Lavella I. Kraft
April 15, 1919-April 20, 2005

Lavella I. "Vella" Kraft, 86, formerly of Grand Avenue, Niles, Mich., died of a brief illness in Saint Joseph Hospital East, Lexington, Ky., on Wednesday, April 20, 2005.

Mrs. Kraft was born on April 15, 1919, in Sullivan, Ind., to James Luther and Edna Grace (Nash) Gray. She had lived in Niles since 1940, coming from Buchanan, Mich. She was a former employee of Electro-Voice in Buchanan.

On June 22, 1940, in Niles, she married Raymond W. Kraft, who preceded her in death on Feb. 26, 2001.

Mrs. Kraft is survived by their daughter, Sharon R. (Ron) Brown of Winchester, Ky.; a grandson, Chard (Terri) Williams; a granddaughter, Carrie (Phillip) Gonzales; four great-grandchildren; one brother, Donald Gray of Owosso, Mich.; and one sister, Betty Syson of Niles.

Funeral services for LaVella L. Kraft will be at 11 a.m. Monday, April 25, 2005, in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman of First Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday in the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Vella Kraft may be made to an organization of the donor's choice.

Kenneth Kozelka
March 9, 1925-Nov. 20, 1994

Kenneth Kozelka, 69, of 902 Michigan St., Niles, died at 6:06 p.m. Sunday Nov. 20, 1994,  in Pawating Hospital after an illness. Mr. Kozelka formerly was employed at Kawneer Corp. He was born March 9, 1925, in Chicago and had lived in the Niles area for most of his life. On Sept. 1, 1946, in Douglas County, Nev., he married Stella M. Stasiak. She survives with a daughter, Patricia Hunsberger of Granger; a son, Raymond of Moreno Valley, Calif.; and five grandchildren. Mr. Kozelka was a member of John McLaughlin American Legion Post 26, Bertrand Post 116 and 40 & 8, Voiture Locale 983 (honorary veterans). He was an Army veteran of World War II.

Services will be at 8 p.m. Wednesday in Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call after 6 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home, where members of the American Legion will conduct a flag presentation. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Mary Jane Kovac
April 30, 1919-Feb. 13, 2007

Mary Jane "M.J." Kovac, 87, of Crystal Falls, MI, and formerly of Niles, died Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2007,  in the Iron County Medical Care Facility in Crystal Falls.

She was born April 30, 1919, in Grand Haven, MI, the daughter of the late Hilbrand and Johanna (Fisher) Beukema. M.J., as she liked to be called, attended the Grand Haven Public Schools and graduated from Western Michigan University in 1941 with a degree in business education.

M.J. resided in Niles for over 50 years, where she taught high school and adult education business courses (her favorite was typing) in the Niles Community Schools for nearly 25 years, retiring in 1977.

On July 2, 1942, she married Anthony John (Kovacich) Kovac of Iron River in Grand Haven, MI. She and her husband had a camp at Brule Lake near Iron River and spent some time there each summer. Following her retirement, M.J. and Tony enjoyed traveling to Europe and the Caribbean Islands before he preceded her in death on July 20, 1980.

She moved to the Upper Peninsula in 2004, residing at the Iron County Medical Care Facility.

M.J. loved to sew, knit, read, watch movies and shop. She belonged to the American Association of University Women (AAUW), the Michigan and National Education Associations, and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Niles.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was also preceded in death by her daughter, Beverly, on May 21, 1983; and by her brother, Henry Beukema, in 2005.

She is survived by her son, Keith (JoAnn) Kovac of Iron River; two grandchildren, Danae and Zachary of Chicago; and a niece, Susan (Beukema) Trudeau of Waterford, MI. Many Kovac and Kovacich nieces and nephews also survive.

Friends may call Saturday, March 3, from 10 to 11 a.m. in the Langenberg Funeral Home -- Iron River Chapel. Memorial services will be held Saturday, March 3, at 11 a.m. in the funeral home. The Rev. Ric Jacobsen, pastor of the Evangelical Free Church in Three Lakes, WI, will officiate. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles, MI.

Memorials for M.J. Kovac may be made to the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Program, Mayo Clinic -- Dept. of Development, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905; or online at www.mayoclinic.org/development/make-gift.html.

Family and friends may share memories or leave messages of sympathy in the family's online guestbook at www.langenbergfuneralhome.com.

The Langenberg Funeral Home -- Iron River Chapel, is serving the family.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

John Korn
Dec. 28, 1861-March 13, 1943

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, March 13, 1943, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

JOHN KORN, 81, TAKEN BY DEATH

John Korn, 81, a life-long resident of Berrien County, died this morning at 7, in his home, 422 North Fifth Street

Korn, a retired farmer, was born near Buchanan Dec. 28, 1861. His wife the former Amanda Beebe, to whom he was married Dec. 19, 1883, in Buchanan, survives.

He also leaves a daughter, Mrs. Gordon Hoover, Niles; a son, Clarence Korn, Fulton, Mich.; a sister, Mrs. Mary Hawblitzel, South Bend; six grandchdilrean and four great-grandchildren.

Friends may call in the Price and Kiger funeral home, where the services will be conducted Monday afternoon at 2.

The Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster, pastor of the Methodist Church will officiate with burial in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mary Ella Knott
Nov 22, 1880-Feb. 17, 1924

Mrs. L.C. Knott Mrs. Mary Ella Knott, wife of Louis Knott, living seven miles southwest of South Bend, died at her home last evening at 6 o’clock, following an illness since July, resulting in complications.

She was born in Penn twownship Nov. 22, 1880, and moved to the present residence from South Bend 11 years ago. She was married 21 years ago to Mr. Knott. She is survived by four daughers, Gertrude, Allene, Julia Fay and Isabelle, all at home. She also leaves a brother, Louis Altenberger of South Bend, and for sisters, Mrs. Bert Bailey of Dowagiac, Mrs. Grant Batchel, Chicago Heights; Mrs. Harvey Fisher, Niles and Mrs. Louis Zilky, South Bend.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 1 o’clock from the residence, Rev. J.H. Evans officiating. The body will be brought to Niles for burial in Silverbrook Cemetery, Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 o’clock

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Fred C. Knott
Oct. 6, 1875-Feb. 17, 1957

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, February 18, 1957, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Fred C. Knott, 81, died at 7 p.m. Sunday at his home, 317 Pokagon Street, after an illness of two months.

Born Oct. 6, 1875 in Niles, he spent his life in the area and was a retired steamfitter. He was a member of St. John’s Evangelical and Reformed church.

Survivors are his widow, Lulu; a daughter, Mrs. Kenneth Payne of Hastings; a grandson; a great-grandson; two sisters, Mrs. Harry Blake, Niles and Mrs. Elizabeth Peck, Selma, Ala., and two brothers, Charles F. Knott, Niles and Louis Knott, Osceola, IN.

Friends may call at the Kiger-Halbritter Funeral Home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday by the Rev. Herbert Meussling, pastor of St. John’s Church. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.