Obituaries

Stewart C. Savely
Oct. 30, 1901-Dec. 15, 1967

Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 18, 1967, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Stewart C. Savely, 66, of 1211 Barron Lake Road, will be held Tuesday at 3 p.m., in the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev. Loyd Schloop, pastor of the First Methodist Church, will officiate.

Mr. Savely died Friday night in Borgess Hospital in Kalamazoo, after a sudden illness.

His widow, Nellie, survives. Their children: Mrs. Richard Best, Buchanan, Mrs. Robert Pawlowski, Allegan, Stephen Savely, South Bend, and Jack L. Savely, St. Joseph, also survive. Twelve grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and two sisters: Mrs. Ruth Clay, Niles, and Mrs. Leo Hartranft, Cassopolis, also survive.

Mr. Savely was born Oct. 20, 1901, in Wabash, Ind. He came to Niles from Wabash 60 years ago. He was a retired Bendix Corp. employe.

Mr. Savely was a member of the St. Joseph Valley Lodge 45, F & AM. Masonic services will be held at the Pifer Funeral Home tonight at 8:30 p.m. Masonic committal services will also be held at the Silverbrook Cemetery Tuesday.

Jack W. Sheeler
Dec. 24, 1924-Dec. 2, 1967

Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 4, 1967, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Jack W. Sheeler, 42, of 331 Crestbrook Circle, Jackson, died Saturday morning there.

A former Nilesite, moving here from Michigan City, Ind., before moving to Jackson a few years ago, Mr. Sheeler was born in Michigan City, Dec. 24, 1924.

A veteran of World War II, he was employed with the New York Central Railroad as a train dispatcher.

He was a member of the Niles Elks Lodge 1322.

In addition to his mother, Mrs. Merl Sheeler of Niles, he is survived by his wife, Mildred; a daughter, Patricia, at home; and a brother, Robert of Niles.

Funeral services will be Tuesday at 3:30 p.m., in the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. John R. Wyngarden of the First Presbyterian Church officiating.

Burial will be in the Silverbrook Cemetery.

William Edward Sholtey
Jan. 22, 1915-July 15, 1990

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 16, 1990, page 2, col. 5-8, microfilm Niles District Library

Military Rites graveside for William Edward "Ed" Sholtey, 75, of 843 Mobile Blvd., Niles, are at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles by American Legion Ralph Rumbaugh Post 51 of Buchanan.

Sholtey died at 4:26 p.m. Sunday in his home following an extended illness.

Sholtey was born Jan. 22, 1915 in South Bend, Ind., and had been a lifetime area resident.

He was a member of the American Legion Ralph Rumbaugh Post 51 of Buchanan, the Fraternal Order of Elks of Niles, and was a World War II Army veteran.

He was a retired mechanic from Gates Chevrolet in South Bend.

On Aug. 14, 1965, in Niles, he married Gladys E. Nellans, who survives him.

Also surviving are a daughter, Jaquelyn Sue King of Portland, Ore.; two step-daughters, Sally Nellans Lampley and Peggy Nellans Peters, both of Niles; a brother, Paul Sholtey of Linden; a step-brother, Grover C. Barnes of Mishawaka, Ind.; three sisters, Alice DeLong of Three Rivers. Marie Dimmick of Kalamazoo, and Emily Killian of Traverse City; four step-sisters, Ethel Hawkings of South Bend, Mrs. Lee Ross of New South Wales, Australia, Rose Griffen of Auburn, Wash. and Jean Moon of DesPese. Mo; 13 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Lucille Franz Smith
March 24, 1898-Dec. 11, 1967

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 12, 1967, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Lucille Franz Smith, 69, of 510 N. 13th St., died Monday at 1:05 p.m., in Pawating Hospital, following an eight-month illness.

A retired school teacher and lifetime resident of this area, Mrs. Smith was born here March 24, 1898.

On June 10, 1920, she married Earle P. Smith , who survives.

A graduate of St. Joseph High School, St. Joseph, she attended Kalamazoo Normal Teaching College.

In addition to her husband, she is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Dean Gano and Mrs. Allen Brooks, both of Niles; two sons, Brigadier General Donavon F. Smith of the United States Air Force, Saigon, Vietnam; and Jerrold E. Smith of Mishawaka, Ind.; 13 grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; and five sisters, Mrs. Tracey Dickey, Mrs. Arthur Ley and Mrs. Richard Koontz, all of Niles; Mrs. Robert Groat of Buchanan; Mrs. Kenneth Jackson of Edwardsburg; two brothers, Dean Franz of Edwardsburg; and Fred C. Franz of Wilmington, Del.

Funeral services will be Thursday at 2 p.m., in the Fiest Methodist Church of which she was a member with the Rev. Lloyd M. Schloop officiating.

Friends may call at the Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home after noon Wednesday.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Upon family requests, all memorials maybe made to the Berrien County Cancer Services.

Kate D. Sosebee
March 4, 1889-Oct. 30, 1967

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, October 31, 1967, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Kate D. Sosebee, 78, of 115 S. State St., died at 10 p.m., Monday in Pawating Hospital, where she had been a patient since Sept. 26.

Mrs. Sosebee was born March 4, 1889, in Three Oaks. She was married there to Thomas Roy Sosebee Nov. 6, 1920, and came to Niles from Three Oaks 52 years ago. Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Mrs. LeRoy Felhauer, Niles; a son, Roy Jr., Bath; a twin brother, Henry Dalenburg, Niles; two sisters, Mrs. Lina Thompson, White Pigeon, and Mrs. Bertha Gauss, Niles; and five grandchildren.

She was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Funeral services will be at 4 p.m., Thursday in her church. The Rev. Kenneth G. Carey, pastor, will officiate.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the Pifer Funeral Home after 7 p.m., Wednesday.

The family suggests memorial contributions may be made to the Westminster Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund.

Thomas M. Stratton
Dec. 17, 1903-Oct. 1, 1967

Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 2, 1967, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Thomas M. Stratton, 63, of 554 N. Clark St., was dead on arrival at Pawating Hospital, Sunday at 7:45 p.m.

An employe of Bendix Corp Mr. Stratton was born Dec. 17, 1903, in Michigan City, Ind. He moved here from there in 1922.

On Nov. 23, 1923, he was married to Mildred M. Carpenter in St. Joseph.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Richard Syson and a son, Kenneth, both of Niles; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Ralph Coffinger of Niles and Mrs. Lloyd Bielski of Michigan City, and a brother, James of Berrien Center.

Funeral services will be Wednesday at 11 a.m., in the Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home with the Rev. Lloyd M. Schloop of the First Methodist Church officiating.

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