Arthur L. Scott, 65
1944-2009

Arthur L. Scott, 65, of 1863 Lewis Drive, Niles, died at 4:20 a.m. Monday, Dec. 7, 2009 at home of natural causes.

Services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 11, 2009 at New Beginning Ministries, Niles, with Pastor Raymond Massey officiating.

Burial will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. Friends may call from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Friday at New Beginning Ministries.

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:32am Thursday, December 10, 2009 

Stella Iris Regenos, 83
1926-December 15, 2009

Stella Iris Regenos, 83, of 1514 Cherry St. in Niles, died at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2009 at home of natural causes.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 18, 2009 at First Missionary Church in Niles with Pastor Dan Miller officiating.
Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. Friends may call from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 18 at First Missionary Church.

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:55am Thursday, December 17, 2009 

Lyla M. Gonyon
Dec. 11, 1919 – Dec. 31, 2009

Lyla M. Gonyon, 90, of Holt, Mich. and formerly of Bame Avenue, Niles, died at 3:38 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009 at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing following an extended illness.

She was born Dec. 11, 1919 in Shingleton, Mich. to Alex Niemi and Hulda Mannanen Niemi. She graduated from high school in Munising, Mich. and came to Niles from Shingleton in 1954.

She was raised and confirmed in the Lutheran church. She was an avid reader of books, especially historical fiction. Her greatest interest was caring for her family and extended family.

On Dec. 12, 1947, in Munising, Mich., she married Joseph J. Gonyon, who died March 15, 2004.

She is survived by her sons, Rene David Gonyon of Mishawaka and Joseph K. Gonyon of Holt; daughter, Vicki Ann (Joe) Blackman of Buchanan; sister, Alma Klosowski of Chatham, Mich; grandchildren, Kayla E. Gonyon and Derek J. Gonyon; and friend, Valerie Anderson of Holt.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Joseph; son, Brian L. Gonyon on Dec. 9, 2003; sisters, Olga Sebastian, Ila Tower and Holda Niemi; and brother, Ernest Niemi.

The family is gathering privately at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Burial will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles. There will be no public visitation.

Memorial contributions may be made to a library of the donor’s choice.

Niles Daily Star, Published 11:14am Monday, January 4, 2010

Terry L. Bryant
Nov. 2, 1942-July 16, 2009

Terry L. Bryant, 66, of Clarendon Avenue, Niles, died at 3:38 p.m. Thursday, July 16, 2009, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, Saint Joseph, following a brief illness.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rev. Daniel D. Miller of First Missionary Church, officiating.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. today, Monday, July 20 and at 1 p.m. Tuesday, at the funeral home.

He was born on Nov. 2, 1942, in Saint Joseph, to Rex Bryant and Evelyn Louise Waldo.

He graduated from Buchanan High School and has lived in this area most of his life.

He was employed at Kool-O-Matic, Niles for many years, retiring in 2006.

He attended First Missionary Church, Niles.

He was a veteran of the Viet Nam Era, serving in the U.S. Army.

He enjoyed bicycle riding for pleasure, logging hundreds of miles. He also enjoyed John

Wayne movies and watching professional wrestling on television.

On Sept. 12, 1986, in Niles, he married Janet F. (Bailey) Bryant, who survives.

Additional surviving are five sons, Sean (Michelle) Bryant of Granger, Ind., Patrick Bryant of Evart, Michael Bryant of Niles, William (Rocksane) Moritz of Susanville, Calif. and Scott (Debbie) Moritz of Lake Geneva, Wis.; three daughters, Kelley (Ryan) Huling of Dowagiac, Shannon (Steven) Blodgett of Clare and Colleen (Jason) Pennell; 16 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; his mother, Evelyn Bryant of Buchanan and a sister, Linda Hayden of Buchanan.

He was preceded in death by his father, Rex Bryant, who died on Feb. 14, 2006 and a sister, Shirley Leuvano, who died Nov. 9, 2007.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Missionary Church.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:50am Monday, July 20, 2009

Mary Ellen (Baxter) Hilderbrand*
April 9, 1829-November 11, 1915

Niles Daily Sun, Friday, November 12, 1915, page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library


    Mrs. Mary Ellen Hildebrand, for many years a resident of Niles, died yesterday afternoon at the home of Mrs. Frank Corey, 798 Oak street.  Mrs. Hildebrand came to Niles about four weeks ago from Nebraska for a visit with her relatives in Niles and vicinity and about two weeks ago she was stricken with paralysis which caused her death.
    Mrs. Hildebrand was 87 years of age, having been born in Cambridgeshire, England, in 1829.  At the age of 22 years she came to America, locating first in Chicago.  She later lived in Buchanan and then in Niles.  Mrs. Hildebrand was twice married. Her first husband died from wounds received while serving in the civil war.  He died at Cincinnati.  Her second husband was John Hildebrand, whose death occurred 17 years ago. Since that time Mrs. Hildebrand has resided with her daughter, Mrs. Bahner, who for the past four years has lived in Nebraska.  Mrs. Hildebrand is survived by six children as follows:  John Hildebrand of Davenport, Iowa; Edward Hildebrand of South Bend; Fred Corey of Irons, Mich.; Mrs. F.A. Bahner, of Nickerson, Neb.; Mrs. Nothdurft, Watervliet, and William Hildebrand of Keeler.
    Mrs. Hildebrand was well known in Niles and was highly esteemed.
    The funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the home of Mrs. Corey. Rev. R.A. Wright of the Methodist church will conduct  the services.  Interment will occur at Silver Brook cemetery, where Mr. Hildebrand is buried.  Mrs. Bahner and Edward Hildebrand are in the city and the other sons and daughters are expected tomorrow.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 12, 1915, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

    Mrs. Mary Ellen Hildebrand passed away yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock after an illness of considerable time, due to paralysis.  Mrs. Hildebrand formerly resided in this vicinity in the country, but for a number of years she had been in Nebraska with her daughter.
    Her husband passed away about 18 years ago and since that time she made her home with her different children. Only a short time ago she came to Niles and had been stopping with her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Kate Corey, at 798 Oak street, where she passed away.
    The deceased was 86 years of age and a grand old lady.  She had many friends in this vicinity, friends of former years which endured a lifetime. Edward Hildebrand, a son of South Bend, and Mrs. Francis Bonner, a daughter, residing in Nickerson, Nebraska, are the only surviving relatives.
    Funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock from 798 Oak street.  Rev. R.A. Wright of the Methodist church officiating.  Interment will be made in Silver Brook cemetery.

*Name is spelled Hilderbrand on State of Michigan, Certificate of Death

Hattie B. Asmus
Jan. 22, 1886-Sept. 16, 1910

Niles Daily Sun, Saturday, September 17, 1910, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles Daily Star


    Miss Hattie Asmus, age 24 years, passed away at 5 o'clock last evening at the home of her father, George Asmus on north Eleventh street after one week's illness with diphtheria.
    Miss Asmus became afflicted the the sore throat in an aggevated[sic] form last Friday which in the few days developed into diphtheria. She was thought to be improving however, until yesterday afternoon when she became worse rapidly and although medical aid was summoned and the attending physican[sic] hurried to the home, she passed away shortly after his arrival.
    Besides her father, Miss Asmus is survived by three sisters and a brother all of Niles as follows: Mrs. Charles Walters, Anna, Clara and Herman Asmus.  Her mother passed away six years ago.
    The youngest sister, Clara and the brother have been at Mrs. Walters' residence since the disease was pronounced diphtheria and the separation of the family in their hour of sorrow but adds to their grief.
    When Miss Asmus passed away her father, and sister, Anna, and Mrs. George Wadel who has been assisting to care for her, only were at her bedside and they were also the only attendants at the funeral which was held this afternoon at 2 o'clock.
    The funeral service was conducted by Rev. F. Rahn of St. John's German church of which Miss Asmus was a life long and faithful member. Interment took place at Silver Brook cemetery.
    The house was thoroughly fumigated before and after the service by Undertaker Skalla.
    Miss Asmus was born in Niles and always resided here. She was a most highly esteemed young lady and her death is mourned by a large number of friends and acqauintances.[sic] Much sorrow was particularly manifested in the neighborhood where she spent her entire life.
    Miss Asmus has been an employe of the National Wire Cloth company for some time and is a member of the Wire Cloth Relief association from which the family will receive a death claim.
Niles Daily Sun, Monday, September 19, 1910, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library.

    A memorial service for the late Miss Hattie Asmus, whose death was caused by diphtheria which necessitated a private burial service on Saturday will be conducted at St. John's German church by Rev. F. Rahn next Sunday morning.  A particularly sad circumstance connected with the unfortunate young lady's death is the fact that the date for her wedding to Jacob Brown, a Niles young man employed as a Michigan Central fireman, was set for this coming November and her trousseau was all in readiness.  Mr. Brown came to Niles at once when apprised of her death and he was permitted to attend the funeral services.