Obituaries

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 

Chris Joseph Grant
November 28, 1974

Chris Joseph Grant, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Grant, was stillborn at 1:1[] p.m. Thursday in Memorial Hospital, South Bend. Surviving are a brother, John and four sisters, Fran, Julie, Vicki and Kim, all at home and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Jamerson and Mrs. Rose Fisher, all of Niles. Graveside services will be held at 4 p.m. today in Silverbrook Cemetery. The Rt. Rev. Msgr. John Slowey pastor of St. Mary's Catholic church will officiate. Arrangements were made by the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

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