Leslie G. Rooks
July 19, 1907-May 9, 1995

Private services will be held for Leslie G. Rooks, 87, of 1602 Oak St., Niles, by the Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman of First Presbyterian Church of Niles. Burial will be at Silverbook Cemetery, Niles.

Mr. Rooks died at 6:58 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, 1995, in Pawating Hospital, Niles, following a brief illness. He was born July 19, 1907, in Holland, MI, and had lived in Niles since 1929, coming from Holland.

On October 1, 1932 in South Bend, IN, he married the former Hazel M. Hoover, who survives.

Mr. Rooks was retired from United Dairy of Niles. Prior to working for United Dairy, he had worked with his father at Niles Creamery. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church and Bend of the River Grange of Niles. He was a graduated of Holland High School. He was an avid gardener.

Other survivors include a sister, Mrs. Arthur Peabody of Niles; a brother, Lloyd Rooks of South Bend, IN. He was preceded in death by an infant sister and a brother, Leon Rooks.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday in Halbritter funeral Home, Niles. Memorial contributions may be made to the Foundation of First Presbyterian Church, Niles, or to the charity of the donor's choice.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Helen I. Kessler
Nov. 29, 1913-March 1, 2008

Helen Irene Kessler, 94, of Niles died at 7:32 p.m. on Saturday, March 1, 2008 in Lakeland Hospital, Saint Joseph.

Funeral Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday March 5, in Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, with the Rev. Carl Bassett of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Friends may call one hour before services on Wednesday at the funeral home.

She was born on Nov. 29, 1913, in Niles to the late Gordon and Alma (Korn) Hoover. She was a lifetime area resident.

On September 1, 1940, in Niles, she married Donald L. Kessler who died on Oct. 5, 1991.

She was also preceded in death by a brother, Lynn Hoover and two sisters, Gladys Blair and Hazel Rook.

Surviving family includes two sons, Don Kessler of Amsterdam, NY, and Keith G. (Susan) Kessler of Niles; five grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Arrangements were made by the Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Gladys M. Blair
Sept. 25, 1916-Feb. 23, 1999

Funeral services for Gladys M. Blair, 82, 109 N. 15^th St., Niles, will be Thursday at 10 a.m. in Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, by the Rev. Fred T. Smith of south Niles Community Church.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Mrs. Blair died Tuesday Feb. 23, 1999 at 9:50 a.m. in Lakeland Medical Center, Niles. She was born September 25, 1916, in Cass county, and was a lifetime resident of the area. On August 18,1 936 in south Bend, IN, she married Howard E. Blair who survives.

Mrs. Blair enjoyed camping and sewing, making many of her own clothes.

Surviving family also includes a daughter, Jo Ann Eckler of Niles; a son, Jerry H. Blair of Niles; two sisters, Hazel Rooks and Helen Kessler of Niles; a brother, Lynne Hoover of South Bend, IN; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

Friends may call one hour prior to the services at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Hazel M. Rooks
April 27, 1912-July 30, 1999

The family of Hazel M. Rooks, 87, 1602 Oak St, Niles, will gather privately for services at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, by the Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman of First Presbyterian church. Burial will follow at Silverbrtook Cemetery.

Mrs. Rooks died Friday July 30, 1999, at 10 p.m. at home of natural causes. She was born April 27, 1912 in Cass county. She had lived in this are all of her life and graduated from Niles Central High School.

On October 1, 1932 in South Bend, In., she married Leslie G. Rooks, who died May 9, 1995.

Mrs. Rooks was a member of First Presbyterian Church. She enjoyed flower gardening and feeding and watching the birds. She was preceded in death by a sister, Gladys M. Blair on Feb. 23.

Surviving family includes a sister, Helen Kessler of Niles; a brother, Lynne Hoover of South Bend, IN; and several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call Monday from 6 to8 p.m. in Halbritter Funeral Home.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Alma Hoover
Aug. 6, 1886- Oct. 24, 1972

Mrs. Alma Hoover, 86, of 2396 Korn St., died at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday in Pawating Hospital after an extended illness. Born August 6, 1886 in St. Joseph County, Ind., Mrs. Hoover had lived in this area all of life. On December 18, 1910, in Niles, she married Gordon Hoover who survives. Also surviving are a son, Lynn Hoover of South Bend; three daughters, Ms. Leslie Rooks, Mrs. Donald Kesssler and Mrs. Howard Blair, all of Niles; a brother, Clarence Korn of Athens, MI; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, with the Rev. John R. Wyngarden of the First Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the funeral Home.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Gordon E. Hoover
July 5, 1885-Nov. 29, 1974

Gordon E. Hoover, 89, of 109 N. 15th St., Niles, died at 1:20 p.m. Thursday in Pawating Hospital after an extended illness. A retired farmer, he was born July 5, 1885, in Cass County and lived in this area all of his life. His wife, the former Alma Korn, who he married Dec. 18, 1910 in Niles, died Oct. 24, 1972. Mr. Hoover is survived by a son, Lynn of South Bend; three daughters, Mrs. Leslie Rooks, Mrs. Donald Kessler and Mrs. Howard Blair, all of Niles; six grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday in the Halbritter Funeral Home. The Rev. John R. Wyngarden pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, will officiate and burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown