Zoe B. Foster
August 23, 1888-August 13, 1965

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Friday, August 13. 1965, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Miss Zoe B. Foster, 76, of 3233 M-40, died at 8 a.m. this morning at home after an illness lasting two months.

Surviving is her brother G. Foster, with whom she made her home.

Miss Foster was born Aug. 23, 1888, in Niles Township, and spent her life time in the area.  She was a member of the First Methodist Church and the North Niles Study Group.

The Rev. William A. Hertel of the First Methodist Church will conduct services at 2 p.m. Monday at the Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the funeral home after noon Saturday.

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, August 14, 1965, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

WRONG ADDRESS

Miss Zoe B. Foster, 76, who died Friday morning, had lived at 3233 M-140. It had been reported that she lived on M-40. 

She is survived by her brother, G. Ray Foster.

Franklin T. Grimes
March 20, 1916-December 15, 1980

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, December 17, 1980, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Franklin T. Grimes, 64, of 976 Jean Ann Drive, St. Joseph, died 2 p.m. Monday, in Cape Coral, Florida.

Grimes was born March 20, 1916, in Chicago, and came to Niles at the age of seven months.  He attended Niles schools, and graduated in 1934. He was a member of the Elks Lodge, and had retired from Whirlpool.

He married Nadine Chapman July 24, 1937, in South Bend.  She survives him.

Also surviving are a son, Michael, of Littleton, Colorado; and three daughters, Mrs. Peggy Shepherdson, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Mrs. Philip (Patty) Damice, of St. Joseph, and Mrs. Judy Nicklo, of Bradenton, Florida.

A brother and four sisters also surviving are Thomas R., of South Bend; Mrs. Ruth C. Cook, of Niles; Mrs. Gwendolyn McDade, of Los Angeles; Mrs. Charles (Carolyn) Baldwin, of Irvine, California, and Mrs. Jack (Betty) Barry, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, December 19, at St. Joseph’ Catholic Church, in St Joseph. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at Dey-Florin Funeral Chapel, 2506 Niles Ave., St. Joseph, from 2 to 5 and from 7 to 9 Thursday evening. Liturgy and prayers will be conducted at 7:30 p.m.

Memorials may be made to the Heart Fund.

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, December 18, 1980, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Father Leroy White, of St. John’s Catholic Church, Benton Harbor, will officiate at services, 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 19, at St. John’s.

Nadine Virginia Grimes
November 19, 1917-March 13, 2003

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, March 17, 2003, page 7, col. 6

ST. JOSEPH—Nadine Virgina Grimes, 85, of St. Joseph passed away peacefully into the arms of her loving Saviour at 6 a.m. on Thursday, March 13, 2003, at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph in St. Joseph, after a short illness. She had spent the last nine years of her life at the Country Manor Care Center in Bridgman, where she was card for with great love and compassion by Debbie and Richard Ruff, their children and their staff.

Nadine (nee Chapman) was born to John and Maude (Carroll) Chapman in Baroda, on Nov. 29, 1917.  On July 24, 1937, she married Frank “Burleigh” Grimes at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Niles.  Nadine and Frank had a busy, wonderful life together for 43 years.  They traveled all over the U.S. and to several foreign countries, until Frank’s passing on Dec. 15, 1980.

They moved to Fairplain in July of 1954.  Nadine worked for Totzke Realtors.  She also had a large clientele as an Avon lady for several years.  She and Frank and children joined St. Joseph Catholic Church, where Nadine belonged to the Marian Guild Auxiliary. Nadine and Frank loved to golf and were members of the Berrien Hills Country Club.  Nadine won several 9-hole club championships.  She and Frank were also members of the St. Joseph Elks Lodge.  Nadine was a former member of the Maccabee Ladies in Niles, a Girl Scout Leader, and a Memorial Hospital volunteer in the coffee shop.  In earlier years, she liked to play bingo, was an avid reader, and loved and enjoyed all kinds of animals.

Nadine is survived by four children, Patty (Philip) Damico, of St. Joseph, Peggy Shepherdson of China, Judy Nicklo of Fresno, Calif., and Mike Grimes of Stevensville; grandchildren Tom Damico of Stevensville, and Mike and John Damico of St. Joseph, Gary Shepherdson of Berrien Springs, Shari Smallwood of Florida and Mary Linn of Niles, Chris Nicklo of California and Angie Nicklo of Kentucky.  Nadine is also survived by 20 great-grandchildren.

Besides her beloved “Burleigh” Nadine was preceded in death by her parents; six brothers and three sisters; and her granddaughter Deborah Marie Damico, in 1960.

We all loved you very much Mom and will miss you, but you are with Daddy now and we can rejoice that you are together in Heaven.

Visitation will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, with a prayer service at 7 p.m. at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph.  Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday at St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Joseph. Entombment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Animal Aid or the Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan.  Friends wishing to send condolences may do so at the family guest book at www.starks-menchinger.com.

Frederick B. Kompass
December 27, 1895-November 15, 1975

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, November 17, 1975, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles furniture maker dies at 79

Niles—Funeral services were to be held at 3 p.m. today at Trinity Episcopal Church for Frederick B. Kompass, 79, of 421 N. Fourth St., retired Niles furniture manufacturer. He died at 12:08 a.m. Saturday at Battle Creek Community Hospital after an extended illness.

Mr. Kompass was born Dec. 27, 1895, in Niles and lived here all his life. He was in a furniture manufacturing business owned by his father, Rudolph, and Matthew Stoll until it was sold in 1928 and he founded Kompass Products, producing novelty furniture and post office furniture.  He retired about 10 years ago.

Mr. Kompass attended the University of Michigan and the University of Illinois.  He was a member of Alpha Signa Phi fraternity.  An Army first lieutenant in World War I, he was a charter member and past commander of LaRue Messenger Post of the American Legion.  He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, St. Joseph Valley Masonic Lodge, Fourt Flags Barracks of Veterans of World War I and the Niles Elks Lodge.

On Sept. 28, 1922, he married the former Mary Kneeshaw at Niles.  She survives. Also surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Jane K. Klopp of Battle Creek and Mrs. Ann K. Glasner of Appleton, Wis., and five grandchildren.

The Rev. Vincent J. Anderson officiated at the funeral services and burial was in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Memorials may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church or the Niles Community Library.

Rudolph S. Kompass
August 23, 1860-July 6, 1957

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, July 6, 1957, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Rudolph S. Kompass, 96, veteran Niles industrialist, died at 10:30 a.m. today at his home, 311 North Fourth St.

Mr. Kompass was born Aug. 23, 1860 at London, Ontario, Canada. He established the Kompass and Stoll Co., a furniture manufacturing firm, Niles many years ago.

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, July 8, 1957, page 2, col. 4-5, microfilm Niles District Library

Rudolph F. Kompass Rites Held Today

Services were held at Trinity Episcopal Church this afternoon for Rudolph F. Kompass, 96, one of Niles’ oldest residents, who died Saturday.

Mr. Kompass, a prominent figure in Niles’ industrial life for 40 years with his furniture building business, died in his home at 3111 North Fourth Street at 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

He was also known in the city for having initiated the sport of bowling on the green here.

Mr. Kompass was born August 23, 1860, in London, Ontario, the son of Frederick and Johanna Kompass.  He was married to Lillie Adell Bunker in Buchanan. Mrs. Kompass died in 1953.

Surviving are a son, Frederick B. Kompass, and two grandchildren, Mrs. Edward J. Klopp of Battle Creek and Mrs. Jack B. Glasner, Appleton, Wis. There are also two great-grandchildren.

A resident of Ontario until 1885, Mr. Kompass came to Michigan and settled in Niles in 1890.  He established a furniture business, Kompass, Stone & Stoll, in Buchanan with Matthew Stoll, father of Arthur Stoll, and the father of A.G. Sone, former postmaster.

In 1894, they moved the firm, then Kompass & Stoll to Niles.  Mr. Kompass was active in the business until his retirement in 1929, when he sold out his interest.

After his retirement, he and Mrs. Komplass took several trips, including visits to California, Florida and his native Ontario.  In each of these places, he witnessed the sport of bowling on the green.

He came home to build Niles’ rink on the corner of Barrett and West Main Streets. The green remained one of his hobbies throughout his life.

Mr. Kompass was active in city affairs. He was a member of the Board of Public Works when it acquired a grist mill on Dowagiac creek north of the city and converted it into the city hydro plant. He also served on the Niles Board of Education for a number of years, during the period when the Central School building on Main Street was constructed.

He was a member of the Trinity Episcopal Church.

The Rev. John G. Calson officiated at the services this afternoon at 2:30 p.m. at the church, and burial at Silverbrook Cemetery.  The body had been taken to Kiger-Halbritter funeral home.

Martha Miller
January 6, 1887-November 28, 1966

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, November 29, 1966, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Martha Miller, 79, of 1206 N. 12th St., died at 3 p.m., Monday at Berrien General Hospital, Berrien Center, after a two-year illness.

Born Jan. 6, 1887, in South Bend, Mrs. Miller had lived in Niles most of her life.  Her husband, Stuart, died in 1960.

Survivors include two sisters, Mrs. Alice Rinehart and Mrs. Edna Reid, both of Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. John MacLachlan, poster of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m., today. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.