Edward Joseph Mikula, 84, of Albee Farm Road, Venice, Fla., formerly of South Bend, passed away April 30th, 2005, in Venice Regional Medical Center.

Edward was born August 14, 1920, in Detroit, Mich., to the late Anton and Rose (Abraham) Mikula.

After serving proudly in the United States Army during World War II, Edward married Caroline Humphrey at a ceremony in Niles on January 4, 1964.

He worked for Studebaker's for many years before going to work for the State of Indiana as a toll road supervisor. Edward loved to play golf, played semi-pro baseball in the late 30s, and crossword puzzles. He was very involved with the American Legion, an avid Cubs fan but, above all, he loved spending time with his family.

Preceding Edward were his parents, his wife, Caroline, and a brother, Stanley Mikula.

Surviving Edward are his two sons, Jon (Dianne) Boller of South Bend and David (Gina) Boller of Orlando, Fla.; his daughter, Julie (Paul) Minnear of Venice, Fla.; two sisters, Lorainne (Frank) Hadary and Gertrude Shriner, both of South Bend; 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Friday, May 6, 2005, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Brown Funeral Home and Cremation Services, with the funeral services Saturday at 10:00 a.m. (Mich. time), with Father Peltz of St. Mary's Catholic Church officiating. An interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Robert Metzger
Nov. 10, 1918-July 23, 1952

 Set Rites for airman Killed in Brazil Crash

Funeral services will be held here Saturday for Capt. Robert E. Metzger, 22, former Niles resident and Air Force veteran who was killed in an airplane crash in Brazil, July 23, 1952.

Services will be held at 3:30 p.m. at the Kiger funeral home. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery with full military rites at graveside. Metzger’s body is to arrive here tonight.

Surviving are Metzger;s parent, Benjamin Metzger, of Buchanan and Mrs. Gladys Drudy of Dowagiac; two children, Robert Jr. and Karl in Meridian, Miss.; a sister, Mrs. Carl Eliason of Niles and a brother, Keith of Chicago.

Metzger was born Nov. 10, 1918, in Galien. He lived in Niles and Dowagiac and had spent the last year in an sea rescue working South American. He was killed while on a air sea rescue training mission, when a B-17 bomber and a small training plane crashed in mid air. Six Brazilians were also killed in the crash.

After graduating from Niles high school, Metzger became one of the first World War II enlistees from this area. He served in the South Pacific, where he was forced to parachute from a plane, and later served with the Army of occupation in Germany.  

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Lydia Elizabeth Metzger
Jan. 18, 1901-April 19, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 19, 1963, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Lydia Elizabeth Metzger, 82, of 122 N. 8th St., died at 12:50 a.m., today in her home. She had been ill three years.

Mrs. Metzger was born Jan. 18, 1901 in Richmond, Ind. She came to Niles from that city 44 years ago.

Survivors include her husband, Lawrence; two daughters, Mrs. Robert Petro, Jonesboro, Ark, and Miss Elizabeth Ann Metzger at home; a son, William Pollock, Niles; a sister, Mrs. Harold Carroll, Greenville, SC.; a brother, Frank Metzger, Richmond, and nine grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev. W. G. Rowe, pastor of the Apostolic Temple, South Bend, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the funeral home beginning Saturday.

Lawrence E. Metzger
Oct. 29, 1893-Sept. 9, 1965

Lawrence E. Metzger, 71, 122 N. 8th St., died at 6:15 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 9, 1965 in Berrien General Hospital, Berrien center. He had been ill several months.Mr. Metzger was born here Oct. 29, 1893, and lived his life time in the community. His wife, Lydia, died in 1963.

Survivors include a daughter, Elizabeth Metzger, Mishawaka; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Robert Petro, and a stepson, William Pollock, both of Niles three sisters, Mrs. Marie Pfeil and Florence Metzger, both of Niles and Mrs. Elmer Clark, Buchanan and 10 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in the Pifer funeral Home. The Rev. W.G. Rowe, pastor of the Apostolic Temple., South Bend, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.Friends will be received at the funeral home After 7 p.m. today. 

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

William H. Messenger
Feb. 4, 1900-April 28, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 28, 1952, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

William Hall Messenger, of rural route four, was found dead near the barn on the Messenger farm at about 5 a.m. Sunday, by his brother, Arthur.  Messenger was pronounced dead as the result of self inflicted shot gun wound by coroner Louis Kerlikowske, of St. Joseph. Arthur told state troopers he knew of no reason why his brother should have ended his life as he had been in good spirits.

Surviving are his mother, Mrs. Eva Messenger of Niles; his widow, Julia; three sisters, Mrs. Carrie Sweisberger of South Bend, Mrs. William Champion, of Great Lakes, Ill, and Mrs. Eva H. Messenger of Niles; and two brothers, Arthur of Veteran’s Administration, Fort Custer, Battle Creek, and Charles Simmons Messenger of Niles.

Messenger was born on Feb. 4, 1900 in Niles, and had lived her all his life. He was a veteran of World War I.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday by the Rev. T. M. Greenhoe, Presbyterian pastor. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

(NB: Gravemarker bears name William H. Messinger, Feb. 5, 1900-April 27, 1952)

Schuyler Messenger SuicideOnly cause is that he suffered from Melancholy Lifelong resident Leave a widow and eight childrenMember of Royal Areanum. Resided in House of his birth.Schuyler Colfax Messenger is a suicide. The deed was deliberate and not the slightest inkling of the affair was suspected by any member of the family; it seemed the furthest from anyone’s mind that such a rash act would be perpetrated.Mr. Messenger retired at the usual early hour last night and arose at 6 o’clock this morning. Going to the barn, evidently to do chores, as was his custom, but instead he placed a small rope about his neck and hung himself in the buggy shed.His sons went to another part of the barn an hour later and performed some duties about the place, then returned for breakfast. After eating they repaired to the barn again, wondering where their father could be, only to find his dead body suspended from the joist in the buggy shed. They cut him down, this at 8:40 o’clock (Dec. 13, 1913)/ The family and neighbors were notified also Dr. Ullery. Melancholy is given as the real motive of the rash act. The Messenger home is four miles southwest of Niles, in Bertrand Township, and there the deceases was born Aug. 16, 1861. The parents were Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Messenger, old time residents of Niles and vicinity. The father having been born in Pennsylvania, coming her when a young man. He died about three years ago.Mr. Messenger was a member of the royal Arcanum of Niles.Besides the widow, eight children remain as follows, Anna Mary, Carrie Louise, Samuel Arthur, Charles Simmons, LaRue Hamilton, William Hall, Genevieve Elizabeth and Eva Helen, all at home.Mrs. Messenger was a thrifty farmer, a good citizen, a man who won the love and respect of all his associates, and above r all, the members of his family.His home life was beautiful, a man not addicted to politics, satisfied with the companionship of his wife, children a few close friends.The neighbors, who have lived beside him for years, are unanimous in their praise of him, saying that he will be greatly missed for the kindnesses and consideration which he always showed. The praise from ones neighbors and the members of the family is the greatest tribute which can be paid to any man. Funeral home house, Tuesday afternoon at 1 o’clock, services to be conducted by Rev. Yonker, Interment at Silverbrook Cemetery.