Obituaries

Malcolm E. Collins, Sr.
Aug. 30, 1885-April 15, 1961

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 15, 1961, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Malcolm E. Collins, Sr., 79, 641 N. 6th St., died at 12:10 a.m., today in Pawating Hospital. He had been ill for two days in the hospital one day.

He was born Aug. 30, 1885 in Niles and married Lena Starke, who survives, here on Sept. 18, 1907. He had retired from Kawneer Co. in 1950 after 43 years of service.

For the past 10 years he had been a school guard at the corner of 7th and Main Streets. He was the acting treasurer of the Kawneer 25 Year Club, and also had been the first president of the club.

Other survivors include a sister, Mrs. Robert Stephens, two sons, Malcolm Jr. and Vernon; a sister, Mrs. Clarence Shepherd, and three grandchildren, all of Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 2 pm. Monday in the Kiger-Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Richard J. Fraser officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

George W. Champion
May 23, 1867-April 9, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, April 10, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

George W. Champion, 79, retired Niles florist, succumbed Wednesday at 4:30 p.m. at Pawating hospital a week after suffering a serious fall.

Born in Niles May 23, 1867, he spent most of his life here, making his home at 215 South Fifth street.  He was a member of the St. Joseph Valley lodge F. and A.M. and the Modern Woodmen.

Surviving are his wife, Margaret, a brother, Frank, and a sister, Miss Ella Champion, all of Niles.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted Saturday at 2 p.m. by the Rev. Clarence K. Graham. Interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Walter C. Goodline
March 23, 1897-Nov. 25, 1970

Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 27, 1970, page 2, col. 5-6, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Walter Goodline, 73, of 113 Parkway Ave., died at 2:10 p.m. Wednesday in Pawating Hospital, after an extended illness.

A retired Clark Equipment Co. employe, Mr. Goodline was born March 23, 1897, in Baroda, and had lived here for 50 years. His wife, the former Gertrude Jones, survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Donald of Niles, and Walter of Tucson, Ariz.; two brothers, Henry and Edward, both of New Troy; seven grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Ray Cunningham of the First Baptist church officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home.

Carl F. Brunk
July 9, 1884-Nov. 26, 1970

Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 27, 1970, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Carl F. Brunk, 86515 W. Main St., died at 3:15 a.m. in Pawating Hospital after an illness of six weeks.

A retired Kawneer Co. employe, Mr. Brunk was born July 9, 1884, in Niles, and had lived here all his life. June 14, 1906, in Niles, he married the former Marie F. Lowry, who survives. He was a member of the Grace United Methodist Church and the Golden Age Club.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Bunk[sic] is survived by a son, Paul L. Brunk of Richmond, Calif.; two daughters, Mrs. John Checchio of Elkhart and Mrs. Clifford Kirk of Santa Cruez, Calif.; a sister, Mrs. Arthur Kamman of East Lansing, and seven grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Grace United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Orin Bailey officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorials may be given to the Grace United Methodist Church Memorial Fund.

Reed Bracken, Sr.
1810-May 29, 1875

Niles Democrat, Saturday, June 5, 1875, page 3, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

We are sorry to announce the death of Mr. Reed Bracken, an old and highly esteemed resident of this city, which occurred on Saturday, May 29th. During his twenty years' residence here he enjoyed the fullest confidence of all who knew him, and was noted for his strict integrity and uprightness of life. In his death the city loses a good, true man, and pleasant memories will long be retained of his genial social nature. His age was 65.

Sylvia (Murphy) Blanchard
May 13, 1880-April 3, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 4, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Blanchard Succumbs

Mrs. V.J. Blanchard, 66, passed away on April 3 at her home in Berrien township after an extended illness.

Born on May 13, 1880, near Berrien Center, she was the former Sylvia Murphy.  She was married to Virgil J. Blanchard on Sept. 17, 1902.

She leaves her husband; two daughters, Mrs. Margaret Trattles, and Mrs. Mary Miller, Niles; two grand children; a brother, H.C. Murphy, Indianapolis, Ind., and two sisters, Mrs. Ada Peterson and Mrs. Alice Miller, Berrien Center.

Services will be held Saturday at 2:30 p.m. in the Bowerman funeral home at Eau Claire, with interment at Silverbrook cemetery.  The body will lie in state in the funeral home until the hour of services.