Kenneth L. Kaiser
Oct. 26, 1938-March 19, 2001

Kenneth L. Kaiser, 62, of Mayflower Road, Niles, MI, died following a brief illness at 7:10 p.m. Monday, March 19, 2001 in the Lakeland Medical Center, Niles.

He was born on Oct. 26, 1938, in Niles, to Raymond and Bernice (Cearing) Kaiser, and was a lifetime resident of Niles, graduating from Niles High School.

Mr. Kaiser managed the former Industrial coils, Inc., plant in Niles and was formerly employed by Tyler Refrigeration. He served with the US Army in the military police in Germany during peacetime. He enjoyed work in his yard.

On Dec. 18, 1962, in Niles, he married there former Rosemary Cochran, who survives. He is also survived by a daughter, Taryn Hesser of Niles; sons, Kent Kaiser of Parchment, MI, and Dino Kaiser of North Carolina; and by five grandchildren.  Mr. Kaiser was preceded in death by his brother, Don Kaiser, who died on Jan.12, 1986.

The family of Ken Kaiser will receive friends in the Halbritter funeral Home, Niles, beginning at 6 p.m. today. The visitation will conclude at 8 p.m. with meditation led by the Reverend Doctor Ronald H. Wakeman of the First Presbyterian Church, Niles.  Contributions in memory of Ken may be made to the American Heart Association. 

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Karl Kaiser
May 28, 1892-Nov. 24, 1938

Karl Kaiser, 46, Kawneer Aide, dies

Death ends 26 years of services;

was lifelong resident.

Karl Kaiser, superintendent of the window and door department of the Kawneer Company, died at 3:25 o’clock Thursday night in his home, eight miles north of Niles.

He had been ill for four days with a heart ailment, but his death came as a sudden shock to his friends.

"Karl Kaiser was one of the most faithful employees the Kawneer ever had,"said F. J. Plym, Kawneer president today. "Mr. Kaiser’s father, who was one of the employees of the Kawneer, continued in the company’s service for many years, until his death. Both father and son were among our finest and most loyal workmen. I fee a sense of personal loss and sadness in the death of Karl Kaiser," Mr. Plym added.

Mr. Kaiser was a lifelong resident of Berrien County. He was born in Niles, May 28, 1892, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Bernard C. Kaiser. He had lived in the home in which he died for the last 17 years.

Mr. Kaiser attended Niles high school.  He was married to the former Anna Slater, Berrien Springs, July 5, 1923. Mrs. Kaiser died in 1933.

In March of 1912 Mrs. Kaiser started work for the Kawneer Company where he had been employed ever since. He was a member o the Niles lodge of Elks.

Surviving are one son, karl Kaiser Jr., Rockford, Ill., and a sister, Mrs. Harold Sittler, Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon in St. John’s Evangelical Church, with the Rev. Theo Eisen officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  The body will lie in state in the church for an hour prior to the services.  Friends may call at the Rutherford Funeral Home tonight and Saturday morning. 

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Henry Kaiser
Abt. 1864-Feb. 27, 1921

Henry Kaiser killed in auto accident Sunday

Car driven by son-in-law, Earl Rinehart

Henry Kaiser, 1276 North Twelfth street, 57 years old, a section foreman for the Michigan Central Railroad co., was instantly killed, and his son-in-law, Earl Rhinehart, 29 years old, of Niles, was seriously injured, soon after 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon where their Studebaker roadster after plunging into a tree on the Niles road, one half mile south of the state line, crashed into another tee and then turned over, pinning the occupants underneath. The body of Mr. Kaiser was taken to a South Bend funeral parlor and Mr. Rhinehart was taken to the Epworth hospital, where he was attended by Dr. J. H. Casson, who said last night, that he would recover. He suffered a severe cut in the head and had bruises and lacerations on his right leg.

According to the report made to the South Bend police who answered in ambulance call to the place. Rhinehart, who was driving the machine had turned out to pass an automobile coming from the north.  In doing so he drove over the edge of the concrete road and lost control of the machine, which plunged into a tree, the speed of the machine caused it to turn completely and crashed into another tree and then turn over. Other motorists passing by lifted the machine from the men and called an ambulance, Mr. Kaiser was dead when he was taken from the wreckage. The other automobile did not stop it is said. The two men had been in South Bend and were returning home when the accident occurred.

Mr. Kaiser was born in Germany 56 years ago. When a boy of 4 years he came to Niles with his parents. Mr., and Mrs. Chris Kaiser.  When he was a young man he entered the employ of the Michigan Central Railway Co., and remained in the company’s employee for 37 years, or until his death, having on Sunday morning gone over his section. Thirty-seven years ago he was married to Anna Ausmus of Niles, who survives him,  Of the children born to them, the following survive their father. Mrs. Emil Johnson, Mrs. Earl Rhinehart, Mrs. Carl Wolford, Mrs. Stuart Miller and Frank Kaiser, all of Niles; a sister, Mrs. Henry Fitterer of Chicago also survives.  Mr. Kaiser lived in South Bend for 18 years, but returned to this city, 19 years ago and had since resided her.

The decease was a member of the M. W. A., the New Era and the Brotherhood of Railwaymen.

The body was brought to Niles this morning. The funeral arrangements have not been complete.

Mrs. Rhinehart was informed by telephone today that her husband was resting as comfortable as could be expected 

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

George A. Kaiser
April 24, 1874-July 4, 1954

George A. Kaiser, 80

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Kiger Funeral Home for George A. Kaiser of 301 Pokagon Street who died at 6:20 p.m. July 4, at the Berrien County Hospital at Berrien Center. He had been ill for five months.

Kaiser, a retired employee of The Kawneer Company, was born in Germany on April 24, 1874, and came to this country at the age of 10.

He is survived by two children, Raymond Kaiser of Niles and Mrs. Carl Voelkers of South Bend, and four grandchildren.’

Services will be conducted by the Rev. Herbert Meussling of the St. John’s Evangelical and Reformed Church of which the deceased was a member, and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 6, 1954, page 2, col 4, microfilm Niles District Library)

Elizabeth Kaiser
May 4, 1825-Sept. 8, 1909

Mrs. Chris Kaiser, a highly respected pioneer resident of this city, passed away this morning at 1:30 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. B. A. Volkhart on Pokagon Street, age 86 years. The cause of death was senility. Mrs. Kaiser, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Smith was born May 4, 1825, in Saxony, Germany. She was married in Germany, Feb. 24, 1851, to Christ Kaiser, who survives her.  Mr. and Mrs. Kaiser came to this country in August 1864.  Unto them six children were born, one of which died in Germany, and another was shot in Elwood, IN, five years ago. The living children are Mrs. B. A. Volkhart, Mrs. Henry Fitterer, Andrew Kaiser and Henry Kaiser, all of this city.  Mrs. Kaiser is also survived by 24 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. The funeral will take place Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the home of Mrs. B.A. Volkhart, Rev. F. Rahn officiating. The remains will be laid to rest in Silverbrook Cemetery.  

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown