Rev. James Ridley
June 15, 1919-May 26, 1981

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 27, 1981, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Rev. James Ridley, 61, of South Bend died at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday at the Memorial Hospital in South Bend following a lengthy illness.

He was born June 15, 1919 in LaGrange, Georgia, and had been a resident of South Bend for 15 years. He was the pastor of the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Chruch[sic] in Niles. He was married to Mary Jones, on January 18, 1975 in South Bend. His wife survives.

He is also survived by one son, James Williams of Nashville, Tenn.; three stepsons, Michael Richey of Fort Benning, Georgia, Preston Richey of Sandusky, Ohio, Carl Richey of South Bend; four stepdaughters: Mrs. Betty Newsom of Niles, Mrs. Twila Newsom of Muncie, Ind., Mrs. Denise Chase of South Bend, and Sue Richey of South Bend. A stepson, Terry Richey, died in 1978. He has 11 grandchildren.

Reverend Richey[sic] was the past treasurer of the South Bend Club, and belonged to the Inter-denominational Ministers Alliance of South Bend and Niles.

Furneral[sic] arrangements are pending at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home in Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 28, 1981, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. (Indiana time) Saturday at Mount Olive Baptist Church in South Bend for Rev. James Ridley, 61, of South Bend, who died Tuesday.

He was pastor of the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church of Niles.

Rev. Ridley was first vice president and treasurer of the Baptist Training Unit Congress, Northwestern District, a member of the Inter-Denominational Ministers Alliance of South Bend and Niles and a past treasurer of the South Bend Club.

The Rev. Henry L. Giden of Mount Olive Baptist Church will officiate at the funeral services. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Friends may call from 7 to 10 p.m. Friday at the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, 1709 Fulkerson Dr.

The family suggests that memorials may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Society.

Sarah Greta Sandberg
Dec. 21, 1858-Feb. 22, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 24, 1947, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Services will be held Tuesday for Mrs. Sarah Greta Sandberg, 88, who died Saturday morning in the home of her daughter on Yankee street. She had been ill 19 months.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home, where the Rev. Theodore Laesch will officiate at services at 2 p.m. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mrs. Sandberg was born in Sweden Dec. 21, 1858, and came to Niles Nov. 8, 1926.  Her husband, Johanes Sandberg, had died in 1924.  Surviving are three children, Mrs. Fritz Beckman; with whom she lived; Mrs. John Lundberg, and John Sandberg, all of Niles; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Major Smith
Nov. 24, 1873-March 4, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 4, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Major Smith, 74, died today at 6 a.m. at his home at 535 Huron street after two months' illness.

Born in Cass county Nov. 24, 1873, he had lived in this area all his life. Smith had been retired for some time.

Surviving are his wife, Amanda, and son, Robert Smith, Niles; and two sisters, Mrs. Charles Sallee, Elkhart, Ind., and Mrs. Amy Treadu, Homewood, Ill.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be held Friday at 2 p.m. , the Rev. Clarence K. Graham officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Donald Thatcher
June 16, 1914-July 1, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 8, 1948, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Former Nilesite Found Dead in Chicago Alley

A 35-year-old former Niles man was found dead July 1 in an alley at 1234 West Madison street, Chicago, victim of a traffic mishap.

A spokesman of the Chicago police detective bureau today informed Niles police that Donald Thatcher, formerly of Niles, was found dead in an alley on West Madison, apparently run over by a vehicle.

Police said that identification found on the body revealed that he was the son of Mrs. Frances Pfeil of 40 River street, Niles.

Mrs. Pfeil today told local officers that her son had been away for some time and that she knew he was in Chicago.

Thatcher was born June 16, 1914, in Niles and had lived most of his life here.

The body will be returned to Niles for burial.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, July 9, 1948, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Donald W. Thatcher, 34, formerly of 40 River street, Niles, will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Pifer funeral home here. Thatcher died July 1 in Chicago as a result of a traffic accident.

Born in Chicago June 16, 1914, he came to Niles from that city and has lived here since he was nine years old. He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Frances Pfeil, Niles; a son, Donnie, of Cassopolis; a sister, Mrs. Catherine Stephens, Milwaukee, Wis.,and a brother, Clarence Pfeil, Niles.

Services will be conducted by the Rev. Francis Conner, and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery

Barbara Jean VanKirk
June 28, 1948-June 29, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, June 30, 1948, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Infant Daughter Dies

Barbara Jean VanKirk, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy VanKirk, rural route five, died at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Pawating hospital.

The infant, who was born at 12:05 p.m. June 28 lived about 11 hours.  Surviving besides her parents are brothers and sisters, Wlater[sic], Bessie, Noah, Eugene, Jerry and Mary.

Committal services were performed at 1:30 p.m. today by the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, at Silverbrook cemetery, arrangements were in charge of the Pifer funeral home.

Charles Frederick Visel
July 16, 1868-Nov. 12, 1946

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 13, 1946, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Charles Visel, 78, Succumbs Tuesday Following Illness

Charles Frederick Visel, 78, of 721 North Fourth street, died Tuesday at 7 p.m., in Pawating hospital following an illness of seven weeks.

A lifelong resident of Niles, he was born July 16, 1868.  Visel was a retired railroad signal corpsman. His wife, Minnie, died in 1929.

Services will be held Friday at 2 p.m., in the Kiger funeral home, with the Rev. Theo Eisen officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Surviving are his daughters, Mrs. E.A. McLauchlin, Miss Ruth Visel, and Mrs. L.E. Weldy, all of Niles; and Mrs. A.W. Maas, Detroit; a brother, George Visel, Evanston, Ill. ; a sister, Miss Anne Visel, Niles; and a granddaughter, Mary Margaret McLauchlin, Niles.

Visel was a member of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church, Pioneer association, NYC railroad and the Elks lodge.