Charles Luke
abt. 1884-Aug. 13,1931

Niles Daily Star, Friday, August 14, 1931, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH OF CHAS. LUKE

Charles Luke, 47, died on Thursday afternoon in Pawating hospital where he had been a patient for two days.  The body is at the Rutherford Funeral home and the funeral  services will be held there tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock. The Rev. G.W. Webbink, pastor of St. John's Evangelical church, will officiate. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery. The deceased was a son of Michael Luke, deceased, and Mrs. Rose Luke, 1104 Ferry street, who survives him. He is survived also by three children, Fred, Charles and Mrs. Helen Bailey, 1014 Howard street; by a grandson, Douglas Jerome Bailey, age five weeks; by one brother, Harry Luke, of Niles and one sister, Mrs. A. VanGilder, of Niles. The deceased was a sufferer from neuritis and before going to the hospital had been unable to walk except with the aid of crutches.  He had been for several years in Texas. Complications arising from the attack of neuritis caused his death.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, August 15, 1931, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Charles Luke who died on Thursday after a prolonged illness were conducted this afternoon by the Rev. G.W. Webbink, pastor of St. John's Evangelical church. Burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery.

William J. Madden
July 27, 1911-Aug. 13, 1997

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, August 13, 1997, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral mass for William J. Madden, 86, South Fourth St., Niles will be held Thursday, at 11 a.m. at Saint Mary's Catholic Church, Niles, by the Rev. Marian M. Kencik of Saint Mary's Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Mr. Madden died Monday at 10:45 p.m. at Regency Place Health Care & Rehabilitation Center, South Bend, Ind., following an extended illness.

He was born July 27, 1911, in Scottdale, and lived in Niles most of his life, graduating from Niles High School in 1930. On Sept. 11, 1837, at Saint Mary's Rectory in Niles, he married the former Nina E. Huff, who survives. Mr. Madden was a lifelong member of Saint Mary's Catholic Church. He attended the University of Notre Dame, and graduated from South Bend Business College. He had served as office manager for several area Ford dealerships. Mr. Madden retired as office manager of Eau Claire Fruit Exchange after 17 years of service.

Survivors include a daughter, Virginia Kay Reed of Buchanan; two granddaughters, and three great-grandchildren.

Friends may call today from 6 until 8 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Saint Mary's Catholic Church or Niles Community Library.

Cora Belle Mann
April 30, 1870-May 14, 1947

Niles Daily Star, May 15, 1947, page 2.

Mrs. Cora Belle Mann, 77, 207 1/2 North Second street, died at 10:30 p.m.  last night in the Berrien county hospital where she had been ill several months.

Although time of services is to be announced, Capt. Herbert Jenson will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home.

Surviving are four children, Robert Mann, Niles; Mrs. Arthur Chapman, Galien; Mrs. Ira Parsons, Long Beach, Cal.; and Emmett B. Mann, Grand Rapids.  Also surviving are 28 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Mann was born April 30, 1870, in Galien; and lived in Niles since 1895. She was a member fo the Salvation Army.

Anna "Dolly" Masten (Gillette)
Feb. 20, 1920, Nov. 6, 1992

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, November 7, 1992, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Anna Delphine "Dolly" Masten, 72,  1710 Portage Road, Niles, are scheduled for 10 a.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Ray C. Cunningham of Niles officiating.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery i Niles.

Masten died at 1:10 a.m. Friday at her Bertrand home.

Born Feb. 20, 1920, in Niles, she was a lifetime area resident.

On Oct. 6, 1942, in Niles, she married Duane E. Masten, who survives.

Other survivors include a son, Pete D. Masten of Niles; a grandson, Shane Masten of Niles and two brothers, Dale H. Gillette of Niles and Dwight Gillette of Berrien Springs.

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

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home Inc., 2618 W. John Beers Road, Stevensville.

Maude McGowan (Painter)
May 28, 1883-Aug. 16, 1931

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 17, 1931, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. THOS. McGOWAN IS STRICKEN BY DEATH

Passes Away at Hickory Street Residence After Long Illness

Mrs. Maude McGowan, wife of Thomas McGowan, 514 Hickory street, died on Sunday morning at 8:45 in their home after about three months of illness.

Mrs. McGowan was born in Elkhart, Ind., on May 28, 1883.  She was a daughter of William Painter, who survives her. She was married to Mr. McGowan at Elkhart on July 1, 1905. After the marriage she moved to Michigan City and when the Michigan Central terminal was completed in Niles, Mr. McGowan was transferred to Niles being a Michigan Central railroad brakeman.  They moved to Niles in 1922 and had since resided here.  Mrs. McGowan is survived by her husband, by three daughters, Mrs. Lura Huff of South Bend, Mrs. Dorly Mc Gowan Dickey and Miss Diana-belle McGowan, both at home.   A sister, Mrs. Lillian Whitmeyer of Elkhart also survives and her father, William Painter, of Elkhart and four grandchildren. Mrs. McGowan was a member of the auxiliary to the Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen.

The funeral services will be held tomorrow. A private service will be held in the home at 1:15 and a service will be held in the Methodist church at 1:30.  The Rev. W.W. Slee, pastor of that church, will officiate.  Burial will be made in Silver Brook memetery[sic].

Vernon E. Metzger
Aug. 11, 1915-June 23, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 23, 1947, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Vernon E. Metzger, 32, of 526 Hickory street, died today at 7:10 a.m. at Pawating hospital. He had been in poor health for six months.

Survivors include his parents, Mrs. James Drudy, Cassopolis and Bert Metzger, Buchanan; his wife, Virginia; three children, Vernon and Richard, Cassopolis, and Mischon, of Battle Creek; a step-son, W. John Callendar; two brothers, Robert Metzger, serving with the army, and Keith Metzger, of Waxahatchie, Tex.; and a sister, Mrs. Carl Eliason, Niles.

He was born in Galien Aug. 11, 1915, and spent most of his life in Niles, where he was a member of the Masons, Elks, Moose, and Knights of Pythias.

Rites will be held on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the Pifer funeral home. Other arrangements are incomplete.