Obituaries

Everett W. Atkinson
Nov. 3, 1912-Nov. 8, 1997

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 10, 1997, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Everett W. Atkinson, 85, formerly of 2280 Warren Road, Niles, are Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, by the Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman of First Presbyterian Church.  Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.   There will be no visitation.

Mr. Everett died Saturday, Nov. 8 15 1:20 p.m., at Riveridge Manor, Niles following a brief illness.

He was born Nov. 3, 1912,in Alma, and had lived in Niles since 1958, coming from Texas.

On March 5, 1940,in Alma, he married the former Olive "Elaine" Grosenburg, who preceded him in death April 1, 1993.

Mr. Atkinson retired as a self-employed painter of RVs and sold the specialized paint for RVs.

Survivors include a daughter, Elena "Kristen" Hensley of South Bend, Ind.; a son, William Stuart Atkinson of Niles; twelve grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson; two sisters, Irene Girard of Union City and Margaret Thomas of Freemont, Ind.; two sisters-in-law, Mary Atkinson, and Betty Atkinson; and two step-daughters, Linda Pamela Davis of Chloride, Ariz.,and Yvonne Cummins of Yuma, Ariz.  He was preceded in death by a son, Jon Wesley Atkinson, in 1963; and two brothers, Don Atkinson, and Jack Atkinson.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, November 11, 1997, page 2, col. 7-8, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Everett W. Atkinson, 85, formerly of 2280 Warren Road, Niles, were today at Halbritter Funeral Home by the Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman of First Presbyterian Church. Burial followed at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Mr. Atkinson died Saturday, Nov. 8, at 1:20 p.m. at Riveridge Manor, Niles, following a brief illness.

He was born Nov. 3, 1912, in Alma, and had lived in Niles since 1958, coming from Texas.

On March 5, 1940, in Alma, he married the former Olive "Elaine" Grosenburg, who preceded him in death April 1, 1993.

Mr. Atkinson retired as a self-employed painter of RVs and sold specialized paint for RVs.  He enjoyed fly-fishing on the Au Sable River near Mio.

Survivors include a daughter, Elena "Kristen" Hensley of South Bend, Ind.; a son, William Stuart Atkinson of Niles; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson; a sister, Irene Girard of Union City; two sisters-in-law, Mary Atkinson, and Betty Atkinson; and two step-daughters, Linda "Pamela" Davis of Chloride, Ariz.,and Yvonne Cummins of Yuma, Ariz.

He was preceded in death by a son, Jon Wesley Atkinson, who died in 1963; a sister, Margaret Thomas; and two brothers, Don Atkinson, and Jack Atkinson.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation.

Emma Mae Bair
May 9, 1870-Jan. 17, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, January 17, 1953, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Emma Mae Bair, 82 of 214 North Third street, a life resident of Berrien County, died at 8 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital following an illness of one year.

Mrs. Bair was born May 9, 1870, in Berrien County and lived here all her life. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church here.  Her husband, Edwin, died in 1917.  Surviving is a son, Earl, Niles, and two grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday in the Kiger Funeral Home with the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, Presbyterian pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Elizabeth Barber
July 24, 1867-Jan. 26, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, January 26, 1954, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Elizabeth Lyle Barber, 522 Oak street, died at 8 a.m. today at her home. She had been in poor health for some time.

Surviving is one brother, Richard Lambert, of Philadelphia, Pa. Mrs. Barber was born on July 24, 1867, in Grand Rapids, and came here from Winnetka, Ill., 12 years ago.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday. Durlin Wheeler will read the Christian Science service, and burial will be in Wyoming Township Cemetery, Grand Rapids.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, February 26, 1954, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

The remains of Mrs. Elizabeth Lambert Barber, which were cremated, were buried during a prayer service held Friday at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mrs. Barber, who made her home with Mrs. Blendena Haviland 422 Oak street, died on Jan. 26, and a Christian Science service was held on Jan. 28 here.

Note: Cemetery record has name spelled Barbour

Warren H. Bell
March 14, 1915-Nov. 9, 1997

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 10, 1997, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Warren H. Bell, 82, 2255 U.S. 12 East, Niles, are Wednesday at noon, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles by the Rev. Richard T. Muessig of Pokagon United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Mr. Bell died Sunday at 9:30 a.m. at his home unexpectedly, but of natural causes.

He was born March 14, 1915, in Chicago. He had lived in Niles since 1960, coming from Tinley Park Ill.

On April 7, 1934, in Chicago, he married the former Marie C. Peters, who preceded him in death April 8, 1996.

Mr. Bell attended Pokagon United Methodist Church, and was a member of Saint Peter's Lodge No. 406, F. & A.M., Edwardsburg.  He retired as an engineer on the Penn Central on March 2, 1975, after 34 years of service. While working on the railroad, he completed two years of college night courses in chemistry and pharmacology.

Survivors include two sons, James A. Bell of Romeo, and Warren H. Bell Jr. of Niles; six grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a sister, Helen Ann Pickens, Sept. 24, 1995.

Friends may call Tuesday, from 2 until 4 p.m. and 6 until 8 p.m. at the funeral  home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the donor's choice.

Joseph Willard Bisby
Dec. 8, 1907-Nov. 3, 1987

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 4, 1987, page 2, col. 6-7, microfilm Niles District Library

Joseph Willard Bisby, 79, 418 West Main St., Niles, died Tuesday at 12:55 p.m. at his home following a lengthy illness.

He was born Dec. 8, 1907, in Delta, Ohio and lived here since 1912, coming from Chicago. He married Erma Lowery Nov. 23, 1930, in Niles. She survives.

He was a member of the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Niles and was a retired technician at Whirlpool Corp.

Survivors include two sons, Robert Bisby of Menasha, Wis. and Joseph Bisby of San Jose, Calif.; four daughters, Erma-Jo Burnham and Marilyn Tate, both of Port Huron, Judith Bisby of Niles and Claudia Williams of South Bend, Ind.; a sister, Claudine O'Brian of Niles; 17 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Services are Friday at noon at St. Mary's Catholic Church, where Rev. Dennis Boylan will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 0 p.m. Thursday at the Halbritter Funeral Home. A rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. Thursday.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Niles Community Library.

Denise Diane Briggs
Jan. 11, 1953-Jan. 11, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 12, 1953, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Denise Diane Briggs, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Dennis Briggs, 222 Kings road, died at 9:40 a.m. Sunday in Pawating Hospital, where she was born at 7:16 a.m. Sunday.

Also surviving are her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Briggs, Niles; a grandmother, Mrs. Mary Pethick, Dowagiac, and three sisters, Gayle Lee, Sharol Lynn and Sandra Sue, all at home.

Services were conducted at 4 p.m. today at the Pifer Funeral Home, by the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, Presbyterian pastor, and burial was in Silverbrook Cemetery.