Paul Leda, 69
Feb. 7, 1941 — Feb. 1, 2011

Mr. Leda was born Feb. 7, 1941 in South Bend to John and Mary (Makowski) Leda. He moved to Niles in 1975 from South Bend. He retired after 18 years of service at Georgie Boy in Edwardsburg. He was previously employed at the Uniroyal plant and South Bend Vending.

Paul was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Niles. He enjoyed fishing, going to the Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City, Ind. and the Army/Navy Club in South Bend. He was an avid University of Notre Dame fan.

On March 28, 1977 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, he married the former Jean Carrol Kolberg, who preceded him in death on Oct. 20, 2009. He was also preceded in death by their son, Daniel Brian House, and three brothers.

Mr. Leda is survived by their sons, Kevin (Sue) House of Niles and David (Lisa) House of Bristol, Ind.; a daughter, Kimberly (Terry) Eldridge of Niles; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and siblings, Chester, Nancy, Joan, Teresa, Dorothy and Lucy.

Funeral services for Paul R. Leda will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Carl W. Bassett of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church officiating.

Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive friends and relatives beginning at noon Tuesday at the funeral home.
Contributions in memory of Paul may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 7:07pm Thursday, February 3, 2011

Flavia A. Carter
1832-Oct. 30, 1918

Niles Daily Sun, Wednesday, November 20, 1918, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

    The body of Mrs. F.A. Carter, a former resident of Niles, will be brought to Niles Sunday and will be taken directly to Silver Brook cemetery for burial. The death of Mrs. Carter occurred at Cedar Falls, Ia., Oct. 30, and the body was placed in the vault there awaiting the recovery of the daughter of the deceased, Mrs. George F. Powell, who had influenza, and who, with her husband, will accompany the body to Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 20, 1918, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

    The body of Mrs. Flavia A. Carter, mother of Mrs. George E. Powell of Chicago, who died at her home in Cedar Falls, Iowa, Oct. 30, will be brought to Niles Saturday afternoon at 1 o'clock and taken direct to Silver Brook cemetery for burial.

Niles Daily Sun, Saturday, November 23, 1918, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

    The body of Mrs. F.A. Carter, former resident of Niles, who died at Cedar Falls, Ia., will be brought to Niles at 1 o'clock tomorrow afternoon via the Michigan Central and will be taken directly to Silver Brook cemetery where Rev. E.G. Lewis will conduct the committal service.

Niles Daily Sun, Monday, November 25, 1918, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library


    The body of Mrs. F.A. Carter, a former resident of Niles, was brought to this city on Sunday from Cedar Falls, Ia., and taken directly to Silver Brook cemetery for burial. Dr. E.G. Lewis conducted the committal services and Mesdames R.M. East and W.S. Wright sang. The Twenty-third psalm was read and the hymn, "By Cool Siloame's Shady Hill," was sung in accordance with a request made by Mrs. Carter.  George F. Powell, son-in-law of the deceased, accompanied the body to Niles and was met here by a cousin of the deceased from Kalamazoo.  Mrs. Powell was unable to come to Niles on account of her recent illness with influenza.

    

Kate Slates
April 21, 1852-November 14, 1918

Niles Daily Sun, Thursday, November 15, 1918, page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

    Mrs. Kate Slates, 66 years old, died at the home of her son, Robert Slates, in South Bend, Wednesday night at 8 o'clock, following an illness of three years of rheumatism and a short illness of pneumonia. She is survived by her husband, William Slates, and two sons, Robert and Leon, of South Bend.  Mrs. Slates was born in Howard township April 21, 1852, and has been a resident of South Bend for 30 years. The burial will be at Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, November 15, 1918, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

    Funeral services for Mrs. Kate Slates were held this morning from the home of her son in South Bend.  Burial took place in Silver Brook cemetery, this city.

Fred Early, 89
Jan. 10, 1922 — Feb. 7, 2011

Fred Early, 89, of Niles, died at 8:55 p.m. Monday, Feb. 7, 2011 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles unexpectedly but of natural causes.

He was born Jan. 10, 1922 in Niles to Fred Early, Sr. and Mary Louise (Hahn) Early. He graduated from Niles High School and lived here all his life.

He retired from Alro Steel in Niles and was previously employed with the railroad and Tyler Refrigeration.

Fred was a member of St. John’s United Church of Christ in Niles. He was a World War II veteran, having served in the United States Army. He was a member of American Legion Post 26 and a life member and past exalted ruler of B.P.O. of Niles Elks Lodge 1322.

Fred was a member of the Elks Golf League and league bowling at Whites Bowling Alley. He enjoyed vegetable gardening.

He married Leona M. (Young) Early on June 27, 1948 at St. John’s Untied Church of Christ in Niles.

Fred is survived by his wife, Leona; daughters, Sandra Lee Early of Grand Rapids, Mich. and Diane Gail Early of Niles; sons, James Fredric (Ann) Early of Ada, Mich. and Gary Alan (Vicki) Early of Fort Wayne, Ind.; and seven grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Alice Quimby.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 14, 2011 at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Harry L. Clark of St. John’s United Church of Christ officiating.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, concluding with Elks rites at 4 p.m. Full military honors by the U.S. Army Honor Guard and American Legion Post 51 will follow the services at the graveside.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 11:14pm Wednesday, February 9, 2011; print February 10, 2011, page 2.

Betty Krassow, 88
Oct. 21, 1922 – Feb. 10, 2011

Betty J. Krassow, 88, of Ironwood Drive in Niles, died at noon Thursday, Feb. 10, 2011 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles following an extended illness.

Krassow

Mrs. Krassow was born Oct. 21, 1922 in Lima, Ohio to Harry Burgess and Edna Mae (McMillin) Hemphill. She lived most of her lifetime in Niles. She retired after several years of service at Simplicity Pattern Co. in Niles.

Betty was a member of First Church of Christ-Christian in Niles. She enjoyed playing bingo, camping with family, staying close with her brothers and sisters, playing cards and visiting with family and friends.

On Aug. 10, 1943 in South Bend, she married Richard V. Krassow, who died Jan. 13, 1986.

Mrs. Krassow is survived by their children, Cora Soper, Kathy (Jake) Hamilton, Richard L. (Barbare) Krassow, Sr., all of Niles, Elwood (Goldie) Krassow of Marion, Mich., Craig A. (Pam) Krassow and David Krassow, both of Niles; 12 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; sisters, Goldie Stickovich of Osceola, Ind., Bernice Cherryholmes of Florida and Nellie Prince of Niles; and brother, Elwood Bucky Hemphill of Niles.

She was preceded in death by three sisters and one brother.

Funeral services for Betty J. Krassow will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Pastor David Szymczak of First Church of Christ-Christian officiating.

Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Betty may be made to the American Lung Association, American Cancer Society of the donor’s choice.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 10:52pm Friday, February 11, 2011; print Saturday, February 12, 2011, page 2

Doris Tracey, 92
Jan. 20, 1919 — Feb. 12, 2011

Doris W. Tracey, 92, of Sheffield Avenue in Niles, died at 8:05 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011 at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo following a brief illness.

Doris Tracey, 92

Mrs. Tracey was born Jan. 20, 1919 in Sturgis, Mich. to Charles and Ethel (Tyrel) Sager and graduated from Colon (Mich.) High School. She moved to Niles in 1942 and retired from the J.C. Penney store in Niles.

Doris was a member of First Baptist Church in Niles. She sang in the Tyler Blue Notes Choir.

On Jan. 12, 1938 in LaGrange, Ind., she married Robert J. Tracey, who preceded her in death May 22, 1991. She was also preceded in death by their son, Robert J. Tracey, Jr., who died July 24, 2009, and her brother, Richard Sager.

Mrs. Tracey is survived by her children, Winnie (Roger) Barr of Niles and Hugh (Nancy) Tracey of Vicksburg, Mich.; grandchildren, Nicole (Tom) Preston, Hugh (Val) Tracey, Corrina (Tim) Tackett, Kyle Tracey, Shane Wagner, Roger (Jill) Barr, Jr., Ron (Laurie) Barr, Laurie Wyman and Rick Barr; 10 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and siblings, Joyce Hoff of Floral City, Fla., Robert Sager of Tomah, Wis. and Rolland Sager of Tampa, Fla.

Funeral services for Doris W. Tracey will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church in Niles with the Rev. Jim Wing officiating.

Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Doris may be made to First Baptist Church.

Niles Daily Star, Published 12:18am Wednesday, February 16, 2011, page 2.