Obituaries

Katherine Sortore
Jan. 23, 1883-Aug. 23, 1982

Katherine Sortore, 99, of 224 S. 4th St. Niles, died Aug. 23, at 6 p.m.  at State Line Medical Care Facility after a lengthy illness.

Born Jan. 23, 1883 in Niles, she was a lifetime resident of the area. She was married to Wilkinson A. Sortore, who preceeded her in death on June 23, 1958. She was a homemaker and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church for over 50 years.

A graveside committal will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery on Friday, at 10 a.m. with Rev. William Fuerstenau of the First Presbyterian Church officiating. There will be no visitation, but funeral arrangements and service are being conducted by Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, August 27, 1982, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Leroy Eugene Gross
Aug. 12, 1940-Aug. 23, 1982

Leroy Eugene Gross, 42, of Cass County Medical Facility in Cassopolis, died on Monday at 6:31 a.m. in Pawating Hospital after a lengthy illness

He was born on Aug 12, 1940, in Niles and was a lifetime resident of Cass County. His father, Sylvester F. Gross of Niles survives.  Also surviving are four brothers: Kenneth D. Gross, Sylvester E. Gross, Donald Gross, and Robert Gross; and three sisters:  Mrs. John (Dorothy) Demos, Mrs. Clarence (Betty) Bolden, and Mrs. Paul (Rosemary) Coffinger, all from Niles.

Funeral services will be held at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home on Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. with burial following at Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call between 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday.  Memorials may be made to the Cass County Medical Facility.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 24, 1982, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Evelyn M. Radka
April 20, 1906-Aug. 20, 1982

Mrs. Evelyn M. Radka, 76, of 251 Cass St., Niles, died at 9:10 a.m. Friday at Pawating Hospital following a brief illness.

A former employee of Krajci Drug, she was born April 20, 1906 in Niles. She had spent her lifetime in this area.

Her husband, Walter Radka, died on June 25, 1958.

Survivors include a son, Robert Radka of Niles; a daughter, Mrs. James (Mary Alyce) Thayer of Niles; a sister, Mrs. Herbert (Marian) Merrill of South Bend; and four grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.  Rev. Sheldon T. Harbach of the Trinity Epicospoal[sic] Church will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

The family suggests memorials may be made to the Michigan Heart fund.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, August 21, 1982, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Marie Lucker
Nov. 22, 1905-Aug. 19, 1982

Mrs. Marie Lucker, 76, of 1424 Hickory St., Niles, died at 3:30 a.m. Thursday at Pawating Hospital.

She was a homemaker and had resided in Niles since 1926. She was a member of the New Apostolic Church.

Mrs. Lucker was born November 22, 1905 in Hinchman, Michigan. She married Gabriel P. Lucker on October 27, 1923 in St. Joseph, Mich. Her husband survives.

Also surviving are five daughters, Mrs. Marjorie Peterson, Fountain, Mich.; Mrs. Jerry (Elaine) Zizkovsky, Stevensville; Mrs. Richard (Mary Lou) Misner, Niles;  Mrs. Ronald (Virginia) Webster, South Bend, Ind.; and Mrs. Richard (Joan) Coger, Buchanan, and one son, Jack D. Lucker, Galien; along with 21 grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home in Niles. Evangalist[sic] Ernest Lindsteadt of the New Apostolic Church will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. on Friday at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, August 20, 1982, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Vivian Ione Wyburn
May 4, 1911-Aug. 18, 1982

Mrs. Vivian Ione Wyburn, 71, of 2615 South Third St., Niles, died at 9:05 a.m. Wednesday at Pawating Hospital following a brief illness.

She was the retired receptionist for Samson Builders of Buchanan. She was a member of the First Baptist Church, the Buchanan Westerners, Berrien County Historical Society, National Association of Retired and Veteran Railway Employees and the American Association of Retired People.

Mrs. Wyburn was born May 4, 1911 at Waterloo, Ind. and had lived here since 1935.  She married George Lee Wyburn on Dec. 30, 1935 in Chicago.  Her husband survives.

Also surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Lee (Geoleen Dell) Rotzien of Niles and Mrs. Garland (Catherine Ione) Rhodes of Niles; two sisters, Mrs. Dorothy Kaiser of Clayton and Mrs. Donna Jean Tompkinson of Godfrey, Ill.; and six grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be held at 2  p.m. Friday at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.  Rev. Ray C. Cunningham of the First Baptist Church will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

The family suggests memorials may be made to the Michigan Heart Fund.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, August 19, 1982, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Ralph R. Clubb
Aug. 14, 1923-Aug. 14, 1982

Ralph R. Clubb, 59, of 2330 East Main, Lot 6, Niles, died at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Ind. after an extended illness.

A World War II veteran from the U.S. Air Force, he was a member of the Niles American Legion Post 26. He was a former employee of Henco-Coachman of Niles. Born on Aug. 14, 1923, in South Bend, he was a lifetime area resident.

In Niles on Sept. 20 of 1975, he married Helen M. Ritchie, who survives. His mother, Mamie James of Niles, also survives. Five brothers, Richard K. Snyder of Niles, Gilbert J. Clubb of Niles, Frederick L. Clubb of Niles, Oscar J. Clubb of Niles, and Robert E. Clubb, also of Niles, survive.  Two sons, Ralph Clubb II, of the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany, and Larry Hayden of Niles survive.  A daughter, Mrs. Ralph (Randy) Glatzhofer of Cleveland, Ohio, and two stepdaughters, Mrs. Robert (Betty) Lloyd of Niles, and Mrs. David (Janet) Craw of Buchanan survive along with 13 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1 a.m. on Wednesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Larry L. Whiteford of the Fulkerson Park Baptist Church officiating. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.  Memorials may be given to the Berrien County Cancer Service.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 16, 1982, page 2, col. 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library