Obituaries

Lester F. Winn
June 14, 1902-May 10, 1916

Niles Daily Sun, Wednesday, May 10, 1916, page 1, col 6-7, microfilm Niles District Library


    Lester Winn, only son of Mr. and Mrs. George Winn, residing four miles north of Niles, was instantly killed by a lightning stroke about 8 o'clock this morning, as was also the team of horses the young man was driving.
    George Chapman, who had just commenced work at the Winn farm this morning was knocked out of the rear end of the wagon by the stroke that killed young Winn.  The bolt left a red mark like a burn on the left cheek of Mr. Chapman, and his ear drum is supposed to have been broken by the crash. Dr. Bonine, who was consulted, expressing that opinion.
    Mr. Chapman stood within two feet of young Winn, who was driving the team, and while he was knocked backwards onto the ground out of the wagon he suffered no inconvenience whatever aside from the burn on his cheek and the injury to his ear.  He did not lose consciousness and did not feel any effect in any other way than described as a result of the bolt that dealt death to his young companion standing by his side, and the team.
    Mr. Chapman gave the alarm and accompanying Fred Tichenor in the latter's car they drove at once to Niles for medical help.  Dr. Harrison was the first to respond to the call and Drs. Giddings, Tyler and Burns also followed him soon after to the scene of the tragedy, responding to the call for help. The physicians were unable to do anything to bring back the spark of life.
    Mr. Chapman in describing the incidents preceding the tragedy said that he and Lester Winn had gone with the team out into the peach orchard to pick up brush.  They had been there but a short time when the storm came up and it beginning to sprinkle they thought it best to go to the house until after the storm had passed.
    Leaving the orchard they passed through a gate into an open field. Mr. Chapman had just clambered into the rear of the wagon after closing the gate, and had no more than risen to his feet behind young Winn when the fatal bolt struck them.  Mr. Chapman says there was a blinding flash and in a moment he found himself lying on the ground.
    The bolt struck Lester on top of the head, leaving only a slight mark and singing his hair.  When first picked up his body was stiff and rigid, but later relaxed and became limp.
    George Winn, father of Lester, was plowing in an adjoining field at the time of the tragic death of his young son, and Mr. Thomas, John Winn's hired man was at work in the next field and was a witness to the accident.
    All hastened to the scene of the tragedy and assisted in carrying the lifeless body of the young man to the house, where all known means of resuscitation were resorted to before the arrival of the doctor.
    When Mr. Winn reached his son's side the boy's clothing was on fire and was partially torn off.
    It is believed that the lines which the young man held in his hands had become wet in the rain, and the electricity was thus grounded through the boy's body, and the horses and they were thus killed.
    Lester was born on the farm where his tragic death occurred and would have been 14 years old next month.  He attended school in the neighborhood, but was not in school this week, which is the last week for the year.  He was a good student and popular among his associates and was a fine boy in every way.
    Besides his parents he is survived by one sister, Mrs. Olin Steinbauer, who lives almost opposite the home of her parents. Supervisor John Winn is the boy's uncle.
    The storm this morning did not appear to be especially violent and was not felt particularly in the neighborhood in which the tragedy occurred, although three horses which the hired man of John Winn was working in the fields, dropped to their knees when the fatal bolt struck and the horses proved almost unmanageable and he had difficulty in getting them to the barn.

Fannie Foster Winn
April 6, 1856-June 6, 1911
    
    Mrs. Fannie Foster Winn died at her home four miles northwest of Niles this morning at 6:30 o;clock after a lingering illness.  The funeral will be held from the late home on Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Interment at Silver Brook cemetery.

Niles Daily Sun, Tuesday, June 6, 1911, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Florentine E. Flannery
1917-2007

By Staff
Florentine E. Flannery, 90, of Stateline Road, Niles and formerly of South Third Street, died at 7:10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007, at West Woods of Niles, following an extended illness.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be said on Friday, Dec. 21, at Saint Mary Catholic Church, NIles, with the Rev. David Otto of the church officiating.
Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20 at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles, where an evening prayer service will be held at 7:30 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to Saint Mary Catholic Church or Hospice at Home.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 6:00pm Thursday, December 20, 2007 

Mrs. Billie L. Diekema
1920-Dec. 22, 2007

By Staff
Funeral services for Mrs. Billie L. Diekema, 87, of Niles, are pending and will be announced at a later date.
The Rev. Janet Van Lear of First Presbyterian Church will officiate.
Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
Diekema died Saturday, Dec. 22, at 12:20 a.m. at Lakeland Specialty Hospital, Berrien Center, following an extended illness.
Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.
Memorial contributions may be made to Lakeland Hospice or the American Diabetes Association.

Niles Daily Star, Published 6:28pm Monday, December 24, 2007

Katherine S. Courser
Dec. 30, 1952-Feb. 5, 2008

By Staff
Katherine S. "Cooky" Courser, 55, of East Main Street, Niles, died at 6:18 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2008, at Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles, following a very brief illness.
Funeral services will be at 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 8, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rev. Jim Wing, pastor of First Baptist Church, Niles, officiating.
Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home.
She was born on Dec. 30, 1952, in Fort Knox, Kentucky, to Joseph V. Grishaber, Sr. and Ellie L. Connor Grishaber. She lived most of her life in Niles and graduated from Niles High School in 1971.
She was currently employed at the South Bend Clinic.
A former member of the Gold Wing Road RIders Association in Benton Harbor, Courser enjoyed gardening, yardwork, cooking and baking cookies. She loved being a grandmother.
On April 3, 1971, in Niles, she married Duane O. Courser, who survives.
Additional surviving family includes, two daughters, Nichole "Nickki" (Dan) Enyeart of South Bend, Ind. and Raegan M. (Corey) Weaver of Buchanan; grandchildren, Kiah and Klay Weaver and two brothers, Gary Lee (Diane) Grishaber of Niles and Theodore J. (Dee) Grishaber of Eagon, Minn.
She was preceded in death by her father, Joseph V. Grishaber, Sr., who died March 31, 1980; her mother, Ellie L. Grishaber, Sr., who died Sept. 15, 2007 and a brother, Joseph V. Grishaber, Jr., who died in September of 1998.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society,
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 3:10am Thursday, February 7, 2008

Carol A. Sonnenleiter
April 13, 1937-March 31, 2008

By Staff
Carol A. Sonnenleiter, 70, of North 15th Street, Niles, died Monday, March 31, 2008, at Memorial Hospital, South Bend, Ind., of a pre-existing condition.
The family is gathering privately at the graveside in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. No public visitation will be offered.
She was born on April 13, 1937, in Niles, to Frederick Weist and Frances Hardenburgh Weist.
She lived in Niles all of her life and graduated from Niles High School in 1955.
Sonnenleiter was formerly employed by FESCO Fire Equipment in Niles.
She enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She was first married in 1956 to Phillip Irwin.
Later, on Oct. 12, 1974, in Niles, she married William Robert Sonnenleiter, who died on Dec. 19, 2007.
Surviving family includes two sons, Greg (Debra) Irwin of Grandville and Scott Irwin, Sr. of Niles; her grandchildren, Britny Irwin, Krista Irwin and Scott (Suzanne) Irwin, Jr.; great-grandchildren, Alexus Irwin, Bryce Irwin and Cainen Irwin; a brother, Frederick (Jan) Irwin of Niles; a sister, Jean Henderson of Galien; two nieces, Shelia (Charles) Neuman and Marsha Huss and a nephew, Alex Henderson.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 11:13pm Wednesday, April 2, 2008