Stuart F. Smith
July 26,1906-Aug. 4, 1974

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 5, 1974, page 2, col. 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library

Ex-Niles alderman dies at 68

NILES--Stuart F. Smith, 68, of 519 Broadway and also of Sturgis, died Sunday morning in his sleep at his Sturgis home. He was a former Niles businessman, alderman and hospital trustee.

Mr. Smith was born July 26, 1906, at Sturgis, but had lived most of his life in NIles. He was president of Niles Lumber Co. and director manager of the Niles Dowagiac Credit Bureau. He served on the City Council here for many years and was president of the Pawating Hospital Board for nine years. He was a sponsor of big Brothers and an avid outdoorsman and gardener.

Mr. Smith was a member of St. Mark's Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, Associated Lumbermen and of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity at DePauw University, Greencastle, Ind.

On Sept. 14, 1933, at Kalamazoo, he married the former Marion Parker, who died Aug. 25, 1964. On Oct. 11, 1969, also at Kalamazoo, he married the former Evelyn Kirsch, who survives.

Also surviving are three sons, Peter Smith of Homewood, Ill., David Smith of Park Forest, Ill., and John W. Kirsch of Sturgis, Four daughters, Mrs. Gail Ramsby of Brandord, Conn., Mrs. Andrew Clark of New Brighton, Minn., Mrs. Subhi Kalla of Phoenix, Ariz., and Mrs. Howard Thompson of Sturgis, two sisters, Mrs. A.T. Buskens of Evanston, Ill., and Mrs. D.R. McAuliffe of Albion, and 16 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Mark's Church. The Rev. Fr. Julius L. Hengesbach will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home, where a rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Memorials may be made to the Michigan Heart Assn.

Wanda Stevens, 81
March 17, 1931-May 22, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:51pm Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Stevens

Wanda M. Stevens, 81, of Niles, passed away at Memorial Hospital in South Bend on Tuesday, May 22, 2012, with her family by her side.

Wanda was born to the late Glennie and Lettie (Gobble) Pointer on March 17, 1931, in Parma, Mo., and at age 10 her family moved to Niles.

Wanda graduated from Niles High School in 1950 and attended Vogue Beauty College in South Bend. She worked at Clark Equipment Co. before meeting Carl F. Stevens at Calvary Bible Church in Dowagiac. After a very short courtship they exchanged vows on Easter Sunday, April 13, 1952, and were married for more than 60 years. She returned to work at Brandywine Community Schools’ office until her and Carl’s retirement.

Wanda was an extremely devoted mother and wife. Her greatest joy in life was taking care of her family. She will be fondly remembered for her servant’s heart, her lyrical loving greeting of “hello,” followed by an immediate offering of a good cup of coffee and the ever-present reminder of how much she loved you. Many of her summers were spent out on their boat on Lake Michigan then at their cottage on Indian Lake.

Preceding Wanda in death are her parents and three brothers; Denver Pointer, Gaines Pointer, and Dorsey Pointer.

She is survived by her husband, Carl, and her three sons, Randy (Ginny) Stevens of Niles, Danny (Shirley) Stevens of Niles and Jeffrey (Pam) Stevens of Elkhart. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Aaron Holloway, Heather (Derek) Weatherholt, Mallory Stevens, Adam Stevens, Jennifer Stevens, Madison and Cullen Fisher; as well as two great-grandchildren, Jayln and Palmer Weatherholt; a sister, Patricia Stover Skarbeck of Niles; and many nieces and nephews.

Those wishing to make a memorial donation in Wanda’s name may do so to the Berrien County Cancer Services, 7301 Red Arrow Highway, Stevensville, MI 49127 or to the Brandywine Community Schools Improvement Foundation at 1830 S. Third St., Niles, MI 49120.

Visitation will be Thursday, May 24, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home with funeral service officiated by David Stevens, Friday at 11 a.m. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Photos, memories, or condolences may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or www.Facebook.com/BrownFuneralHomeNiles.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home.

Andrew Plym
1945-2007

Niles Daily Star, Published 12:57pm Thursday, June 28, 2007

By By ERIKA PICKLES / Niles Daily Star

NILES – Andrew Plym will be remembered for a lot of things, but what most will remember him by was his generosity and giving nature.

"He never expected anything in return," said Andrew's wife, Nancy, on Wednesday. "He was a very giving person and did a lot for this community."

Plym died Tuesday at Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph, after an extended illness. He was 62.

Plym spent much of his time volunteering on a number of community boards. He also helped out several different organizations, was a volunteer firefighter, served as the Fire Chief of Morris Farms in the 1980s and was a volunteer firefighter for Niles Charter Township, where he is now recognized as an honorary member. Plym also spent some of his time as an auxiliary policemen.

Plym was vice president of the Plym Foundation and was a member of the Noon Optimist Club, Niles Elks and Burnt Island Associates. He was a member of the Niles Parks Board, Niles Airport Board and the Plym Park Golf Board.

"He did so much for this community because he grew up here, and he has family ties here. He's just one who has also chosen to give back," Nancy said.

After knowing each other for many years, Plym and his wife, Nancy, married Oct. 7.

Plym is survived by a step-daughter, Jennifer Farber, of Bloomington, Ind. He also had three step-grandchildren, Madison, Sierra and Nicholas Farber. Other family members include a brother, Eric, of Vero Beach, Fla. and a sister, Sally Campbell, who passed away in 2005. Andrew was born in Chicago, son of Lawrence J. and Mary L. Plym. He also very much loved his fur friends, two cats, Molly and Stewart, Nancy said.

Plym went to high school in Ridgedale, Ariz., where he graduated from Judson High School, a private school. After graduation, he returned to Michigan and attended Hillsdale College.

Plym also served in the U.S. Army and was a veteran of the Vietnam Era. He also served in the U.S. Coast Guard.

Plym enjoyed drag racing and even had his own team. He enjoyed collecting Marklin trains and loved being on his boat.

"He would often go to his father's yacht club in Delray Beach, Fla., and go sailing. He also cruised the Great Lakes. He enjoyed the water," Nancy said.

Plym was a longtime member of the Great Lakes Cruising Club and Port Captain for the Port of St. Joseph. He was also an honorary member of Signal Point and an honorary member of Delray Beach Yacht Club.

Plym struggled with diabetes for quite a while, Nancy explained, and died Tuesday morning due to complications from the disease.

"You have to take care of yourself if you have diabetes. That's one disease that will get you in the end," Nancy said.

Funeral services are Saturday at 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Niles. The family will receive friends and relatives from 2 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Ronald Lee Holt
June 28, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, July 1, 1953, page 2, col 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Committal services were held at 11 a.m. Monday at Silverbrook Cemetery for Ronald Lee Holt, who was still-born on Sunday at Pawating Hospital.

Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Francis Holt, 3033 Adams road; his grandmother, Mrs. Gusta Lewis, Niles, and a grandfather, Luemmer Holt, Shoals, Ind.

The Rev. M.D. Elson, pastor of the Church of God, officiated at the committal service.

George E.A. Hunt
April 12, 1874-June 30, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, July 1, 1953, page 2, col 3, microfilm Niles District Library

George E.A. Hunt, 1902 Pucker street, died at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday as the result of a heart attack.

He is survived by his wife, Nora E. Hunt; two sons, George L. of Niles, and William L. Hunt, of Akron, O., one daughter, Mrs. Ethel E. Bowlsby, of Salem, Ore.,and one sister, Mrs. Bessie Disher, Akron, O.

Hunt was born on April 12, 1874, in Mansfield, O., and came here from Akron about eight years ago. He was retired.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, with the Rev. M.D. Elston, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Maurice S. Johnson
Nov. 20, 1897-July 7, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, July 8, 1953, page 2, col., 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Maurice S. Johnson, 55,  1525 Cherry street, died Tuesday night at Hines Veterans Hospital, Hines, Ill., after an extended illness.  Funeral arrangements are incomplete and will be announced later.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 9, 1953, page 2, col., 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Maurice S. Johnson, 1525 Cherry street, died at 8:20 p.m. on July 7 at Hines Memorial Hospital, Hines, Ill. He had been ill since January.

Surviving are his widow, Mable; a son, Raymond Johnson, who is serving with the Armed Forces in Germany; one grandchild, and one sister, Mrs. Carl Schweikert, Allegan.

Johnson was born on Nov. 20, 1897, in Hillards, Mich., and came here from Allegan in 1946. He was assistant to the supervisor of school janitors here.

Johnson was a veteran of World War I. Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday with the Rev. G.A. Steeby, pastor of the First Evangelical United Brethren Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, and a military committal service will be conducted by the American Legion Post.