Frances M. Messner
March 6,1928-April 5, 2009

By Staff
Frances M. Messner, age 81, of Giles Road, Niles and formerly of Yankee Street, Niles, died at 8:48 p.m. Sunday, April 5, 2009, in Niles at her home.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, April 9, 2009, at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles, with Linda Van Dyke of Luvability Ministries, officiating.
Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, at the funeral home.
She was born on March 6, 1928, in Three Rivers, to lewis Harrison Owen and Dora LaVesta Welsh Owen. She had lived in Cassopolis since 1947.
She was a member of the Niles Association for Handicapped, TOPPS No. 1549. She enjoyed reading mysteries, sewing and knitting.
On Oct. 24, 1947, in Cassopolis, she married Louis E. Messner, who died on Oct. 11, 1992.
She was also preceded in death by a son, Mark Messner, who died March 20, 2006.
Surviving family includes a son, Chris (Cathy) Messner of Niles; granddaughters, Chandra Stafford and Holly (Mark) Gross, step-grandson, Jeff (Charidy) Barnes, great-grandchildren, Daniel Stafford, Charlie Stafford and Jonathon Gross; step-great-grandchildren, Nicole Barnes and Jacob Barnes; a brother, Lyle Owen of Florida and several half-sisters and brothers.
Memorials may be made to Lakeland Hospital, Niles.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 3:23am Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Irene Grubbs, 96
Feb. 16, 1914 — Jan. 6, 2011

Irene M. Grubbs, 96, of North 13th Street in Niles, died at 10:20 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 6, 2011 at Silverbrook Manor in Niles following a brief illness.

Mrs. Grubbs was born Feb. 16, 1914 in South Bend to Chasty and Mabel (Reder) Barts, and attended South Bend Schools.

As a young lady, she worked at the S.S. Kresge department store in South Bend. She moved to Niles in 1975 and was employed at the former Pawating Hospital (now Lakeland) in Niles.

Irene was a member of Church of Christ in Niles.

On Sept. 28, 1935 in South Bend, she married Kenneth E. Grubbs, Sr., who preceded her in death Jan. 20, 1975. She was also preceded in death by her brothers and sisters, Harry Orville, Wilmer, twins Edgar and Edna and Nora.

Mrs. Grubbs is survived by a son, Kenneth (Linda) Grubbs of Niles; grandchildren, Scott Grubbs of Bowling Green, Kent. and Melisa Hemphill of Sumter, S.C.; great-grandchildren, Courtney (Tim) Stueber, Ashley (Matt) Knight, Jacob Hemphill and Alexandra Grubbs; and great-great-grandchildren, Tahlon Steuber and Ella and Gabby Knight.

Graveside services for Irene M. Grubbs will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and Mr. David Thompson of the Church of Christ officiating.

There will be no visitation.

Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Irene may be made to Church of Christ in Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 12:15am Saturday, January 8, 2011

Gabriel Mahler, 5
July 30, 2005 — Jan. 4, 2011

Gabriel Mahler, 5, of Twin Lakeview Drive, Dowagiac, died at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011 at Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital, Dowagiac of an accidental drowning.

Gabriel Mahler, 5

He was born July 30, 2005 in Niles to Randy John Devereau and Tamara Lynn Mahler. He lived for a short time in this area.

Gabriel attended Justus Gage Preschool in Dowagiac. He loved to fish, ride his bike and play his guitar; he idolized Buddy Holly. He loved animals, especially all of his pets.

He is survived by his parents, Tamara Mahler of Dowagiac and Randy Devereau of Niles; maternal grandparents, Walter and Christine Linn of Dowagiac and Melvin Mahler of Osceola, Ind; cousins, Joshua, Chase, Emily and Makenzie; and several aunts and uncles.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7, 2011at St. Mary Catholic Church in Niles with Father Kevin Covert of Holy Maternity of Mary Catholic Church in Dowagiac and the Rev. David Otto of St. Mary Catholic Church officiating.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Friends may call beginning at 11 a.m. Friday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Berrien County Humane Society or Christmas Commandos.

Niles Daily Star, Published 11:04pm Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Mary Carter
May 16, 1884-April 12, 1949

    Mrs. Mary Carter, 920 South Seventeenth street, died at 7:55 p.m. Tuesday in her home. She had been in poor health for the past three years.
    Surviving are her husband, Frank; their children, Lawrence Carter and Mrs. Paul Haas, both of rural route two, Niles, and Mrs. George Wenzel. of South Bend; five grandchildren, and a brother and sisters, Mrs. Harry Williams, and Mrs. Bertha Rupe, both of Niles, and Edward Morehouse, of Philadelphia, Pa.
    Mrs. Carter was born in Niles May 16, 1884, and had lived here all her life.
    Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, by the Rev. C.K. Graham of the . .. [illegible].

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 13, 1949, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library.

Katie Miller
Oct. 20, 1870-April 13, 1949

    Mrs. Katie Miller, aged 78, of rural route three, Pucker street, Niles, died at 6:30 p.m. yesterday in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Kate Stick, on rural route three.
    She was born in Germany on Oct. 20, 1870, and came here from Chicago 18 years ago. Her husband, Alfred, died in 1938.
    Surviving, besides Mrs. Stick, are a daughter, Mrs. Frank Fisher, and a son, Alfred, both of Chicago, four grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.
    Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home, where funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday with the Rev. Harold Hohman officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.
    She was a member of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church and of GAR number 45.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, April 14, 1949, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library.

Mrs. Sarah Rice
Feb. 19, 1868- April 13, 1949

    Mrs. Sarah A. Rice, 81, of 616 North Fifth street, died suddenly at her residence at 6 p.m. yesterday.
    She was born in Niles township on February 10, 1866[sic*], and lived in this area all her life.  Her husband R. Jay Rice, died in 1915.
    Surviving are a son, Homer, of Hollywood, Cal., a granddaughter, Roline Rice, also of Hollywood, a brother, Frank Treiber, of Niles; four sisters, Louise, Jennie, and Emma Treiber, and Mrs. Clara Hulce, all of Niles.
    Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home where services will . . [illegible]. . .Silverbrook cemetery.
    Mrs. Rice was a member of the First Presbyterian church, the Eastern Star, and the Maccabees in Niles.

*Marriage and census record indicate age of 81 is correct with correct year of birth being 1868.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, April 14, 1949, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library