Obituaries

Anna Skalla
July 20, 1866-Nov. 24, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, November 24,1945, submitted by Candace Skalla

Mrs. Skalla, 79, Succumbs Today

Mrs. Anna Skalla, 79, of 309 South St. Joseph Avenue, died today at her residence following an illness of about five weeks. She came to Niles from Bloomington, Ill., 55 years ago.

Mrs. Skalla was born in Germany, July 20, 1866. She was married to Frank Skalla May 21, 1890 in Peoria, Ill. Her husband died in July 1943. She is survived by two children, Mrs. Bert Donaldson and William C. Skalla, both of Niles; 10 grandchildren and one brother, Charles Brand of Bloomington, Ill.

Friends may call at the residence until Monday noon. The funeral services will be held at St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church, Monday at 3:30, by the Rev. Theo Eisen officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mrs. Skalla was a member of the Ladies of the Maccabees lodge and an honorary member of the Women's Guild of St. John's church.

Leland Hamilton Jr., 88
June 13, 1924-Aug. 31, 2012

Hamilton

Niles Daily Star, Published online  9:35pm Thursday, October 18, 2012

Leland Lawrence Hamilton Jr. passed away Aug. 31, 2012.

Lee was born June 13, 1924, in Dayton, Ohio, to Leland and Mildred (Miller) Hamilton. He moved to Niles at an early age. While attending Niles High School, he was a member of the state championship basketball team and state champion in the high hurdles. Lee graduated from Niles High School in 1942 and served as decorated Sergeant in the U.S. Army during WWII. He married Lola Mae Dalenberg Sept. 4, 1946, who preceded him in death on July 12, 2006. He owned and operated Hamilton Heating, Hamilton Monuments and was building inspector for the City of Niles. Lee retired from the State of Michigan with over 20 years as electrical inspector. He served in multiple capacities, including Exalted Ruler of the BPOE of Niles.

He is survived by his brother, Robert (Janice) Hamilton; sister Carol (Greg) Dellinger; six children, Leslie Louise (Richard) Mull, Leland Lawrence (Deborah) Hamilton III, Lyle Louis Hamilton, Laura Leigh Hamilton, Lisa Lynn (Matthew) Bruni, and Lane Lindsay (Kerry) Hamilton; grandchildren Alec, Iian and Cameron Mull, Alycia Williams, Kelly Marrow and Sarah Zawacki, Jordan and Adam Bruni, Lindsay, Lauren and Logan Hamilton; and great-grandchildren Finn, Lola, Eli and Vivian Mull, Alivia, Alaina and Alexa Williams, Kyleigh Deming, Alyssa, Audry and Lexy Zawacki.

There will be a memorial luncheon for Lee from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, at the Niles Elk’s Lodge, 1322 Canal St., Niles. Lee’s final resting place is with Lola at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Hannah Ackerman
April 10, 1876-July 12, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 13, 1948, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Hannah Ackerman, 708 Oak street, died at 9:20 p.m. last night in Pawating hospital after an illness of almost five years.

Miss Ackerman, former school nurse in the city, was born in Lagrange, on April 10, 1876, and came here from Dowagiac 20 years ago. She had been employed as school nurse from the time of her arrival here until her illness.

She leaves a sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Morrow; a brother, John Ackerman, of George School, Pa., and a step-sister, Mrs. Carrie Farrell, Dowagiac.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home where services will be conducted at 4 p.m. Thursday by the Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor of the First Methodist church. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Miss Ackerman was a member of the Methodist church, Dowagiac, and of the Niles Business and Professional Women's club.

William Barski
Dec. 12, 1894-Nov. 30, 1953*

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 2, 1953, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Theft From Body of Dead Man Charged

A charge of Grand larceny has been filed against Albert Sikora for the theft of a billfold and gold wristwatch from the body of his Powell Hotel roommate, William Barski, who was found dead at 6 a.m. this morning. Sikora is being held in City Jail.

Barski, 58, a painter about whom little is known, was found in the room that he shared with Sikora.  Coroner Franklyn G. Rice Jr. creditted the death to natural causes.

When officers discovered that the watch and wallet were missing, they conducted a search. Sikora was arrested three and a half hours later.

Barski, employed by Miller, Frantz and True, local building contractors, had been suffering from heart trouble and was released from Pawating Hospital in the middle of November.

His body is at Pifer's Funeral Home but no relatives were located by noon today.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 2, 1953, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Services for William Barski, 58, who was found dead at 6 a.m. Tuesday in his room at the Powell Hotel, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Pifer Funeral Home.

Lt. Arthur Homer of the Salvation Army will officiate, and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. No relatives have been located as yet, but friends may call at the funeral home. Barski was a painter.

*DOB and DOD from Michigan Death Record

Grant S. Bolton
March 31, 1866-July 2, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 3, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Grant S. Bolton, 82, 122 South St. Joseph avenue, died 8:20 p.m. Friday in the Berrien hospital at Berrien Center. He had been ill six months.

Services will be held 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Pifer funeral home with the Rev. G.A. Steeby officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Bolton was born March 31, 1866 in Berrien Center and spent his entire life in this area. He was retired.     Surviving are his wife, Hattie; a daughter, Mrs. Hazel Barnes, Niles; six grandchildren, and eight great grandchildren; and a brother, Samuel Bolton, Niles.

Elizabeth Bracken
Dec. 26, 1855-Nov. 14, 1946

Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 15, 1946, page 2, col5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Bracken, 90, Succumbs Thursday in Residence Here

Mrs. Elizabeth Bracken, 90, died last night at 6:35 p.m. at her residence, 621 North Sixth street, after a 14 months illness.

Services will be held tomorrow at 1:30 in the Kiger funeral home with the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Mrs. Bracken was a Niles resident for 65 years, having come here from Canada. She was born in Ipswich, England, Dec. 26, 1855. Her husband, William, died in 1932. She was a member of the Presbyterian church.

Surviving are a son, William, Jackson; and a daughter, Miss Clara Bracken, Niles; seven grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; one great great grandchild; and two sisters, Mrs.Nellie Spencer, Sarnia, Canada, and Mrs. Esther Thomas, Mt. Clemens.