Robert Dittmer
Dec. 23, 1931-Oct. 16, 1943

Robert Dittmer, 11, found in River at Buchanan Dam

Niles police and the county sheriff’s department were puzzled today over the mysterious death of Robert L. Dittmer Jr., 11, who disappeared Oct. 11 from his home at 1250 South Eleventh Street.

The youth’s body was discovered at 5:30 this morning by Ernest Young, employee of the Indiana and Michigan Electric Company in the St. Joseph River at the company’s Buchanan Dam.

According to William Pifer, coroner, who was called to the scene, the body had apparently been in the water since the time of the boy’s disappearance.

The boy disappeared from home Sunday night, October 10, and was reported missing to police by his parents the next day.  It was first believed he had run away with thee other boys who disappeared the same day and who were later picked up by Chicago police.

Questioned upon their return to Niles, the three boys told police that Robert had not accompanied them and they knew nothing of his whereabouts.

To Return at 7

The boy’s parents told a Star reporter this morning that on the day he disappeared they had given him money to attend the Ready Theater in the afternoon while they went to the Riviera.

They youth agreed to return home at 7 that night, but they did not see him again. They said one of the boy’s neighborhood friends, Richard Cook, told them later that he saw young Dittmer just before 7 when he was almost home and that the latter told Cook he intended to return downtown.  So far as is known, it was the last time he was seen.

Police records show that he was one of a group of boys who had entered the Knights of Columbus hall a few weeks earlier, but the record does not indicate that he was involved in causing any damage.

Runaway Story Unconfirmed.

One Niles youth is reported to have told that he had borrowed a brother’s motorcycle and, accompanied by young Dittmer, rode it to Chicago where, the boy said, it was wrecked.  He reported that Dittmer had intended to continue to Texas, but police could not find any evidence to confirm the story.

Coroner Pifer said this morning there are no indication of broken bones, and no inquest is planned.

Besides his parents, the drowned youth is survived by four sisters, Margaret Ann, Betty Lou, Diana Lee and Patricia Jean, all at home; three grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Walter, Buchanan and Mrs. Ann Dittmer, Niles and two great-grandmothers.

He was born in Niles, Dec. 23, 1931. A student in the fifth grade at Central School. He had lived here all his life.

The body is in the Pifer Funeral Home where services will be conducted Friday at 2 by the Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Herman Dittmer
May 4, 1885-Oct. 6, 1941

Herman C. Dittmer, 56, of 223 Market Street, died at 12:15 Monday afternoon in Pawating hospital after an illness of more than a year. Mr. Dittmer, a meat cutter in Niles shops most of his life, had been seriously ill since September.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Helen Mae Groff; a foster daughter, Mrs. Lawrence Borst, Buchanan; three grandchildren; and a brother and sister, William A. Dittmer and Mrs. Bertha Lee, both of Niles.

Mr. Dittmer was born in Niles May 4, 1885.

Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 in St. John’s Evangelical Church. The Rev. Theo Eisen will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Mr. Dittmer was a lifelong member of St. John’s Evangelical Church.

Eva Mae Dittmer
Jan. 18, 1851-Jan. 28, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, January 29, 1930, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief:  Death Mrs. Dittmer

Mrs. Eva Mae (Vetter) Dittmer, 79, died on Tuesday afternoon at her home on the River road South and west of Niles after several weeks of illness. She was born in Germany. She had lived for 38 years on the farm on which she died. She is survived by her husband by a daughter, Miss Melinda Dittmer. The late Mrs. John Bessmer Sr. was a sister of the deceased. The funeral services will be held in the home on Saturday afternoon at 2 o’clock. The Rev. G.W. Webbink, pastor of St. John’s church will officiate. Burial will be made in Silver brook Cemetery.

Christian Dittmer
July 22, 1844-February 26, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, February 27, 1930, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief:  FUNERAL CHRISTIAN DITTMER

Funeral services for Christian Dittmer will be held on Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock in the Troost and Augustine chapel. The Rev. G.W. Webbink pastor of St. John’s Evangelical church will officiate. Burial will be made in Silverbrook Cemetery where Mrs. Dittmer was buried on Feb. 1. The same friends who served as pallbearers at her funeral will be the pallbearers at his funeral. Mr. Dittmer was born in Saxony Germany on July 22, 1844. He came to the United States when he was 18 years old. He was married on April 13, 1869 to Eva Maria Vetter. He is survived by a daughter, Melinda. Mr. Dittmer died early Wednesday [Feb. 26, 1930]. He had lived on a farm southwest of Niles on the river road for 57 years continuously.

Robert L. Dittmar
May 30, 1921-July 22, 1994

Robert L. Dittmar, 73, of 803 S. 15th St., died about 6 a.m. Friday, July 22, 1994,  in his home of an illness. Mr. Dittmar retired from Williams Home Center. He was born May 30, 1921, in Niles and was a lifelong resident. On Sept. 25, 1942, in St. Joseph, he married Pauline H. Williams. She survives with a daughter, Barbara Ramsby of Centreville; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; his mother, Elizabeth A. Dittmar of Niles; and a brother, James H. of Niles. Mr. Dittmar was a member of Niles Elks Lodge 1322. He was an Army Air Force veteran of World War II.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery where American Legion Post 26 will conduct memorial services. Friends may call one hour prior to services Monday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Berrien County Cancer Service.

Pauline H. Dittmar
April 17, 1924-December 14, 2004

Pauline H. Dittmar, 80, of South 15th Street, died Tuesday, Dec. 14, 2004, in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, after an illness. Survivors include a daughter, Barbara Ramsby of Centreville, Va.; and a brother, Pete Williams of Niles. Graveside services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Silverbrook Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Halbritter Funeral Home is handling arrangements.  She was born April 17, 1924.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown