Obituaries

Florence J. Strang
Dec. 3, 1883-May 6, 1932

Niles Daily Star, Friday, May 7, 1932, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. WILLIAM STRANG PASSES AWAY TODAY

Active Worker in First Baptist Church Dies after Several Months Illness

Mrs. Florence J. Strang, 48, wife of William Strang died suddenly at her home, 53, S. Third street at 12:45 this morning. Mrs. Strang had been in ill health for the last few months. Mrs. Strang was born in Stratford, Conn., Dec. 3, 1883, and made her home in that vicinity until seven years ago when the family moved to Niles. Her maiden name was Florence Munson. She was the only remaining member of the Munson family.

Besides her husband, Mrs. Strang is survived by two sons and three daughters, Adaline and Mildred at home, Albert of Niles, Mrs. E.P. Boyhen of Stratford, Conn., and Earl Strang, of Shelton, Conn.

Mrs. Strang was a member of the First Baptist church of Niles, and was active in the work of the church. She was the Sunday school teacher of a class of young girls at the time of her death. Funeral arrangements are incomplete awaiting word from her son and daughter in Connecticut.  Friends may call at the home.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, May 10, 1932, page 4, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Mrs. William Strang, 53 S. Third street, were held on Sunday afternoon. The Rev. W. H. Turner, of Milford, Conn., a friend of the family, offered prayer in the home, preceding the service in the first Baptist church of which the deceased was an active member and a teacher in the Sunday school. The pastor, the Rev. M. Thomas, of Chicago, conducted the service in the church.  Wendell Brock, of Chicago, sang. The following served as pallbearers: Wesley Andrews, Oliver Brock, Earl Laverty, L.F. Exner, E.E. Dreher and Fred Moore. Burial was made in Silverbrook cemetery.

Clara Estell Trask
July 29, 1869-July 8, 1953

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

Mrs. Clara E. Trask died in Decatur, Ill. The body will be brought to the Pifer Funeral Home, and friends may call starting at 10 a.m. Saturday. Services will be held at the funeral home, and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

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

Mrs. Clara Estell Trask, 83, of Decatur, Ill., and a former resident of Niles, died at 3 p.m. Wednesday in St. Mary's Hospital at Decatur. She had been ill for several weeks.

Mrs. Trask was born on July 29, 1869, in Coldwater, O., the first of eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. David Peter Keister, pioneer residents of Ionia County, Mich.  She married Harper H. Trask at Pewamo, Mich., on Jan. 1, 1901.

Surviving are two daughters, both of whom received their early education in Niles schools.  They are Mrs. Margaret E. Zimmer, of Decatur,  Ill., and Mrs. Mary E. Pugh, Benton Harbor. Also surviving are three granddaughters; a sister, Mrs. E. Phil Bradstrum, Sparta, Mich.; a brother, David P. Keister, Grand Rapids, and a sister-in-law, Mrs. William White, of Niles.

Nettie Arney Vinson
May 30, 1868-June 26, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Frday, June 26, 1953, page 2, col 3, microfilm Niles District Library

BUCHANAN--Mrs. Nettie Arney Vinson, 85, resident of Buchanan for 65 years, died at 2:30 a.m. today in her home on 105 Moccasin avenue following an illness for six months.

Mrs. Vinson was born in Niles May 30, 1868, the daughter of William and Jane McDonald. She was married in 1928 to Edward Vinson in South Bend.  She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church here and the Primrose Camp of the Royal Neighbors of America.

Surviving are:  Her husband; a daughter, Mrs. Louise A. Tuttle, South Bend, and a grandson, Donald A. Tuttle, Ann Arbor.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the Swem Funeral Home here with the Rev. A Carlyle Carson, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. Friends may call at the funeral home after 6 p.m. Saturday.

John Phillip Vormbrock
June 27, 1879-June 18, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, June 18, 1953, page 2, col 3, microfilm Niles District Library

John Phillip Vormbrock, 3127 Church street, Bertrand, Died at 1:30 p.m. today in Berrien Center Hospital, after being in ill health for a number of years.

He was born on June 27, 1879, in Germany, and came here from New Jersey five years ago. He was retired. Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral home, where services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday by the Rev. Orlen L. Njus, pastor of Bertrand Bible Church. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Royal Welsher
Jan. 16, 1895-May 10, 1932

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 12, 1932, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

FUNERAL SERVICES FOR ROYAL WELSHER FRIDAY

Dies in Pontiac After Operation for Appendicitis; Was Born in Dowagiac

Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon in the Troost and Augustine chapel for Royal Welsher, 45, of Pontiac, who died on Tuesday evening in a hospital in Pontiac after an operation for appendicitis. The deceased is a son-in-law of Mr. and Mrs. William Asmus, 1312 N. Front street. Mr. and Mrs. Asmus, their daughters, Mrs. Harry Atkins and Mrs. Merle Gresham, also Mr. Atkins and Mr. Gresham, went to Pontiac Tuesday evening upon receiving word of Mr. Welsher's death and they returned to Niles to day with Mrs. Welsher and her children. The body was shipped to South Bend and will be in that city at 5:15 this evening. Mr. Welsher was operated upon for appendicitis on Tuesday, May 3, or just one week preceding his death. His condition had been considered favorable until shortly before his death.

Mr. Welsher is survived by a widow, who was formerly Miss Jessie Asmus, by five children, the eldest of whom is a boy of 12 years, by his mother, Mrs. Nelson Phelps of Dowagiac, and by a brother, who lives in Michigan City and who is in Niles today to meet the funeral party. Mr. Welsher was born in Dowagiac and had spent his early youth and early young manhood there. In Pontiac he was employed by a telephone company.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, May 13, 1932, page 4, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Royle[sic] Welsher were held this afternoon. The Rev. G.W. Simon, pastor of the Presbyterian church officiated. Burial was made in Silverbrook cemetery. The body of Mr. Welsher was brought to Niles last evening from Pontiac.

[He died] Tuesday evening, May 10th at 9 o'clock at St. Joseph's hospital in Pontiac, following an operation for appendicitis. Mr. Welsher was born in Decatur, Jan. 16, 1895.  He leaves a widow, formerly Jessie Asmus of Niles and five children, William, Margaret, Dorothy, Jack and Barbara Jean; also his mother, Mrs. Nelson Phelps, a sister, Mrs. John Fischer, his father, D. Welsher and a brother, James Welsher.  He has been in the employe of the Michigan Bell Telephone company for 16 years. He had been in Pontiac for the last 13 years.

Short services were held in Pontiac on Thursday morning. Fred Roth and Proctor Coates, employees of the telephone company and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Hill, all of Pontiac accompanied the funeral party to Niles.

The pallbearers were: Fred Roth, Proctor Coates, Clarence Benjamin, Joe Cain, Edgar Adams and John LeRonge.

On Saturday Mr.and Mrs. Harry Atkins will motor to Pontiac with Mrs. Welsher and the children, also Mrs. Welsher's mother, Mrs. Wm. Asmus, who . .illegible]. .until the close of the school year, when they will move to Niles to  make their home.

Mrs. Welsher is a sister of Mrs. Harry Atkins and Mrs. Muriel Griffith.

Many friends sympathize with the family in their sorrow.

Edward Charles Wurz
May 19, 1880-June 17, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, June 18, 1953, page 2, col 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Edward Charles Wurz, 320 Pokagon street, died at noon Wednesday in Pawating Hospital. He had been in poor health for several years.

Surviving are two brothers, Herman, of Niles, and Frank Wurz, of Mishawaka, Ind.  He was born on May 19, 1880, in Niles, and had lived here all his life.

Wurz was a manager of the Babbitt Coal Yard and was a member of St. Mary's Church.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral home. The Rev. Cletus Rose, pastor, will conduct services at 10 a.m. Saturday in St. Mary's Church, and  burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. Friday at the Funeral Home.