Merle M. Keene
June 26, 1900-November 15, 1994

Merle M. Keene, 94, of Ironwood Health and Rehabilitation Center, South Bend, formerly of Niles, died at 10:20 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, 1994,  in the center. Mrs. Keene was retired from New York Central Railroad. She was born June 26, 1900, in Niles. In 1921, as Merle Sweitzer, she married Harry Keene. He died in 1934. Surviving is a nephew, William Hargreaves of South Bend. She was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church.

Services will be at 4 p.m. Friday in Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call one hour before services in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the church.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Barbara Ann Kane
January 4, 1934-September 4, 2005

Mrs. Barbara Ann Kane, 71,of Thomson Road, Niles, Michigan, died following a brief illness at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 4, 2005, in West Woods of Niles.

Mrs. Kane was born January 4, 1934, in Rochester, to Robert and Dorothy P. (Barts) Sheperis.  She graduated from Niles High School in 1952 and had lived in Niles most of her life. She was employed by the former G.L. Perry Department Store, Niles, from its opening until shortly before it closed.

She was a member of the Pioneer Memorial Seventh-day Adventist Church on the campus of Andrews University, Berrien Springs, Michigan. She was formerly active in area bowling leagues, and enjoyed traveling and shopping, but mostly enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren.

In October 1956, in Niles, she was married to Arthur Leo Kane, who preceded her in death on April 23, 1991. She was also preceded in death by a granddaughter, Abigail Kane; and a sister, Marilyn "Jo" Miller. Surviving family includes her children, LeAnn Kane of South Bend, Indiana, Joseph (Sue) Kane of Bristol, Indiana, Patrick Kane of Marcellus, Michigan, Susan Welling of Niles, Cathlene Kane of Niles and Scott Kane of Niles; 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; and a sister, Roberta "Bert" Sheperis of Clearwater, Florida.

The funeral service for Barbara Ann Kane will be at 2 p.m. today, Sept. 8, 2005, at The Graveside in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, with Pastor Skip MacCarty of Pioneer Memorial Seventh-day Adventist Church officiating. The family received relatives and friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Contributions in memory of Mrs. Kane may be made to the American Diabetes Associations.

Reta Kaiser
February 10, 1872-June 9, 1965

Reta Kaiser, 93, of 301 Pokagon St., died at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Berrien General Hospital, Berrien Center, where she had been a patient 11 months. She had been ill seven years.

Mrs. Kaiser was born Feb. 10, 1872, in Buchanan Township and was a lifetime resident of the area.  Her husband, George, died July 4, 1954.  Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Gladys Voelkers, South Bend; a son, Raymond, Niles; a brother, Charles Conrad, Edwardsburg; a sister, Mrs. Gertrude Monroe, Niles; four grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday in the Halbritter-Swem funeral Home. the Rev. Leonard Putnam, pastor of the First Evangelical United Brethren church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.Friends are being received at the funeral home. 

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

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