Obituaries

Fred W. Appleby
May 1, 1887-Oct. 2, 1950

Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 2, 1950, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Fred W. Appleby, 5 South Eleventh street, well-known Niles businessman, died at 12:45 a.m. today in his home, after being ill since April 10 of this year.

He is survived by his widow, Eunice Appleby, who was born in Kalamazoo on May 1, 1887, and came here from Dowagiac 28 years ago, and was proprietor of a repair shop and sporting goods store.

He was a member of the St. Joseph Valley Free and Accepted Masons, the White shrine, Knights Templar, [illegible].

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday by the Rev. Percy D. Jones, rector of Trinity Episcopal church. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, October 5, 1950, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Services for Fred W. Appleby, who died early Monday morning will be held at Trinity Episcopal church at 2 p.m. Wednesday, rather than in Pifers funeral home, it was announced today. The body will be moved from the funeral home at noon tomorrow.

Members of Niles Hive 39, Maccabees, are requested to meet in front of Trinity church at 1:45 p.m. tomorrow, before attending services for Appleby.

NOTE:  This burial is not in the Cemetery records.  Per grave photos and info on FAG, it appears that burial was at Watervliet Cemetery.

Elsie Gibson
1887-Nov. 27, 1950

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, November 28, 1950, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. L.C. Gibson,  formerly of Niles, died Monday at the Union  Printers' home in Colorado Springs, Colo. She died the widow of the late Fred Gibson.

Surviving are a son, John Gibson, of Evanston, Ill., two sisters, Mrs. George Claypool, of Berrien Springs, and Mrs. Leslie Dohn, of Berrien Springs, and a brother, T.W. Howard, of Niles. Mrs. Gibson was born in 1887 in Niles.

Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday at Silverbrook cemetery. Arrangements are being made by the Pifer funeral home, and further details will be announced later.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, November 30, 1950, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Details of funeral services for Mrs. Elsie Gibson, rather than Mrs. L.C. Gibson as erroneously reported previously, have been completed.

The service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday at the Pifer funeral home by the Rev. Percy D. Jones, Episcopal rector. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

John P. Brubaker
Sept. 13, 1873*-Nov. 30, 1950

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, November 30, 1950, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

John P. Brubaker, formerly of Benton Harbor, died this morning at the Berrien Center hospital. He had been ill for about a year and a half.

Surviving are his children, Mrs. Byron Lewark of South Bend, F. E. Brubaker and Fred Brubaker, of Bertrand, and Mrs. Herman Schohknickt, of Benton Harbor; 16 grandchildren, and one brother, Brant Brubaker of Marion, Ind.

Brubaker was born in Somerset, Ind., on Sept. 13, 1873, and came here from Benton Harbor about two years ago.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 4 pm. Saturday by the Rev. C.K. Graham, Baptist pastor, Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

*Dates on gravemarker are Jan. 1, 1873-Nov. 30, 1950.

Pvt. Charles L. Kirk
Feb. 6, 1906-March 6, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, November 25, 1950, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

The body of Pvt. Charles L. Kirk, formerly of 240 North State street, who was killed March 6, 1944, in the Admiralty islands, will be returned here on Friday, Dec. 1.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2, by the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, Presbyterian pastor. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Surviving are Mr. and Mrs. Hudson Kirk, of Niles, his parents, and his wife, now Mrs. Richard Jones, of Niles. Also surviving are his two brothers, Thomas, of Mishawaka, Ind., and Lee Kirk, of Detroit, and four sisters, Mrs. George Worm and Mrs. Ray Elliott, of NIles, Mrs. Edwin Hoffman, of Battle Creek, and Mrs. Coleman Jinkens, St. Joseph.

Pvt. Kirk was born Feb. 6, 1906, and was 38 years of age at the time of his death. He came here from St. Joseph and had lived here for about 30 years. He was a member of the First Presbyterian church and a charter member of the former DeMolay chapter here.

Mehetabel Stout
June 24, 1867-Nov. 16, 1950

Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 17, 1950, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Mehetabel Stout, 83, of 19 South Third street, died in her home at 10:30 p.m. yesterday. She had been ill four years.

Mrs. Stout was born in Niles township June 24, 1867, and has lived here all of her life. She was married to William Stout in St. Joseph on Dec. 28, 1896. She was a member of the Presbyterian church, Lady Elks, and Maccabee lodge.

Surviving are her husband and [illegible] home, and a brother, Fred W. Blake, of Los Angeles, Calif.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home where services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday. The Rev. T.M. Greenhoe will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Jessie Lucille Springsteen
June 11, 1896-Nov. 11, 1950

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 13, 1950, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Jessie Lucille Springsteen, of rural route two, died at 10:30 p.m. Saturday after being in poor health for six years.

Surviving are her mother, Mrs. Ernest Arnold, of Montgomery, her husband, Walter, of Niles; two sons, Everett Fical, of Dolgeville, N.Y., and James Edward Springsteen, of Jackson; four grandchildren, and two brothers, Gerold E. Everitt, of Jackson, and Marion Everitt, of Burr Oak.

Mrs. Springsteen was born on June 11, 1896, in Kalamazoo, and came here from Detroit 21 years ago. She was a member of the Eastern Star, the "auxiliary" to Knights Templar, and of the Yankee Street Neighbors club.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday by the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, Presbyterian pastor. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.