Suzanne Oleson
Dec. 21, 1918-July 11, 2005

Suzanne "Sudie" (Essington) Oleson, 86, of Mission East, Niles, Michigan, died following a brief illness at 10:05 p.m. Monday, July 11, 2005, in Hospice at Home "The Meadows" in Buchanan, Michigan.

Mrs. Oleson was born December 21, 1918, in Streator, Illinois, to John Weston and Wilda Leona (Woodward) Essington. She had lived in Niles since 1959, coming from Batavia and Aurora, Illinois. She retired as a nurse's aide from Pawating Hospital in Niles.

Mrs. Oleson was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Niles, as well as the Pi Beta Phi sorority. She graduated from Beloit College in Beloit, Wisconsin. While she lived in California she worked for the FBI.

In 1944, in Los Angeles, California, she married Robert N. Oleson, who preceded her in death on December 3, 1972.

She is survived by her daughter, Susan R. Oleson of Buchanan; three sons, John N. (Jan) Oleson of Springfield, Virginia, Todd E. (Sarah Ash) Oleson of East Grand Rapids, Michigan, and R. Kim (Marty) Oleson of Niles; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Oleson was also preceded in death by one brother, Jack Essington.

The funeral service will be held at the graveside at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, at 11:00 a.m. Monday, July 18, 2005, with the Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman of First Presbyterian Church officiating. There will be no visitation.

Arrangements were made by the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to The Foundation of First Presbyterian Church or to Hospice At Home.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Wiiliam E. Gilbert
Dec. 27, 1925-July 16, 2009

William E. Gilbert, 83, of Barron Lake Road, Niles, MI, died at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, July 16, 2009, at his home following an extended illness.

He was born on December 27, 1925 in South Bend, IN, to Donald R. and Bernice (Finn) Gilbert. He graduated from Niles High School in 1945 and was a lifetime resident of Niles. He was a veteran of World War II having served in the United States Marine Corps, where he earned the rank of corporal and was stationed in the South Pacific. He retired in 1987 as a design engineer from National-Standard Company in Niles. He later drove cars for eight years for Jordan Motors.

William was a member of the Pokagon United Methodist Church in Niles. He was a charter member of the Howard Township fire Department, where he served many years as its treasurer. In 1968, he began serving as a reserve deputy with the Cass County Sheriff's Department. He was active in volunteer work and was a community helper.

On May 10, 1947 in Berrien Springs, MI he first married Mary E. Austin) Gilbert, who preceded him in death on March 3, 1985. He later married on June 14, 1986 in Niles, Janie (Dempsey) VanLue Gilbert who survives. He is also survived by his children, Nancy (Dale) Chadderdon of Techmseh, MI, Linda (Dan) Gustafson of Saint Joseph, MI, and Larry (Kolleen) Gilbert of Niles; grandchildren, Mary Kay (Allan) Brown of Schaumburg, IL, Andrew Gustafson of Saint Joseph and Reanna (Scott) Lennox of Niles; great-grandchildren, Nathan Allan Brown, Trevor Scott Lennox and Jordon Lennox; stepchildren, Linda (Steve) Kijawa of Edwardsburg, MI, Merri (John Bagwell of Buchanan, MI, and Daniel (Pam) Vanlue of Niles; step-grandchildren, Julie (Mark) Williams, Melissa (Mike) Cook, Laurie Barnes, Angela (Billy) Rocke, James Vanlue, Cody Kujawa, Brennden Keen, Rob Lewis and Tiffany Lewis; step-great-grandchildren, Alexis Reagan, Tony Parris, Abby Parris, Garret Williams, Carter Williams, Delainey Reagan, D.J. Bagwell, Eiva Vedia, Kaylin Rocke, Jora Barnes, James Barnes, Chase Rocke and Dustin Rocke.

He was preceded in death by his grandson, O'Rion Gilbert in 1992; stepson, Kenneth Vanlue; step-grandson Sam Reagan and step-great-grandson, Parker Williams.

The funeral services for William E. Gilbert will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 20 in Pokagon United Methodist Church, Niles with Rev. Patricia Haas officiating.

Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, where military honors will be preformed by the United States Marine Corps Honor Guard.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday in Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Contributions in memory of William may be made to Pokagon Untied Methodist Church of Hospice At Home, 4025 Health Park Lane, Saint Joseph, MI 49085.

Phoebe Jane Northrup
April 8, 1856-April 8, 1926

Niles Daily Star, Friday. April 9, 1926, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. NORTHRUP, 70 DIED ON BIRTHDAY

PASSES AWAY AT BOND STREET HOME AFTER LONG ILLNESS.

Mrs. Phoebe Jane Northup, wife of Albert Northup, 243 Bond street, died Thursday morning on her seventieth birthday anniversary.  She has been a sufferer from hardening of the arteries and other complications for two years.

Mrs. Northup had resided in or near Niles throughout her entire life and was well known. She was born on Portage Prairie, a daughter of Peter and Catherine Swartz, pioneer settlers of the country, who came to Michigan from Pennsylvania.  She was first married to W.J. Williams, who died 18 years ago.  Her second husband was William Nieman, deceased.  She was married to Mr. Northup six years ago. Besides her husband she is survived by two sons, Harry Williams, of Galien, and Arthur Williams, of Niles, a sister, Mrs. Sarah Kline, of Brooklyn, Iowa, one stepson, five grandchildren and two great grandchildren also survive.  Mrs. Wesley Womer and William Eisele of Niles are among the surviving nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at the home tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock. Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery. Rev. John Schurman, pastor of the Evangelical church will conduct the services.

Nellie Nieb
Sept. 27, 1912-April 17, 1998

Nellie Nieb, 85, of 1720 Phillip Road, died Friday, April 17,1998, in Lakeland Medical Center. She was born Sept. 27, 1912. Survivors include a daughter, Dinah L. Burch of Edwardsburg. Services will be at 7 p.m. Monday in Pifer-Smith Funeral home, where friends may call two hours before services.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

George E. Nieb
Sept. 7, 1917-Dec. 11, 1995

Services for George E. Nieb, 78, of 1720 Phillip Road, who died of natural causes early Monday, Dec. 11, 1995, in his home, will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in first Presbyterian Church. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today in Pifer-Smith Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church foundations.

Mr. Nieb was a farmer and a Niles Township fire chief for five years. He was born Sept. 7, 1917, in Niles to Howard and Rose E. (Umholtz) Nieb. On June 2, 1941, in Niles, he married Nellie Goud. She survives with a daughter, Dinah L. Burch of Edwardsburg and a granddaughter, Mindy Burch of Edwardsburg. He was a charter member of Morris Farms Fire Department, co-founder of Niles Township fire department, and member of St. Joseph Valley Masonic Lodge 4, Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks 1322 and the church.

Daniel P. Nieb
Sept. 2, 1872-Sept. 17, 1940

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 18, 1940, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Daniel P. Nieb, 68, Native of Niles, Taken by Death. 

An illness of three weeks of heart trouble caused the death Tuesday afternoon of Daniel P. Nieb, 68, who died at 4:30 in his home at 808 Woodruff Street. Mr. Nieb had lived in Niles all his life.

He was born here Sept. 2, 1872 and was married April 13, 1898 in Buchanan to Ida Linsenmier who survives. He also leaves two sons, Harold Nieb, Niles and Lester Nieb, Utica, NY.

Other survivors include five sisters, Mrs. Minnie Cole and Mrs. Anna Codd, Grand Rapids, Mrs. Charles Hummer and Mrs. Marguerite Snyder, South Bend and Mrs. Ida Williams, Plymouth, Ind., and three brothers, William Nieb, South Bend, George Nieb, Blooming Prairie, Minn., and Henry Nieb, Waldron, Mich.

Friends may call at the Rutherford funeral home tonight and at the Nieb residence after 10 Thursday morning. Friday morning at 11 the body will be taken to the First Evangelical church to lie in state until the hour of the funeral at 2:30.

The Rev. A.R. Kuehn pastor of the church, will officiate at the services. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.