Obituaries

Julia Bowerman
1855-November 13, 1918

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

Julia Bowerman, wife of Perry Bowerman, a former resident of this city, died at her home in Kalamazoo Tuesday night, of pneumonia. Mrs. Bowerman was born in Crystal Springs, Ill., and was 63 years old. The body will be brought to this city tomorrow afternoon at 2:39 and taken direct to Silver Brook cemetery for burial.

NOTE: Death Certificate: dob is unknown, age 60 years. Father's last name Foster.

Fannie M. Bowerman
Dec. 22, 1882-Feb. 3, 1982

Fannie M. Bowerman, 99, of 1362 Eagle St., Niles, died at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Pawating Hospital after a lengthy illness.

A homemaker, she was born on Dec. 22, 1882 in Crete, Nebraska and had spent most of her lifetime in this area.

Her husband, George Bowerman, died in 1958.

Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Edna Housam of Niles; a son, Herbert Bowerman of Dowagiac; and two grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday in the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home in Niles.  Rev. Michael T. Conklin of the Pokagon United Methodist Church will officiate.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, February 4, 1982, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library.

Hulda L. Zechlin
Dec. 15, 1896-Dec. 23, 1976

NILES--Mrs. Hulda L. Zechlin of 1343 Ferry St., died Thursday at 11:40 p.m. at St. Joseph Hospital in South Bend.  She was 80 years old.

Mrs. Zechlin had been hospitalized since she fell at the corner of Fourth and Main Sts. in Niles Dec. 17.

Mrs. Zechlin was born Dec. 15, 1896 in Whiting, Ind., and had been a resident of Niles since 1928, moving here from Michigan City, Ind.  She was married to Ellicott Barnes who died in 1929, and to Earl A. Zechlin whom she married in 1933.  He preceded her in death in 1960.

Mrs. Zechlin was a member of the Eastern Star.

She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Elmer (Winnifred) Lepel of Niles; two brothers, Glenn Graw of LaPorte, Ind. and Marion Graw of Tavares, Fla.; and a sister, Mrs. Marie Zahrndt of Niles.  Three grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren also survive.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.  The Rev. Richard J. Fraser, formerly of St. John's United Church of Christ, in Niles, willl officiate.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 3 to 7 p.m. Sunday.  The family has asked that any memorials be made to the Eastern Star or the Salvation Army.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 24, 1976, page 2 col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Thomas B. Shackelford, Sr.
March 13, 1921-December 16, 1976

NILES--Thomas B. Shackelford St., 55, of 2115 Spansail Dr., died at 12:36 p.m. Thursday at Pawating Hospital after an illness of five days.

He was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in W.W. II, a member of the St. Joseph Valley Masonic Lodge, the Mobile, Ala. Athelstan Lodge, and the Niles Shrine Club, the Niles Commandery K.T. and the St. Joseph Valley Chapter of the RAM.

A self-employed trucker, he was born March 13, 1921 in Mobile, Ala., and had lived here since 1951, coming from Mobile.

On Aug. 2, 1942 in Frederick, Okla, he married marilyn Brodie, who survives.

Also surviving are three sons, Thomas B. of Elkhart, Ind., Gordon B. and Thaddeus H., both of Niles; three daughters, Mrs. Marilynn Weybright of New Paris, Ind., and Virginia Shackelford and Mrs. Susan Dickerson, both of Niles; a brother, H.L. Shackelford, Jr. of Miami, Fla.; a sister, Mrs. Villiam H. Peck of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; and four grandchildren.

Funeral services, including full Masonic rites, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Halbritter Funeral Home conducted by the St. Joseph Valley Masonic Lodge. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 7 to 0 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Memorials may be given to the Shriner's Crippled Children's Hospital, Chicago. Forms are available at the funeral home.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 17, 1976, page 2 col. 7-8, microfilm Niles District Library

Ramone Negron
June 9, 1921-May 11, 1990

Graveside services for Ramone Negron, 68, of 1013 N. 5th St., Niles, will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 16 at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles, by the Rev. W.L. Daniel of the Mount Calvary Baptist Church of Niles.

Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Negron died at 9:30 p.m. Friday, May 11, at Pawating Hospital.

He was retired from the Green Giant Company of Niles.

Negron was born June 9, 1921 in Puerto Rico, and had lived here for 30 years, coming from New York.

Survivors include three brothers, Rufino Negron of Niles, Pete Negron and Franco Negron, both of Puerto Rico.

Friends may call during the wake service from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Hoven Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 15, 1990, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Vickie Jane Lesniak
March 17, 1958-May 13, 1990

Services for Vickie Jane Lesniak, 32, of 418 Michigan St., Niles, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday May 17 at St Mark's Catholic Church of Niles by Rev. Wieber of St. Mark's Catholic Church.

Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Lesniak died at 9:55 p.m Sunday, May 13 at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo of natural causes.

Lesniak was born March 17, 1958 in South Bend, Ind. and had been a lifetime resident of the area.

Survivors include her father, Mr. Glenn Lesniak of Niles; a brother, Mr. Glenn Noel Lesniak of Cave Creek, Ariz.; and a sister, Mrs. Marie Weimer of Niles.

Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 16 at Hoven funeral Home in Buchanan.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 15, 1990, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library