Archie A. Fowler, 59, of 1316 Hickory street, a resident of Niles 45 years, died this morning at 1 after a week's illness.
    Born in Buchanan July 25, 1889, [illegible]during his childhood.
    Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Lynn Butler, Niles' three sons, Earl and Phillip Fowler, both of h Niles, and Leroy Fowler, serving with the marines in San Diego, Calif., and a sister, Miss Mabel Fowler, Glenwood, Ill.
    Friends may call at the Price and Kiger funeral Home.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 15, 1943, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library)

Frank Skalla

May 12, 1861-July 14, 1943

    Niles lost one of its Old Timers in death when Frank W. Skalla, 82, native resident and former Niles manufacturer, succumbed at 1:30 Wednesday afternoon in his home 309 South St. Jospeh avenue.
    Born in Niles May 12, 1861, he had lived here virtually all his life and was the last of a family of five sons and two daughters of the late Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Skalla, Sr.
    Mr. Skalla was one of th few remaining Nilesites christened in the old St. Francis mission, a frame structure built on the site now occupied by St. Mary's church.
    Until 1913, when the plant burned to the ground, Mr. Skalla assisted by three of his brothers in operation of the Skalla Furniture company and the store established by his father.  He served on the Niles police force during 1926 and 1927.
    Surviving is his wife, the former Anna Brand, with whom he celebrated their 53rd wedding anniversary in May. They were married in Peoria, Ill., May 21, 1890.
    He also leaves two children, Mrs. Helene Donaldson, and William C. Skalla, both of Niles.
    The body will be taken tonight from the Price and Kiger funeral home to the residence where friends may call.  Requiem high mass will be conducted Saturday morning at 9 in St. Mary's church by the Rev. Joseph Rochford.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.
    Members of the Holy Name Society of which he was a member will meet in the residence Friday night at 8.  He also was a member of the Knights of Columbus.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 15, 1943, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library)

Edward H. Smith
Dec. 31, 1871- July 15, 1943


    Edward H. Smith, a former Niles alderman, died in his home, 316 West Main street, Thursday morning after an illness of six years.
    Smith was elected to the Niles city council from the First ward in April, 1931, and served under former Mayor William H. Corbett for one term.
    A carpenter and contractor, he was born in Germany, Dec. 31, 1871, and came to Niles from Kenosha, Wis., in 1917.  He was married to Mattie Mielke in Merrill, Wis., who now lives in Los Angeles, Calif., on Sept. 16, 1893.
    In 1928 he was married to Kathryn Grumer who, with six children from the first marriage, survive. They are Mrs. Eli Zechlin and Carl and John Smith, Niles; Mrs. Ann Cripps, Kenosha, Mrs. Ernest Bucher, of Lawrence,a nd Henry Smith, Cincinnati.
    He is also survived by two brothers, Julius, Kenosha, and Charles, Los Angeles, and six sisters, Mrs. Ernst Rothbarth, Mrs. Gust Rohnow, Mrs. Amanda Kanehl, Mrs. Charles Schlater, Mrs. Fred Weiss and Mrs. Adolph Wiess, all of Kenosha.
    A step-daughter, Mrs. George Mochour, also is a survivor, with nine grandchildren and six greatgranddchildren.
    Friends may call at the Price and Kiger funeral home where services will be conducted at 4 Saturday afternoon by the Rev. Theo Eisen, pastor of the St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

(Source:  Niles Daily Star, Friday, July 16, 1943, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library)

Seeley Canfield
Died December 11, 1889

Seeley Canfield of Bronson, Mich., died on Wednesday last, of Bright’s disease, and his remains arrived here last evening for interment in Silver Brook cemetery. They were accompanied by his son and daughter.  Mr. Canfield will be remembered here by many as stage driver for E. Coffinger, between Niles and St. Joseph, for many years.

 (Source:  Niles Mirror, Wednesday, Dec. 18, 1889, page 5, microfilm Niles District Library)

AND

Seeley Canfield, a former resident of this city, died a few days ago at Bronson, Mich.  His remains were brought here for burial to-day.

 (Source: The (Niles, Mich.) Republican, Thursday, Dec. 12, 1889, page 5, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library)

Rose Camfield
Oct. 4, 1852-Jan. 31, 1931


    Funeral services were held from the Childs Funeral Home at 2:30 p.m. Sunday for Mrs. Rose Camfield, 78, who died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. D.M. Carlisle, 803 Main Street, Saturday, after a long illness.
    The service was conducted by Rev. Thomas Rice, and burial was made in the Silver Brook cemetery at Niles.
    She was born Oct. 4, 1852, at Muncie, Ind., the daughter of James M. and Elizabeth (Doughty) Graham.
    On May 8, 1872, she was united in marriage to Joseph H. Camfield, who preceeded[sic] her in death on August 27, 1927.
    To this union was born five children, Frederick H. Camfield of Chicago, Mrs. Mabel Marsh, of Windsor, Canada, Mrs. Pearl Carlisle of Buchanan, Mich., Ruby Blanche Camfield of South Bend, Ind., and Leroy E. Camfield of Jamestown, New York.   She is also survived by ten grandchildren, one great grandchild, one sister, Mrs. Xenia Gallup of Windsor, Canada.
    In 1877 Mr. and Mrs. Camfield moved to South Bend and she made that city her home for fifty years.
    On August 15, 1930, she suffered a stroke of paralysis which greatly impaired her health and on October 14, 1930, she came to Buchanan to reside with her daughter, Mrs. Carlisle, where she passed peacefully away early Saturday morning.

(Source: Berrien County Record, Thurs., Feb. 5, 1931, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library)

RUTH POTOKAR
November 14, 1934 – May 31, 2010

Ruth Helen Potokar, 75, passed away Monday, May 31, 2010.

Ruth’s life began on Nov. 14, 1934 in Niles, the daughter of Ezra and Elsie Jones. She was a 1952 graduate of Niles High School and a life-long resident of Niles until moving to Lewisville, Texas in 2006 to be with her children.

She loved animals, particularly cats, and gave freely of her time and financial support to several no-kill shelters and animal rescue groups. She loved to travel, visiting every state in the U.S. except Alaska, traveling across Europe on multiple occasions with her husband and children and vacationing on several different islands in the Caribbean with her family.  She was a keen movie fan and an avid reader, passing on her joy in books and reading to her daughters. Ruth was a member and active volunteer of the South County Democratic Club of Berrien County.

Ruth was married to Herman John Potokar, who preceded her in death on Feb. 14, 2001.

She is survived by daughters, Abbie Edwards and her, husband, Jan, of Flower Mound, Texas and Amy Potokar, of Lewisville, Texas; sisters, Evelyn Hawkins, of Niles, Joy Rolston, of Niles and Lois Rosetto, of St. Joseph; and brother, Delmar Jones, and his wife, Gloria, of Louisville, Ala.

A memorial service was held Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 2 p.m. at Mulkey-Mason Funeral Home located in Lewisville, Texas. Ruth’s family received visitors and friends prior to the service.  Ruth will be laid to rest in the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles next to her husband.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in her name to the following charitable organizations: Pet Refuge, Inc., 2300 West Sixth St., Mishawaka, IN  46544, (574) 256-0886; The Golden Retriever Rescue of North Texas, P.O. Box 670031, Dallas, TX 75367; The Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, 1359 Broadway, Suite 1509, New York, NY 10018; or the Niles Public Library, 620 East Main St., Niles, MI  49120, (269) 683-8545.

Mulkey-Mason Funeral Home, Lewisville, Texas is in charge of all arrangements.  Please sign her guest book and leave a memory of Ruth at www.mulkeymason.com.