Vena Faith Pletcher
Nov. 5, 1924-Nov. 2, 2004

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 3, 2004, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles
District Library

Funeral services for Vena Faith Pletcher, 79, of 2959 Hoyt Drive, Niles are 10 a.m. Saturday at Coulter's Chapel Church of God, Niles, by Pastor Wayne Mikel and Pastor Dave DeVoll.

Pletcher died Tuesday, Nov. 2, at her son's home, of natural causes.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Pletcher was born Nov. 5, 1924, in Brodhead, Wis.

She lived in Niles since December 1956.

On July 5, 1942, in Plymouth, Ind., she married Ralph Orlando Pletcher, who survives.

Pletcher was a member of Coulter's Chapel Church of God.

Survivors include, two sons, Ronald Eugene Pletcher of Edwardsburg and Philip Wayne Pletcher of Grand Rapids; two daughters, Darlene Esther Ferry of Edwardsburg and Pamela Sue Lingle of Niles; 12 grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; and two step great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be from 3 to 5 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 5, at Coulter's Chapel Church of God.

Memorial contributions may be made to Coulter's Chapel Church of God: Missions of the Church.

Fredrick L. West
Jan. 20, 1918-Jan. 30, 1980

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 31, 1980, page 2, col. 6-7, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Fredrick L. West, 62, of 505 Hawthorne Lane, died at 9:19 p.m. Wednesday at Memorial Hospital, South Bend, following a brief illness.

A veteran of World War II, having served in the Air Force, Mr. West was the owner of West Motor Sales in Niles.

He was born Jan. 20, 1918 in Park Lake, Mich.,and had lived here since 1933, coming from Cadillac.

On June 1, 1937 in South Bend, he married Esther E. Dahlke, who survives.

Also surviving are his mother, Mrs. Estella West of Niles; a son, Michael D. of Niles; a daughter, Mrs. Linda Hanley of Dowagiac; a brother, Jesse West of Paw Paw; three sisters, Mrs. Victor Bella, Mrs. Phil Demeulenaere, and Mrs. Charles Boose, all of Niles; and three grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Bertrand Bible Church with the Rev. David G. Jenkins of the Bertrand Bible Church officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. Friday at the Halbritter Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Bertrand Bible Church Memorial Fund.

Alice M. Kritzner
Dec. 11, 1896-Nov. 29, 1970

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 30, 1970, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles
District Library

NILES--Mrs. Alice M. Kritzner, 73, of 1316 Park Ln., died at 9:10 p.m. Sunday in St. Joseph Hospital, South Bend, after an illness of several months.

Born Dec. 11, 1896, in Niles Township, Mrs. Kritzner had lived here since 1949, coming from Stuart, Fla. Her husband, Norman V., died in 1949. She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church and St. Catherine Guild of the church.

Survivors include a sister, Mrs. Esther C. Hance of Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Trinity Church, with the Rev. Fr. Vincent J. Anderson officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Ella Kritzner
Nov. 5, 1867-Feb. 9, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 11, 1935, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles
District Library

MRS. KRITZNER DIES AFTER LONG ILLNESS

Prominent Church and Club Worker, Niles Resident 33 Years Succumbs

Mrs. Ella Kritzner, a resident of Niles for the last 33 years and prominent in church and club work, died early Saturday night at her home, 915 Oak street. She had been ill for nearly a year.

Mrs. Kritzner was born in Stockholm, Sweden, Nov. 5, 1867, and came to Niles from Chicago in 1901. She was married in New York City, Jan. 10, 1892, to Otto F. Kritzner who survives her.

Beside her husband, Mrs. Kritzner leaves a son, Dr. Norman Kritzner, Battle Creek, two daughters, Mrs. W. A. Van Wicklin and Mrs. J.F. Koehler, Detroit, and three grandchildren, Warren Van Wicklin, Jr., Louise Jane Koehler and Barbara Koehler, all of Detroit.

Among Mrs. Kritzner's interests were the Presbyterian church in which she was active for many years. She was a member of the Senior Aid society there, and a charter member of the American Legion auxiliary. She was also active in the work of the Niles Musical club.

The body was brought to the Rutherford Funeral chapel where friends may call until 1:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. From 1:30 to 2:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon the body will lie in state in the Presbyterian church. The funeral service will be held in the church at 2:30 o'clock, the Rev. Guy W. Simon officiating, and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

The pallbearers will be Matthew Stoll, C.P. Cranston, John Jauch, Hudson Kirk, Austin Ullery and Rudolph Kompass.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 12, 1935, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles
District Library

Kritzner Rites Today

Funeral services for Mrs. Otto F. Kritzner, who died at her home, 915 Oak street, were held this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock in the Presbyterian church, with the Rev. Guy W. Simon officiating. The body lay in state in the Church between 1:30 and 2 :30 o'clock. Many of the church and club friends of Mrs. Kritzner were among the large crowd which attended the services. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Otto Kritzner
July 3, 1858-Dec. 19, 1936

Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 21, 1936, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles
District Library

Otto Kritzner, 78, Niles Resident 34 Years, Buried Today

Funeral services for Otto Kritzner of 915 Oak Street who died Saturday night at Pawating hospital, were conducted at 2 o'clock this afternoon in the Rutherford funeral home. The Rev. Dr. Guy W. Simon of the First Presbyterian church officiated. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mr. Kritzner had resided in Niles for the past 34 years, having moved to this city from Chicago.  Before his retirement a few years ago he was employed as a lithographer at the National Printing and Engraving company.

He was born in Cedarburg, Wis., on July 3, 1853.  He leaves one son, Norman V. Kritzner, Battle Creek, and two daughters, Mrs. J.F. Koehler, and Mrs. W.A. Van Wicklin, both of Detroit.

Grace Lewis
July 25, 1933-July 10, 1972

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 11, 1972, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Grace Lewis, 38, of 3047 Carberry Rd., died at 3:30 p.m. Monday in Pawating Hospital after a brief illness.

An employe of the Four Flags Hotel, Mrs. Lewis was born July 25, 1933, in Round Pond, Ark., and had lived here for 25 years, coming from Caruthersville, Mo.  On Feb. 5, 1950, she married Eddie Lewis, who survives.

Also surviving are her mother, Mrs. Mary Ann Seawood of Niles; four brothers, Lewis and Ause Seawood of Benton Harbor and Marvin and Charles Seawood of Chicago and three sisters, Mrs. Pearl Capers of South Bend, Mrs. Louise White of East St. Louis,Ill., and Mrs. Coetelia McKinney of Chicago.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church, with the Rev. E.J. Jones officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 tonight at the Pifer Funeral Home.