Obituaries

Oscar Courser
March 6, 1883-Oct. 17, 1963

Oscar Courser, 80, of 145 Ontario St., was pronounced dead on arrival at 10 :30 pm. Thursday at Pawating Hospital. Mr. Courser had been in ill health for the past two years.

He was born March 6, 1883, in Isabelle County. He came here 29 years ago and retired from the Tyler Refrigeration Corp. in 1951.

He is survived by his widow, Edith; seven children, Ralph Courser of Niles; Mrs. Alfred Rasmussen, Edmore; Mrs. Robert Davis, McBride; Hercil Courser, McBride; Mrs. Othella Young, Grand Rapids; Mrs. Howard Carpenter, Niles; and Durward Courser of Niles; 21 grandchildren 17 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Mrs. Cena Hartman, Los Angeles, Calif.; Mrs. Myrtle, Newaygo; and Mrs. Inez Hornbeck, Webberville; and one brother, John Elwell.

Services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Pifer Funeral home.  The Rev. Earl J. Wickstrom, pastor of the First Baptist Church, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, October 18, 1963, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Etta J. Davis
March 1, 1885-Oct. 18, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Friday, October 18, 1963, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Etta J. Davis, 77, of 549 Clark St., died at 9 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital, where she was admitted Wednesday.  Mrs. Davis had been in ill health for several years.

She is survived by two sons, Robert F. Davis, Pacific Grove, Calif.; and Robert M. Burch, Niles; and three granddaughters.

She was born March 1, 1885, in Niles and lived here all her life.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home after 5 pm. Saturday.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, October 19, 1963, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District
Library

Funeral services for Mrs. Etta J. Davis, 77, of 549 Clark St., who died Friday, will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday in the Kiger Funeral Home.  The Rev. John G. Carlton, rector of trinity[sic] Episcpal Church, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

Mrs. Verna D. Geideman
April 19, 1890-Oct. 17, 1963

Mrs. Verna D. Geideman, 73, of 1109 N. 7th St., lifetime resident of Niles, died at 9 p.m.  Thursday in Pawating Hospital, where she had been a patient since Oct. 1.

Mrs. Geideman is survived by her husband, George.

She was born April 19, 1890, in Cass County.  Mrs. Geideman was a member of St. John's United Church of Christ, Evangelical and Reformed.

Funeral services will be held at 4 pm. Saturday at the Pifer Funeral Home.  The Rev. Richard Fraser, pastor of her church, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, October 18, 1963, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Bertrand Posthumus
Jan. 29, 1898-Oct. 20, 1963

Funeral services for Bertrand Posthumus, 65, of 321 Huron St., will be conducted at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Trinity Episcopal Church. The Rev. John G. Carlton, rector, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

He died at 5:30 a.m. Sunday in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, where he had been a patient since Aug. 30.

Mr. Posthumus, former manager of Auto Parts Exchange here, was born Jan. 29, 1898 in Woodstock, Ontario.  He came to Niles from Fostoria, Ohio, in 1935.

Surviving are his widow, Ethel A.; a daughter, Mrs. Peter T. Harris, Berkeley, Calif.; a son, Bertrand J., Niles, and five grandchildren.

He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, a past commander of the Niles Commandry No. 12, Knights Templar; a member of St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4, Free and Accepted Masons; and a member of Niles Council No. 19, Royal and Select Masters, Free and Accepted Masons.

Friends are being received at the Kiger Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 21, 1963, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Bertha A. Reum
Nov. 9, 1869-Oct. 22, 1963

Mrs. Bertha A. Reum, 93, of 1323 Sheridan St., died at 10:55 p.m. Tuesday in Pawating Hospital, where she had been a patient one day.

Mrs. Reum was born Nov. 9, 1869 in Cass County and was a lifetime resident of the area.

She was a member of St. John's United Church of Christ.

Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Mervin Morros, Niles; a sister, Mrs. Kathryn Olson, Freeport, Ill.; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral srvices will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday in the Pifer Funeral Home.  The Rev. Richard Fraser, pastor of her church, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, October 23, 1963, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Emma L. Krause
Oct. 14, 1877-Oct. 22, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, October 23, 1963, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

BERRIEN SPRINGS--Mrs. Emma L. Krause, 86, of Long Lake Road, Berrien Township, died Tuesday morning in Norwich, N.Y. She was on a visit to a daughter, Mrs. William Rice.

Mrs. Krause was born Oct. 14, 1877 in Germany. Her husband, died in 1943.

Other survivors include two sons, Charles and Chester, both of Berrien Springs; another daughter, Mrs. Edward F. Toney, Pittsburgh, Pa. ; and five grandchildren.

She was a member of St. John's United Church of Christ, Niles, and the Women's Guild of the church.

The body is being brought to the McLauchlin Funeral Home here, where funeral arrangements are being completed.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, October 24, 1963, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Mrs. Emma L. Krause, 86, Berrien Township, who died Tuesday in Norwich, N.Y., will be held at 10 a.m Saturday in St. John's United Church of Christ, Niles, The Rev. Richard Fraser, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the McLaughlin Funeral Home, Berrien Springs, Friday evening.