Terry Frucci
June 1, 1947-June 29, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 30, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

FRUCCI INFANT DIES

Services will be held tomorrow for Terry Frucci, month old son of Mr.and Mrs. John Frucci, 205 Broadway.

The child died on Sunday at 7:07 a.m. at Pawating hospital, where he had been born on June 1. Besides his parents, he is survived by his grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Dominic Frucci, 649 North Twelfth street, and Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hemphill, both of  Niles.

The body has been taken from the Pifer funeral home to the residence where friends may call.  Rites will be held at the Home at 10 a.m. tomorrow, with the Rev. Dale Baker officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Emogene L. Sanders
July 15, 1924-June 27, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Friday, June 27, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. EMOGENE SANDERS DIES

Mrs. Emogene L. Sanders, 32, 407 North Tenth street, died at 3:05 a.m. today in the South Bend Healthwin hospital following a three months illness.

She was born in Albion, July 15, 1924 and had been a resident of Niles 20 years. She married Joseph Sanders Oct. 10, 1943. She was a member of the Second Baptist church.

Besides her husband she is survived by her parents, Mr. Carl Hamilton, Monroe,and Mrs. Maude Riggs, Niles; a son, Joseph Jr.; a daughter, Judith Ann; and two sisters, Miss Bondena Hamilton, South Bend, and Mrs. Manuel Day, Niles.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home. The Rev. Richard Alexander will officiate at services, which will be held in the Second Baptist church, 2 p.m. Monday. Burial will be at the Silverbrook cemetery.

Margaret L. Smith
Aug. 19, 1916-June 25, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, June 26, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Margaret L. Smith, of 412 North Fourteenth street, died yesterday at 5:25 p.m. at Pawating hospital, where she had been ill for 10 weeks. She was 31 years old.

She leaves her husband, Earl; a daughter, Shirley Mae; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. E.C. Sutter; and a sister, Mrs. Harold K. Smith, all of Niles.

She came to Niles 20 years ago from Logansport, Ind., where she was born Aug. 19, 1916, and she was married here Oct. 25, 1934. She was a member of the local Women of the Moose and of the First Methodist church.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where the Rev. L. George Beacock will conduct rites on Saturday at 3 p.m. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Frederick J. Walker
July 15, 1879-June 26, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, June 26, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

FORMER RESIDENT DIES

Frederick J. Walker, 67, former Niles resident, died today at his Watervliet farm home at 8:40 a.m. after a year's illness.
He is survived by a sister, Miss Elizabeth Walker, of Watervliet, and a brother, Louis A. Walker, of South Bend.   
He was born on a farm north of Niles on July 15, 1879, where he lived until 10 years ago when he moved to Watervliet.
Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home where the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe will officiate at the service at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. Burial will be at Silverbrook cemetery.

Edward Lorenzo Aldrich
Oct. 6, 1895-June 24, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 24, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Edward Lorenzo Aldrich, 51, of 515 Huron street, died at 1:45 this morning at his home after an illness of six weeks.

A lifelong resident of Niles, he is survived by his wife, Cora, three sons, James, Oris, and Robert, and three daughters, Susan, Jule Ann,and Mrs. John Williams, of Detroit.

He also leaves three brothers, Woodrow Aldrich, Niles; Byron Aldrich, Vandalia; and James Aldrich, Mishawaka, Ind.; and a sister, Mrs. Celia Compton; Grand Rapids.

Aldrich was born in Niles on Oct. 6, 1895, and he was married here 22 years later to Cora Lundy of Vandalia. He was employed as a machinist. He was a mbmer of the First Presbyterian church and of the Eagles lodge.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home, where rites will be held on Thursday at 2:30 p.m. The Rev. T.M. Greenhoe will officiate. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, June 25, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

ALDRICH RITES TOMORROW

Rites for Edward L.. Aldrich, who succumbed yesterday morning at his home here, will be held tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. at the Kiger funeral home, the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe officiating.

Besides the survivors listed yesterday in the Daily Star, he leaves another son, Edward R. Aldrich, of 1621 Huron street.

Lute H. Ranft
March 30, 1881-March 7, 1955

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 8, 1955, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Lute H. Ranft, 73, 517 First Court, former Niles alderman from the fourth ward, died Monday noon in the Tampa, Fla., Municipal Hospital.

Ranft, who for many years owned his own circus, was born March 30, 1881, in Niles and lived his entire life here. He was spending the winter in Florida at the time of his death.

Starting as a musician in 1900, Ranft was associated with circus life for almost 30 years. In about 1907 he bought his own circus, one of the old time dog and pony shows and travelled the country every year until 1927.

Ranft always took his family with him on the yearly caravans, and at times had up to 100 employes working with him on the show. The troop averaged 15 horse-drawn wagons and was known as the L.H. Ranft Society Circus.  Every year the routes would be changed and during all the years he was operating the circus played every one of the 48 states during the various seasons.

Surviving are: his wife, Wallesina, two daughters, Mrs. James Lewellen and Mrs. William Woods, both of Niles; and a son, Herman Ranft, of Niles; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild, and a brother, Art Ranft, of New Port Richey, Fla.

The body will be returned to the Pifer Funeral Home and arrangements are to be announced later.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, March 10, 1955, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

SET RANFT RITES

Services for Lute H. Ranft of 517 First Court, will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Pifer Funeral Home by the Rev. Ray McCoy, pastor of the First Baptist Church. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.