Obituaries

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.

Joseph Walters
Nov. 18, 1890-Nov. 26, 1946

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 26, 1946, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Joseph Walters, 56, Dies Suddenly on Tuesday Afternoon

Joseph Walters, 56, of 1525 Cherry street, did Tuesday at 3:50 p.m. at Pawating hospital, where he had been taken only a few hours before.

A railroad engineer, Walters had lived in Niles for the past 30 years, coming here from South Bend. He had been born in Elkhart, Ind., Nov. 18, 1890. In Niles he was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.

Survivors include his wife, Mabel; a son, Eugene Walters, Calveras county, Cal.; a daughter, Mrs. Lavone Walsh, Montreal, Can.; a nephew, Jack Woods; a niece, Juanita Woods; a granddaughter; a sister, Mrs. Glenn Heitz, Gould City; and two brothers, Wolford Walters and Clyde Walters, both of Mishawaka.

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

Samuel Starr Walker
1855-July 18, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 20, 1948, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Ex-Nilesite, Pioneer in Mills, Dead

Samuel Starr Walker, 92, former Niles resident who became one of Michigan's leading pioneers in the knitting industry, died Sunday at his home in Grand Rapids after a brief illness.

Started First Mills

Walker moved from Niles to Grand Rapids in 1892 and started the first knitting mills there. Prominent in civic affairs, he was a member of the committee which brought the first motored fire equipment to Grand Rapids. Prior to his retirement he had operated Knitting mills in Memphis, Tenn.

Surviving are his wife, three sons, eight grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. Lewis H. Beeson, 61 North St. Joseph avenue, Niles.

To Be Buried Here

Funeral services are being held in Grand Rapids and private committal service will be held Wednesday at Silverbrook cemetery here.