Obituaries

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

Thomas G. Montague-Tompkins
Nov. 29, 1946-Sept. 10, 2009

Thomas Gene Montague-Tompkins, 62, of 1054 Bame Avenue, Niles, died a 2:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009, in his home of natural causes.

He was born on November 29, 1946, in South Bend to the late Richard and Sylvia Tompkins.

He was a U.S. Army Vietnam War veteran. He worked as a custodian at St. Mary's College for 10 years and at Dodge Metal Refinery. He had lived in Niles for 23 years, coming from South Bend.

On July 21, 1990 in Niles, he married Sandra Weiser who survives. Also surviving are daughters, Yolonda Tompkins and Yvette Linback, both of Niles and Yvonne Mad of Lyons, CO; a brother, James Montague of Elkhart; sister, Debra Sult of South Bend; and four grandchildren.

Services will be at 9:30 a.m. today, Sept. 12 in Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, where friends may call one hour before services. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Memorials may be made to Berrien County Humane Society.

Raymond L. Marble
Oct. 17, 1915-Sept. 8, 2009

GRANGER — Raymond Leonard Marble, 93, of Hunting Ridge Trail, Granger, IN, and formerly of Niles, MI, died at 6:20 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2009 in the Sanctuary at Holy Cross, South Bend, IN, following a brief illness.

He was born October 17,1915 in Buchanan, MI, to Leonard Oscar and Mary Francis (Mulholland) Marble. He graduated from Niles High School, and moved to Granger in 1989. He retired in 1977 after 35 years of service from Clark Equipment Company, where he was Fire Chief for five years.

Raymond was a veteran of World War II serving in the United States Army and was stationed in Europe.

He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, Niles, the B.P.O. of Niles Elks Lodge #1322 and American Legion Post #26, Niles.

Raymond and his wife were world travelers. However, they liked spending time with their family and friends the best.

On October 6, 1940 in Niles he married the former Ruth Anne Burris, who preceded him in death on February 9, 2004. He was also preceded in death by his sisters, Leonora Spansail, Dorothea Antonine and Mary Genevieve Modory; and brother, Gerald Marble who died at birth.

He is survived by his daughter, DeVonne G. Turner of Granger; son, Donavon Ray (Janet) Marble of Redwood Shores, CA; grandchildren, Dr. Jeffrey (Wendy) Turner of Granger, Darren (Dara) Marble and Travis Marble, both of Los Angeles, CA; great-grandson, Kyle and Matthew Turner of Granger; sister-in-law, Bonnie Stainbrook of South Bend, IN; brothers-in-law, John (Tharen) Burris of Jasonville, IN, and William (Carmon) Burris of Fort Branch, IN; nephews, Kevin Fisher of Niles, Christopher (Tracey) Fries of Elkhart, IN, Marc (Sylvia) Tjaden of Fort Wayne, IN, and Anthony (Carolyn) Modory of Mission Viejo, CA; and cousin, Elaine Williams of Glendale, CA.

Services for Raymond L. Marble will be held at 11 a.m. Monday Sept. 14 in Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Rev. Edward H. Slate of Wesley United Methodist church officiating.

Committal will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles and will conclude with Full Military Honors by American Legion Post #51, Buchanan.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home.

Contributions in Memory of Raymond May be made to the Donor's Choice.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown