Obituaries

Marie Catherine Jones
May 5, 1902-Oct. 30, 1986

Niles Daily Star, Friday, October 31, 1986, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Marie Catherine Jones, 84, of 1336 Sheffield Ave., Niles, died Thursday at 2:31 p.m. at Pawating Hospital, following a brief illness.

She was born May 5, 1902 in Pearle and had been a Niles resident since 1925. On Dec. 25, 1919, she married Allen Jones in South Bend, Ind.  He died in December, 1953.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and the Simplicity Retirement Club in Niles and the Danish Sisterhood in South Bend. She had retired from Simplicity Pattern after 30 years of employment where she was a folding supervisor.

Survivors include a son, Vernard Jones of Buchanan and three grandchildren.

Services are Monday at 10 a.m. at the Halbritter Funeral Home.  Rev. Richard Kuhn of the Faith United Methodist Church in Buchanan will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.     Memorials may be made to the Heart Fund.

Denise LouAnn Kubiak
Feb. 12, 1969-Oct. 24, 1986

Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 27, 1986, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Denise LouAnn Kubiak, 17, 2294 Frantz Drive, Niles, died Friday at Pawating Hospital following an auto accident. She was born Feb. 12, 1969 and was a senior at Brandywine High School.

She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and a lifetime area resident.

Surviving are her parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Kubiak; maternal grandfather Lloyd Haskings of Niles; paternal grandmother Mary Kubiak of Niles; three sisters, Shelley of Niles, Nina Bradley of Eglin Air Force Base, Fort Walton Beach, Fla, and Tricia Davis of Niles; and two brothers, Brent and Dean, both of Niles.

A sister, Danielle Kubiak, died in 1968.

Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Mary's Catholic Church, with Rev. Dennis Boylan officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Brandywine High School Nurses Aid Program-Pawating Hospital.

Ruth J. McConnell
April 6, 1919-July 31, 1997

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, August 2, 1997, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Ruth J. McConnell, 78, of 312 Parkway St., Niles, are Monday at 2 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, by John Thompson of First Presbyterian Church.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mrs. McConnell died Thursday at 10:30 p.m. at Lakeland Medical Center, Niles, following a brief illness.

She was born April 6, 1919, in Michigan City, Ind., but lived here most of her life.

On May 10, 1941, in Celina, Ohio, she married James P. McConnell, who preceded her in death on Dec. 16, 1988.

Mrs. McConnell was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.

Survivors include a daughter, Pamela Hitchcock of Niles; a son, James D. Hitchcock of Berrien Springs; a granddaughter, Julie Vogelsang of Niles; two great-granddaughters, Destiny J. Hitchcock and Jeoein K. Hitchcock, both of Niles; her step-mother, Rita Carpenter-Vetterly of Niles; and a sister, Jacqueline Marsh of Buchanan.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Leland Vetterly Jr., who died in April 1996.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of the donor's choice.

John B. Perkins
Oct. 31, 1913-Sept. 21, 1986

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, October 8, 1986, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

John B. Perkins, 72, 27 N. 13th St., Niles, died at his home Sept. 21.

He was retired as a chemical engineer for the city of Chicago and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. He was born Oct. 31, 1913 in Demoines[sic], Iowa and live[sic] in the Niles area since 1920.

He was a member of the Niles Commandery, Medinah Temple, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Royal Arch Masons and the Michigan Council of Thrice Illustrious Masters.

Surviving a sister, Catherine Nelson of Mishawaka, Ind.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Masonic Lodge.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, October 8, 1986, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

John B. Perkins, 72, 27 N. 13th St., Niles, died at his home Sept. 21.

He was retired as a chemical engineer for the city of Chicago and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church. He was born Oct. 31, 1913 in Demoines[sic], Iowa and live[sic] in the Niles area since 1920.

He was a member of the Niles Commandery, Medinah Temple, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, Royal Arch Masons and the Michigan Council of Thrice Illustrious Masters.

Surviving a sister, Catherine Nelson of Mishawaka, Ind.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Masonic Lodge.

Fred Schumaker
1885-Dec. 16, 1928

Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 17, 1928, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Fred Schumaker Dead

Fred Schumaker, 43, of Niles, died on Sunday in Jackson soon after being kicked by a horse, according to word received by his wife, Mrs. Lillian Schumaker, 24 N. Fourteenth street. The body will be shipped to Niles and is expected here this evening. Plans for the funeral are not completed but the services will be held tomorrow or Wednesday at the Rutherford Funeral Home and will be private.

Besides the widow, eight children survive, also his mother, Mrs. Caroline Schumaker, South Bend, and two brothers and a sister who are August, of South Bend, Carl of Niles and Mrs. Anna Hoffman, of South Bend.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 18, 1928, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Private Funeral Service

Funeral services for Fred Schumaker will be held tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 at the Rutherford Funeral home and will be private.  Rev. W. Keith Chidester will officiate. Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery. The body was brought to Niles Monday afternoon from Jackson where he died from injuries sustained when a horse kicked him.

C. Leo Shirrell
June 8, 1908-Aug. 5, 1997

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, August 6, 1997, page 2, col. 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for C. Leo Shirrell, 89, are Friday at 11 a.m., at Halbritter Funeral Home, by the Rev. Nolan R. Williams of Wesley United Methodist Church.  Masonic Rites will be conducted following the funeral at the graveside. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Mr. Shirrell died at 3:03 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5 at the home of his daughter, Beverly, in Saint Joseph, following a brief illness.

He was born June 8, 1908, in Bicknell, Ind.

Mr. Shirrell grew up in Bicknell, then moved with his family to Niles on July 3, 1935.

On July 27, 1938, in Niles, he married Lorene Pearl Brown, who died July 23, 1991.

Mr. Shirrell operated the former Leo's Mobile Service gas station at 1031 East Main St., Niles. He was a member of Saint Joseph  Valley Lodge #4, F. & A.m. He owned horses, which he enjoyed showing and racing.  He enjoyed tending his garden. In 1926, he graduated from Bicknell High School.

Survivors include four daughters, Beverly Soucek of Saint Joseph, Carolyn Dulai of Haslett, Darlene Garland of Wyoming, Linda Bennett of Grand Rapids; a son, Alan Shirrell of Niles; a brother, Roberrt Shirrell of Mount Kisco, N.Y.; 10 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Mr. Shirrell was preceded in death by three sisters, Loralie Shirrell Goff, Crystal Robbins, and Ruth Shiben; and a brother, Reid Shirrell.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home.