Obituaries

John William Knott
Jan. 28, 1873-Feb. 29, 1940

Niles Daily Star, Friday, March 1, 1940, page 1, col. 6-7, continued page 2, microfilm Niles District Library

John William Knott, 67, Musician, Craftsman, Dies

John William Knott, who was born in Niles in 1873 and had worked almost continuously for 57 years on the restoration of antiques, died in Pawating hospital Thursday night. His death followed a brief illness.

Mr. Knott was associated with many of the old time musicians here. He started as a member of the Niles city band at the age of 15, later becoming a member of the Elbel band and orchestra in South Bend, one of the famous bands of this section of the country.

For years he was associated with the Parreant orchestra of South Bend which played in the Oliver theater and the old auditorium, the site now occupied by Robertson's store.

Long Musical Career

William played the clarinet; his later brother, Charles, the cornet.  Mr. Knott discontinued his musical work about 10 years ago. The Knott store at 13 east Main street has for years been the gathering place of the musical clan of the early days.  It walls carry pictures of bands and orchestras in Niles and others with which the brothers ere associated.

There, too, Mr. Knott started working with his father, a craftsman who had learned cabinet making in Germany. Through him the two sons, William and Charles, became skilled workmen later specializing in the refinishing of fine old pieces of furniture.

Many of Niles' old families have pieces that were made in the Knott shop and other treasured heirlooms that have been refinished and remodeled there.

Had Wide Clientele

Their clientele included patrons from Chicago who brought to Niles valuable old furniture which was restored at the Knott shop. William Knott started working with his father . .[illegible]  . . . both their business and recreational activities for many years.

Mr. Knott was born in Niles Jan. 28, 1973. He was married in Milwaukee, July 2, 1900, to Miss Emma Studley, who survives. He also leaves two sisters, Miss Minnie Knott and Mrs. William Duval, both of Niles.

Funeral services will be Sunday afternoon at 2:30 in the Price and Kiger chapel, the Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Friends may call at the Price and Kiger funeral home.

Harold Schumaker, 99
May 27, 1912-April 6, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published 5:17pm Sunday, April 8, 2012

Harold Schumaker, 99, of Niles died at 4:25 p.m. Friday, April 6, 2012, of natural causes at Brentwood at Niles.

He was a veteran of World War II and received the purple heart. He was a long-time employee of Hunzikers Nursery in Niles.

He was born May 27, 1912, in Niles and lived in California from 1947 to 1964 and resided in Niles for 48 years. He married Emily (Agnew) on Aug. 23, 1947, in Iowa. Emily preceded him in death. His parents, Carl and Cora Schumaker, and a sister, Anne Marie, also preceded him in death.

He is survived by his stepson, Robert Field of Sodus; his stepdaughters Beatrice (Bill) Murphy of Loganville, Ga., and Laura (Charles) Bross of Bridgman; and by many stepgrandchildren,  great step-grandchildren and great great-stepgrandchildren.

Waymon Hodges, 60

Born: March 11, 1952

Hodges

Died: May 28, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published online 9:44pm Thursday, May 31, 2012

Waymon Hodges, 60, of Benton Harbor, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, May 28, 2012, at his home.

Waymon was born March 11, 1952, in Niles to Arelia and Clarence Hodges. He attended Brandywine High School in Niles and Oakland University in Rochester Hills, Mich. He was president of the Benton Harbor Chapter of the NAACP, treasurer of Group 1, president of the Landlord Association, member of the National Association of Fire Fighters, International Association of Black Fire Fighters and a retired captain of the Benton Harbor Fire Department.Waymon was happily married to Dorthena Hodges.

Waymon is survived by his wife; children, Dajuan Hodges, Melanie (Davin Hackett) Hodges, Melvenea Hodges, Richard Hodges and Waymel Hodges; grandchildren, Ladaisha Hodges, Jaquan Hodges, Santeria Hodges, Zion Hackett, Jadin Hackett, Keyin Hackett and Rylen Hackett; a host of family and friends.

A celebration of life service will be held Saturday, June 2, at St. Matthews Missionary Baptist Church, 2026 Highland Ave., Benton Harbor. The
visitation begins at 10 a.m. followed by the funeral at noon with the interment in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Those wishing to sign the online guest book may do so at www.familyfuneralhomebh.org

Arrangements are entrusted to Family Funeral Home.

John H. Brown
Sept. 13, 1921-April 15, 1975

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 15, 1975, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--John H. Brown, 53, of 1720 Kilarney Lane, died at 8:15 a.m. today in Memorial Hospital in South Bend after an illness of two months.

He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, a graduate of Syracuse University and an Air Force veteran of World War II. He was a project safety engineer with for the Tyler Division of Clark Equipment Co.  Mr. Brown was born Sept. 13, 1921, in Dehli, N.Y., and lived in Niles for 20 years.

On July 14, 1951, in Cobleskill, N.Y., he married the former Jean B. Dusenbury. She survives, along with his mother, Mrs. Wilfred (Mary) Brown of Watkins Glen, N.Y.; two sons, Wilfred Brown of Syracuse, N.Y., and Dwight Brown of Interlochen, Mich., a daughter, Miss Mary Helene Brown of Kalamazoo, and a sister, Mrs. Robert L. Flack of Watkins Glen,N.Y.

Funeral services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Thursday in Trinity Episcopal Church with the Very Rev. Vincent J. Anderson officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m.  Wednesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the Interlochen Music Camp, the Niles Community Library or the South Bend Symphony.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 16, 1975, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Funeral services for John H. Brown, 53, of 1720 Kilarney[sic] Lane, who died at 8:15 a.m. Tuesday at Memorial Hospital, South Bend, will be held at 3:30 p.m. Thursday in Trinity Episcopal Church.

Mr. Brown served with the Counter Intelligence Corps, attached to the U.S. Air Force. Memorials may be made to the Interlochen Foundation for the Arts, the Niles Community Library or the South Bend Youth Symphony, care of Dr. Robert Demaree at Indiana University at South Bend.

Halbritter Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements, where friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today.

Carrie Unley
Sept. 29, 1891-April 15, 1975

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 16, 1975, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Carrie Unley, 83, of 3406 N. Fifth St., Died at 10:10 p.m. Tuesday in the Paul Stephan Nursing Home after an extended illness.

Born Sept. 29, 1891, in Dowagiac, she lived most of her lifetime in Niles. On June 21, 1913, in St. Joseph, she married John F. Unley.

He survives, along with two daughter, Mrs. Frank (Vawn) Buheker and Mrs. Ralph (Mary) Depoy of Niles; three sisters, Mrs. Bruce Berger of Roseland; Mrs. Paul Hendricks of Niles and Mrs. Jack Williams of Osceola, Ind., three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, with the Rt. Rev. Msgr. John D. Slowey of St. Mary's Catholic Church officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Frank Shefsick
Feb. 9, 1919-April 22, 1975

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 22, 1975, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Frank J. Shefsick, 57, of 2545 Williams St., died at 0:34 a.m. today at Pawating Hospital after an extended illness. He was a retired employe of the Bendix Corp., South Bend.

Mr. Shefsick was born Feb. 9, 1919, at Maryville, Ill., and came to Niles in 1943 from South Bend. On Nov. 11, 1942, at South Bend, he married the former Phyllis Shepard, who survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Norman and Thomas of Niles; three sisters, Miss Beatrice Shefsick, and Mrs. Josephine Schmitz and Mrs. Sophie Blaskow, all of St. Louis, Mo, and four grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m.  Thursday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.  The Rt. Rev. Msgr. John D. Slowey, pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church, will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.