Edward Lewis
Oct. 2, 1905-Nov. 29, 1984

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, December 1, 1984, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Edward Lewis, 79, 3047 Carberry Rd., Niles, died at 2:37 a.m.  Thursday at Pawating Hospital after a long illness.

He was born Oct. 2, 1905 in Ada Beana, Miss. He retired from the Clark Equipment Co., in 1967 and was a member of Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church.

He married Grace Seawood in 1949 in Niles. She died in 1972.

Surviving are: a son, Johnny Q. Lewis of San Francisco; and a sister, Maude Lewis of Niles.

Services will be held Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. at the Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church. Rev. Fletcher McAfee of that church will officiate. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home. A wake service will be held Tuesday from 7 to 8 p.m.

George W. Andrews
Jan. 27, 1911-Nov. 30, 1984

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, December 1, 1984, page 2, col. 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library

George W. Andrews, 73 1231 Huff Avenue, Niles, died at 5:58 p.m. Friday at Pawating Hospital after a brief illness.

He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church and St. Joseph Valley Lodge 4 F. & A.M. he was a retiree of the Bendix Corp.

He was born Jan. 27, 1911 in Grand Rapids and had lived in the area since 1920, coming from Grand Haven.

He married Joyce Korman on Jan. 25, 1934 in Niles. She died on Dec. 11, 1983.

Surviving are: a son, George W. Andrews Jr., Niles; a brother, Albert Andrews, Berrien Center; three sisters, Almarian Boulton, Selma Easton, and Waneeta Long, all of Niles; three grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.

A great-granddaughter died in 1980.

Services will be 11 a.m. Monday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.  The Rev. William C. Hamm of the Trinity Episcopal Church will officiate. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.  Memorials may be given to the Trinity Episcopal Church Memorial Fund.

LaVern W. Siebert
Oct. 25, 1919-Nov. 30, 1984

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, December 1, 1984, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

LaVern W. Siebert, 65, 17 N.  Seventh St., Niles, died at 7:58 p.m. Friday at Pawating hospital after a brief illness.

He was a member of St. John's United Church of Christ and a member of the Mens Fellowship of the church. He was also a member of the Kawneer 25 Year Club, a board member of the Senior Citizens Center and a board member of the Four Flags Plaza. He retired from Kawneer.

He was born Oct. 25, 1919 in Niles and lived his lifetime here.

Surviving are: six sisters, Lois Asmus, Frances Hipshear, Gladys Lewis and Alice Snyder, of of Niles. Beatrice Shinneman of Boynton Beach, Fla., and Jean Patchett of Portage.

Services will be 2 p.m. Monday at St. John's United Church of Christ. Rev. Frederick S. West of that church will officiate. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorials may be given to the St. John's United Church of Christ Memorial Fund.

Estella Dell West
Nov. 11, 1893-Dec. 16, 1984

Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 17, 1984, page 2, col. 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library

Estella Dell West, 91, 1941 S. 13th, Niles, died at 4:45 p.m. Sunday at Riveridge Manor after an extended illness.

She was a member of St. Marks Catholic Church and was born Nov. 11, 1893 in Osceola County.  She had lived in the area since 1939, coming from LeRoy.

Surviving are: a son, Jesse West of Jupiter, Fla.; two daughters, Mildred Bella and Genevieve Boose of Niles; a brother, Delbert Mapes of Niles; two sisters, Lucille Stanner and Etta Ross of Niles; 18 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Marks Catholic church. Rev. Donald A. Wieber of St. Marks will officiate. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery. There will be no visitation.  Memorials may be given to St. Marks Catholic Church.

Anna (Litty) Montz
Sept. 4, 1918 – June 13, 2010

Anna Montz, 91, of Niles passed away on Sunday, June 13, 2010 with her children by her side.

Anna was born on Sept. 4, 1918 to the late Joseph and Anna (Zwickl) Litty; she was one of 13 children in the Litty household.

After school Anna wed the love of her life, Jesse Montz, on Sept. 24, 1938 at a ceremony in Goshen, Ind. Together they had four wonderful daughters.  After they wed Anna worked out of the home for a while at Studebaker, Robertson’s and even Notre Dame.

Anna was an excellent gardener, amazing artist, very educated and political. She was a self-taught oil painter, flower gardener, great cook, bird watcher and especially an avid Democrat. She wrote to the “Voice of the People” so often that they invited her to their luncheons; she kept many scrapbooks of political happenings that all included her thoughts on the current state of the union.

Anna was a homemaker most of her life and raised four wonderful daughters whom she raised with her love of the outdoors and politics. Anna also had a wonderful library in her house that was frequently used by her and others.

She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jesse; brothers, August, Joseph, John, Herman and Mike Litty; sisters, Martha Leichtman, Rose Martinson, Mary Schrader, Josephine Quick and Virginia Mann.

Anna is survived by her daughters, Karol Montz, of Niles, Linda Downey, of Russiaville, Ind., Kathy Laudig, of Merriville, Ind., Marsha Montz, of Niles; grandchildren, Pamela, Anthony, Joseph, John, Rebecca, Michael, Laura, Amy, Larry Wayne, Elizabeth Ann and Matthew Joseph; great-grandchildren, Morgan, Joselyn, Dalton, Theodore, Brady, Derek, Cody, Taylor, Connor, Bailey, Isabel, Macie, Morgan, Kaylee, Melena, Cristina and Gabriela; brother, Fred Litty, of Niles; and sister, Victoria Litty, of Niles.

In keeping with Anna’s wishes she has been cremated and there will be no public service. Those wishing to make a memorial donation in her memory may do so to Hospice at Home located at 4017 Chamberlain Rd., Buchanan.

Condolences, photos and memories may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:38pm Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Jesse Montz
June 1, 1910-Dec. 16, 1984

Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 17, 1984, page 2, col. 4-5, microfilm Niles District Library

Jessie Joseph Montz, 74, 214 Carter Ave., Niles, died Sunday at Memorial Hospital in South Bend after a sudden illness.

He was formerly a Milton Township trustee and treasurer and served on the Winkler School Board for 10 years.

He was born June 1, 1910 in South Whitley, Ind. and lived in the area for 50 years, coming from South Whitley. He was formerly employed in the sheet metal department of Quality Metal in Niles.

He married Anna Litty on Sept. 24, 1938 in South Bend.  She survives.

Also surviving are: five daughters, Donna Adams and Karol Dlouhy of Niles, Marsha Montz of Anchorville, Linda Vary of Russiaville, Ind. and Kathy Laudig of Yoder, Ind.; a brother, Henry Montz of Winnamac, Ind.; three sisters, Della Stanner and Sophia Brandenburg of Cedar Lake, Ind. and Sarah Lower of LaGrange, Ind.; 14 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

There will be no services. Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.  Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorials may be given to the UNICEF Foundation.