memory of Larry may be made to the American Cancer Society.

www.halbritterfunerals.com