Obituaries

Walter E. Kater
Nov. 13, 1928-Sept. 20, 2004

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, September 21, 2004, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Walter Kater, 75, of South State Street, Niles, died Monday, Sept. at Riveridge Manor, of an illness.
Arrangements are pending and being completed by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 22, 2004, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Walter E. Kater, 75, of South State St., Niles, are 2 p.m. Thursday, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, by the Rev. Ken Stoll of Huntly Memorial Baptist Church.

Kater died Monday, Sept. 20, at Riveridge Manor, Niles, following a brief illness.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

On May 8, 1948, in Niles, he married Phyllis J. Russell, who preceded him in death.

Kater retired after 10 years of service from Clark Equipment at the company's closing.

He was self-employed most of his life as a contractor, building many homes in Niles, and South Bend, Elkhart and Middlebury, Ind.

Survivors include, one daughter, Pamela J. Mairs of Niles; one son, Mark Kater of Hudsonville; two sisters, Lois Crocker of Niles and Alma Weaver of Orange City; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Kater was also preceded in death by three brothers, Fred, Richard and William Kater.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.

Joe K. McBain
July 20, 1915-Feb. 2, 1974


Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 4, 1974, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Joe K. McBain, 58, of 1119 Huntly Rd., died at 9:10 a.m. Saturday at Pawating Hospital after an illness of four months.

A lifetime area resident, Mr. McBain was an employe of the Tyler Refrigeration Div. of Clark Equipment Co. He was born July 20, 1915 in New Carlisle, Ind.

On Dec. 24, 1938 in South Bend he married the former Louise Bischoff, who survives. Also surviving are one son, Dale, of Buchanan; one daughter, Mrs. Rae Ann Gates, of Niles; two brothers, Everett of Niles and George of Berrien Springs; two sisters, Mrs. Otto Everman of Niles and Mrs. George Hempel of Cassopolis, and five grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with Rev. Irvin L. Nussdorfer of Westminster Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial wll be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home beginning today.

Harriett J. Schinke
Jan. 30, 1882-July 9, 1959

Niles Daily Star, Friday, July 9, 1959, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Harriett J. Schinke, 77, of 1301 Leeper Avenue, South Bend, formerly of Niles, died at 12:05 a.m., today in St. Joseph Hospital, Mishawaka, Ind., following an illness of one day.

Mrs. Schinke was born Jan. 30, 1882 in Cass County and had lived in the Niles and South Bend areas most of her life. Her husband [illegible] April 6, 1954.

Surviving are: two sisters, Mrs. Katheryn Olson, of Freeport, Ill., and Mrs. Betha Reum, of Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. , Sunday in the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. Herbert Meussling, pastor of St. John's United Church of Christ (Evangelical and Reformed), officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home beginning Saturday.

Iva H. Weaver
June 14, 1881-Feb. 3, 1974

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 4, 1974, page 2, col. 5-7, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Iva H. Weaver, 92, of 251 Cass St. died at 9 a.m. Sunday at the Michigan Skilled Care Center after an illness of several weeks.

A retired school teacher, Mrs. Weaver was born June 15, 1881, in South Bend and lived her lifetime in the area. On Aug. 14, 1906 in Niles, she married Cyrus L. Weaver, who died in 1921.

She is survived by two sons, John V. of Niles and Malcolm B. of Englewood, Fla.; five grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Weaver was a member of First Presbyterian Church and a graduate of Niles High School and Valparaiso University. Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church with Rev. John R. Wyngarden officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday only at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Henry B. Miller
1830-Nov. 18, 1914

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 18, 1914, page 1, microfilm Niles District Library

HENRY B. MILLER

DIED AT 2 P.M.

Member of the Old Niles Band--

Sang in the German Church

Choir for Years.

Henry B. Miller, 193 south State street, West Niles, aged 85 years, died at 2 o'clock this afternoon, from a complication of diseases, of which he had been ailing for the past five years, and hastened by a fall in his weakness last Friday, when he broke his left arm.
Born in Germany, deceased came to Niles 65 years ago and has ever since resided in this city. A cooper by trade he worked at first at the old-time Lacey cooper shop many years, but in his decline he was obliged to give up  his labors.
Mr. Miller was a member of St. John's church and sang in the choir during almost a lifetime. A member of the old Niles band, he played both the piccaolo and flute and was considered a wonderful player.
Mr. Miller had many friends, especially among the older class of citizens. He leaves besides the wife, three sons, John and Fred of Niles, and Roy of New Jersey; also, one daughter, Mrs. Edward Flynn of Howard township.  Funeral announcement later.

Mrs. J.W. (Louisa Young) Dixon
Feb. 1835-April 19, 1894

Niles Republican, Thursday, April 19, 1894, page 5, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

REAPER'S WORK

DEATH OF MRS. J.W. DIXON THIS MORNING EARLY

She Escapes from the House and drowns Herself in the St. Joseph River.

--Others Join the Immortal Throng

News came to the city this morning that Mrs. J.W. Dixon, whose mind had been unbalanced for the past year, had escaped her watchers and drowned herself in the St. Joseph river.

Most of our readers who are acquainted with the family of the deceased, will hear of their bereavement with deepest sorrow and extend universal sympathies.

In March, 1893, Mrs. Dixon recovered from an attack of fever which left her mind somewhat impaired, but it was thought by all that this would wear off and she would soon regain her usual good health and spirits, but she continued to grow worse, and about the first of September last she was taken to Kalamazoo for treatment, where she remained until about the middle of December when she was brought home much better.  She continued to improve until about a week ago, when it was noticed that she was frequently despondent and acted as though she would put an end to her life could she but escape the watchful eye of her family and friends, who fearing what happened this morning, kept a close watch of her.

Tuesday evening she left the house unobserved and went to the river (about a mile north) with the intention of drowning herself, but while in the water she came to herself, as she afterwards stated, and retraced her steps. She was met by the searching party, who had gone in pursuit of her as she was coming up the bank and with them returned to her home. Yesterday she visited in this city with her sister, Mrs. M. Stanley, returning home in the evening. Last night, as been the custom for the past week, watches were kept that she might not leave the house again. At 3 o'clock this morning the watch was changed and about daylight she was missed from her room, a hasty examination showed that the stole softly down the stairs, slipped in to a bedroom off the sitting room and jumped out the window. The neighbors who were at once aroused and started in pursuit, her son, Oscar, going immediately to the river, where from the bank, he discovered her body about twelve feet from the shore lying face down in about three feet of water. He waded in, raised the lifeless form up and did all that he could to bring her too, but to no avail. As soon as assistance arrived she was carried to the house.

The following brief sketch of the life of the deceased was obtained from members of the family:

Louisa Young, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Young, was born in February, 1835, in New York state, came to Michigan in 1836 with her parents, who settled on what is now known as the Ely farm north of Niles. She was married to John W. Dixon, they taking up their residence two miles west of the city where they have lived ever since.

Five children were born to them, four sons and one daughter, viz: Clarence, who lives on the Berrien Springs road; Wallace, in Oaks, South Dakota; Charles, in Ste. Sault Marie, and Oscar and Hattie, at home. Besides a husband and children she leaves two brothers and two sisters to mourn her death: John and Eli Young and Mrs. M. Stanley, of this city, and Mrs. Erastus Kelsey, of Buchanan.

Mrs. Dixon was known for miles around as one of the best of wives and mothers and a true and devoted Christian, having united with the Presbyterian church when she was quite young.

The family have the heartfelt sympathies of an exceedingly large circle of friends in their sad affliction.