Obituaries

Merlin Kugler
1916-Jan. 4, 1933

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 5, 1933, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Death of Merlin Kugler, 16

Merlin Kugler, 16, an invalid for practically his entire life, and confined to a wheeled chair as a cripple for the last eight years, died last evening about 6 o'clock in the home of his uncle, Jacob W. Weiser, two and one half miles west of Niles.  He was apparently in his usual health yesterday until about 5:30.  He was stricken with a heart attack shortly before his death. He is survived by his mother, Mrs. James Haskell of Chicago Heights, who is expected in Niles today.  The funeral services will be held on Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Roskay, Union Place. Burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery. Mrs. Roskay is an aunt and William, Jacob and Edward Weiser of Niles, uncles of the deceased.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 6, 1933, page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Merlin Kugler will be held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Roskay, Union place, tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock.  The Rev. M.R. Everett, pastor of the Evangelical church, will officiate. Burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery.

Lawrence Atkinson
May 30, 1896-Dec. 13, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 15, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Lawrence Atkinson, 51, 1348 Sheffield avenue, a city fireman, passed away, Saturday at Pawating hospital after a two-day illness. He was taken to the hospital Thursday after he suffered a heart attack at the completion of his shift.

All VFW members and auxiliary are asked to meet at the Pifer funeral  home at 1:45 at attend the rites, Mrs. Donald Kreiger, auxiliary president, announced. Mr. Atkinson had been a member of the VFW and the American Legion.

Frineds[sic] may call in the Pifer funeral home, where the funeral will take place at 2 p.m. Tuesday.  The Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor of the First Methodist church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mr. Atkinson had been a member of the fire department since 1930.  At his death he held the rank of lieutenant[sic].

Born in Benton Harbor, May 30, 1896, he came to Niles 22 years ago.

Surviving are his widow, Vera, and a brother, James L., Benton Harbor.

Roger Stanley Hawke
Oct. 2, 1947-Dec. 22, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 22, 1947, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

HAWKE INFANT DIES

Roger Stanley Hawke, 2 1/2 month-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Stanley Hawke, 1119 Marion street, died at 10:10 a.m. today at Pawating hospital, The child was born Oct. 2, 1947.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 23, 1947, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

RITES SET FOR INFANT

Funeral services for Roger Stanley Hawke, 2 1/2-month-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Stanley Hawke, 1110 Marion street, will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in the Pifer funeral home. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

The child died at 10:10 a.m. yesterday at Pawating hospital.

Besides the parents, two grandparents survive. They are Mr. and Mrs. Barney Melson, Niles, and Mrs. and Mrs. O.D. Swartz, Elkhart, Ind.

FLOYD E. DAVIS
Sept. 27, 1901-Jan. 3, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 5, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Floyd E. Davis, 46, of 725 Platt street, who died Saturday night at Pawating hospital after an illness of four years, will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Pifer funeral home.

The Rev. George Steeby, pastor of the First Evangelical United Brethren church, will conduct services. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Born on Sept. 27, 1901, in Parkville, Mr. Davis came to Niles 24 years ago from Three Rivers. In 1923 he married Alice Reid, who survives, at Centerville. He was employed by the Kawneer company, and had been a member of the Bend of the River Conservation club.

Besides his widow he leaves a daughter, Mrs. Vivian Ostrander, Niles; three sisters, Mrs. Rollie Babbitt, Elkhart, Ind., Mrs. Ray Spear, Three Rivers, Mrs. David Deal, Chicago; five brothers, Melvin, Three Rivers, Charles, Cassopolis, Henry, Pasadena, Cal., William and Delbert, both of Niles; and a grandson.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 5, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Floyd E. Davis, 46, of 725 Platt street, who died Saturday night at Pawating hospital after an illness of four years, will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Pifer funeral home.

The Rev. George Steeby, pastor of the First Evangelical United Brethren church, will conduct services. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Born on Sept. 27, 1901, in Parkville, Mr. Davis came to Niles 24 years ago from Three Rivers. In 1923 he married Alice Reid, who survives, at Centerville. He was employed by the Kawneer company, and had been a member of the Bend of the River Conservation club.

Besides his widow he leaves a daughter, Mrs. Vivian Ostrander, Niles; three sisters, Mrs. Rollie Babbitt, Elkhart, Ind., Mrs. Ray Spear, Three Rivers, Mrs. David Deal, Chicago; five brothers, Melvin, Three Rivers, Charles, Cassopolis, Henry, Pasadena, Cal., William and Delbert, both of Niles; and a grandson.

Rudolf LaVerne Gillette
Oct. 7, -1947Dec. 26, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, December 27, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

RITES FOR INFANT SON

Rudolf LaVerne Gillette, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Gillette, 616 North Eighth street, died at 11:30 p.m. Friday in Pawating hospital.

The deceased child, who was born on Oct. 7, 1947, has been ill since birth. He is survived by his parents, and grandparents, Mrs. Wilma Gillette, Niles,and Mr. and Mrs. Grover Craig, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Monday in the Kiger Funeral home, where friends may call. Elder C.M. Figg, Seventh Day Adventist church pastor, will conduct services. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Richard James Grafe
Jan. 13, 1948-Jan. 14, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 15, 1948, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

GRAFE INFANT DIES

Richard James Grafe, day-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard E. Grafe, rural route three, died Wednesday afternoon in Pawating hospital. The infant was born Tuesday.

Private funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Pifer funeral home. The Rev. a.A. Klien, pastor of the Berrien Springs Lutheran church, will conduct the service. Place of burial has not been set.