Lowell Thompson
Aug. 29, 1936 — June 27, 2011

Lowell N. “Butch” Thompson, 74, of Merrifield Avenue, Niles, died at 9:50 p.m. Monday, June 27, 2011 at his home following an extended illness.

He was born Aug. 29, 1936 in Niles to William Lloyd Thompson and Linnie Lillian (Coomes) Thompson. Butch lived in Niles all his life.

He was a retired employee of Riblets Manufacturing in Elkhart, Ind. He was a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose and the Niles Senior Center. He enjoyed carpentry in his wood shop at home and camping, especially at Marcellus.

He married Bonnie Netta (Rankin) Thompson on Aug. 15, 1959 in Niles. She died Nov. 19, 1994.

He was also preceded in death by his brothers: Robert Thompson, who died Feb. 1, 2002; Raymond Thompson, who died Sept. 21, 1990; and Roy Thompson, Sr., who died July 2, 1991.

He is survived by his daughters, Janet Hubbard of Pineville, Ark. and Debbie (Ed) Jasinski of Edwardsburg; a sister, Virginia Harwood of Niles; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be at noon Friday, July 1 at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Janet Van Lear of Buchanan officiating.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Friends may call beginning at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 8:58pm Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Floyd Walter Bright
June 3, 1882-May 21, 1946

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 22, 1946, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Floyd W. Bright, 63, Dies Tuesday; Was Ill Three Years

Floyd Walter Bright, 63, of 856 North Eighth Street, died Tuesday at 12:30 p.m. in his home after an illness of three years.

Born in Lake Station, Ind., June 3, 1882, he came to Niles from Galesburg, Mich., in 1911 and worked here as a railroad car inspector. He was married in Galesburg in 1904 to Catherine Wood.  Bright was a member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Carmen of America.

Survivors are is wife; four children, Wayne, Donald, and LeRoy, all of Niles, and Mrs. Dorothy Brown, Chelsea; and a sister, Mrs. Minnie Hall, Kalamazoo.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home until the services Friday at 2 p.m. where the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

George H. Zwergel
April 13, 1893-March 20, 1970

Niles Daily Star, Friday, March 20, 1970, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--George H. (Polly) Zwergel, 76, of 965 S. 13th St., died at 8 am. today in Pawating Hospital, where he had been patient for the past five weeks.

Born April 13, 1893, in Niles, Mr. Zwergel had lived here all his life.

He was a World War I veteran, a life member of the Niles Elks Lodge and a member of the Four Flags Barracks No. 1093, Veterans of  World War I.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Father Vincent A. Anderson of the Trinity Episcopal Church officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, with graveside rites by the Elks Lodge.

Friends may call after 7 Saturday night at the funeral home.

W.S. Hinkle
Aug. 2, 1863-Feb. 4, 1946

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 5, 1946, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral Set for W.S. Hinkle, 82

W.S. Hinkle, 82, 0f 321 Chicago road, died Monday at 2:15 p.m. at his residence.

He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Emma Hinkle, one son Vern Hinkle, of 645 South St. Joseph avenue, and one grandson.

Native of Pennsylvania

Born in Erie county, Pa., Aug. 2, 1863, he came to Niles from Mendon, Mich., 51 years ago.  He was married to Miss Emma Richard, in Parkville, Nov. 11, 1883.

Services will be conducted Thursday at 2 p.m.,  from the Pifer funeral home with the Rev. L. George Beacock officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

He was a member of the Methodist church.

Mrs. Luella Keifer
Jan 24, 1883-March 21, 1970

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 23, 1970, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES-Mrs. Lucilla Keifer, 87, formerly of 1405 N. 10th St., died at 6:15 a.m. Saturday in Berrien General Hospital, after an extneded illness.

Born Jan. 24, 1883, in Walkerton, Ind., Mrs. Keifer had lived in Niles since 1915. On April 4, 1915, in Elkhart, Ind., she married Herman Keifer who died in 1948.

Survivors include a son, Charles of Niles; a daughter, Lois Keifer of Niles; two sisters, Mrs. Edna Burger of Elkhart, Ind., and Mrs. Flossie Klinger of Santa Ana, Calif., and five grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Jack Van Arsdall of the First Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home.

Samuel D. Harris
July 7, 1904-April 9, 1974

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 10, 1974, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Samuel D. Harris, 69, 1719 Fulkerson Rd., died at 6 p.m. Tuesday at Pawating Hospital after an extended illness.

A retired employe of the Rock Island Railroad, Mr. Harris was born July 7, 1904 in Montgomery, Ala., and lived in Niles since 1950, coming from Chicago.

On Dec. 28, 1942 in Chicago he married the former Sadie B. Chaney, who survives. Also survivng[sic] is one brother, Melvin, of Chicago.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m. Thursday.