George M. Hofferbert
1853-June 12, 1926

Hold Funeral for G. M. Hofferberg[sic]

Services conducted for Buchanan minister this afternoon.

Funeral services were held this afternoon at the Rutherford Funeral Home for George M. Hofferberg[sic], 1315 Maple Street, who died on Saturday evening at 7:30. Rev. W. H. Camfield pastor of the Evangelical Church in Buchanan conducted the services in the absence of Rev. John Schurman pastor of the Evangelical Church in Niles. Burial took place in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mr. Hofferberg[sic] was born in Ohio. Upon coming to Michigan he located on a farm northeast of Niles. Since coming to Niles he has been in the employee of the cemetery board. About one week ago he contracted pneumonia and grew steadily weaker until the end came. He is survived by a widow and two children. Mrs. Fred Exner, Niles and Mrs. Richard Edwards of Mishawaka. Two grandchildren also survive him.

The following old neighbors and friends served as pallbearers, Fred Renz, S. L. Wood, John Korn, S.E. Witwer, William Edwards and Gordon Hoover.

Submitted by family member; publication details not known

Emma S. Witwer
February 1, 1859-Oct. 2, 1949

Mrs. Emma S. Witwer, 90, rural route one, died Sunday at 11:30 a.m. in Pawating hospital.  She had been ill for one year and a patient at the hospital for three days.

She is survived by her husband, Simon E. Witwer; a daughter, Mrs. Edith F. Frost, rural route one and a son, Joseph R. Witwer, Plymouth. Also surviving are a brother, Elmer S. Hoover, Denver, Colo., and sister, Mrs. Sarah Patterson, Riverside, Calif.

Mrs. Witwer was born in St. Joseph County, Ind., on Feb. 1, 1859 and moved her 65 years ago. She was married to Simon Witwer on Sept. 19, 1878 at the home of her parents. Mr. And Mrs. Michael Hoover. She was a member of the former Baptist Church of Sumnerville, and was very active in church and Sunday school work.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home, w here services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, by the Rev. Joseph Lindsay of Cassopolis. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Simon E. Witwer
October 10, 1853-Oct.  17, 1950

Simon E. Witwer, 87, of rural route one a school teacher in rural areas around Niles for many years, died at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Bechdol Nursing Home her after an illness of one year.

Witwer was born in Starke County, O., on October 10, 1853, the son of Jonathan and Christine Hennich Witwer. He married Emma Hoover on Sept, 14, 1878. She died on October 2, 1949.

He began teaching before he was 21 and taught in rural schools in Indiana until 1885 at which time he moved to Niles. He taught school in the Niles area for many years including schools at Sumnerville, Pokagon and Mechanicsburg. Also active in church affairs, he taught several Sunday school classes in the same area.

Surviving are a brother, John of South Bend; a daughter, Mrs. Edith B. Frost of Niles; a son, Joseph R. Witwer of Plymouth, Mich.and a . . . [illiegible] . .Plymouth.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home where services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday. The Rev. Frank Flagg, of Dowagiac will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, October 18, 1950, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library.

Fred A. Exner
April 2, 1880-January 9, 1942

Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 9, 1942, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library,

FRED A. EXNER, 61, DIES; ILL TWO DAYS

Two day illness of pneumonia brought death this morning to Fred A. Exner 61 a life-long resident of Niles, who died this morning at 10:30 in his home at 519 Michigan Street.  He had been ill since Wednesday.

He was born here April 2, 1880 and had lived here continuously since that time.  For years he was in the sheet metal and furnace contracting business.

He is survived by his widow, the former Bessie Hofferbert, to whom he was married June 29, 1910 in St. John’s Evangelical Church by the late Rev. Rahn.

Mr. Exner also leaves a daughter, Nordamyrth at home; and five brothers, Louis. Charles, John and August Exner, Niles and George Exner, Buchanan,.

He was a member of First Church of Christ Scientist. Friends may call at the Rutherford Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, January 10, 1942, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

EXNER SERVICE MONDAY

Funeral services for Fred A. Exner, 61, of 510 Michigan street, who died Friday morning after a two-day illness, are set for Monday afternoon at 3:30 in the Rutherford funeral home. Friends may call at the funeral home. Mrs. Durlin Wheeler, reader, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Nephews will serve as pallbearers.

Dorothy C. Zimmerman
July 10, 1925-Sept. 13, 2009

Dorothy C. Zimmerman, 84, of Niles died at 9:45 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009 in Memorial Hospital, South Bend.  She was born on July 10, 1925, in North Brunswick, NJ., to the late Joseph and Lottie Smetts.  She was a retired RN from Lakeland Hospital, Niles.  She was married on June 8, 1947, in Niles, to Billy A. Zimmerman who preceded her in death on Dec. 28, 1973. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Joseph Smetts. Survivors include daughters, Penny Dorogi of South Bend and Cathy Kluwe of Carlsbad, CA; brother, Arthur Smetts of Benton Harbor and 2 grandchildren.  Memorial services will be at noon Friday in Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, where friends may call one hour before services.  Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown