Thomas W. Cain
February 16, 1918-February 19, 1961

Judge Cain Succumbs Sunday at Ann Arbor

Niles municipal court judge Thomas W. Cain, 310 Broadway, died at 7:45 p.m. Sunday in University Hospital in Ann Arbor just three days after his 43rd birthday.

He had been ill for two months and was transferred from Pawating Hospital to Ann Arbor on Thursday.

Born on Feb. 16, 1918, in South Bend, he had lived his lifetime in Niles. In 1935, he graduated from Niles High School and in 1939 he graduated from University of Michigan.

Crippling injuries in a 1941 auto accident near Stevensville could not hold his ambition and in 1943, after completing his studies at his Niles home, he graduated from Notre Dame Law School.

He served as Niles Justice of the Peace from 1945 to 1956. In May 1956, he was appointed by Mayor Edwin Cramer as the city’s first Municipal Judge and he won election the post in April 1957, for a six year term.

He had been a law partner of Atty. Keith Ball since 1957.

Long active in area Republican politics, he was also a member of the Niles Rotary Club of which he was secretary, Niles Elks Lodge, Fraternal Order of Police, American Bar Association; State Bar of Michigan, Berrien County Bar Association: the Pickwick Club and Orchard Hills County Club.

Surviving are the Widow, Mildred; daughter, Cathy at home; and his mother, Mrs. Grace Cain.

Friends may call in the Kiger and Halbritter Funeral Home after 7 p.m. today.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the First Presbyterian Church, of which he had been a member, with the Rev. John P. MacLachlan officiating. Burial will be at the Silverbrook Cemetery Mausoleum.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Thomas E. Cain
January 10, 1889-December 22, 1953

Heart Attack is Fatal to Banker

Thomas E. Cain, 70, dies suddenly Tuesday

Prominent Niles banker Thomas E. Cain died suddenly of a heart attack at 9 p.m. Tuesday while trimming the Christmas tree in his home at 1803 Lake Street.

Born on Jan. 10, 1889, in Clinton, IL, Cain came to Niles in 1902. His first banking position here was with the old Newman and Snell Bank.

He served as president of the State Bank of Niles after founding the bank in 1917.  After re-organization, Cain became vice president of the First National Bank of Niles, the position he held at his death.

Cain was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Rotary Club, the Elks Lodge, and The American Legion and the First Presbyterian Church. He was a veteran of World War I.

Surviving are his wife, the formerly Grace Ricketts whom he married in Niles on May 11, 1917; a son, Thomas W. Cain of Niles; a granddaughter; two brothers, Dr. C.N. Cain of Fort Wayne, Ind., and Lynn Cain of Marshall; and a sister, Mrs. Mace Harper of North Manchester, Ind.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home Thursday through Saturday morning. Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday at the First Presbyterian Church with the pastor, the Rev. T. M. Greenhoe, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Philip D. Cain
April 20, 1923 – Jan. 27, 1999

Philip D. Cain, 74, of 2423 Dick Street, Niles, MI, died late on Wednesday, Jan. 27 in his home

Mr. Cain was born on April 20, 1923, in Niles, to Joseph and Melba Cain, who preceded him in death.

He is survived by his daughter, Vickie (John Sr.) Suher of South Bend, IN; three sons, Robert A. (Beverly) Cain of Mishawaka, IN, James D. (Bonnie) Cain of Leesburg, FLA, and Larry (Barbara) Cain of Toledo, Ohio; a brother, Richard Cain of Spoonwood, Conn.; and by nine grandchildren.

Mr. Cain retired from Kawneer Company (front street plant) where he worked as a factory laborer. He also served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and enjoyed flying private aircraft locally as a younger man.

A Memorial service is planned for 1:20 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 4 at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, Niles.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Orin M. Cain
Dec. 22, 1914 – April 13, 1993

NILES – Orin Mike Cain, 78, of 1529 Hickory St. died at 9:58 a.m. Tuesday in Pawating Hospital after an illness. Mr. Cain retired as superintendent and sexton from Silverbrook Cemetery, where he worked for 45 years. [emphasis added]

He was born Dec. 22, 1914 in Niles and was a lifelong resident. On Aug. 8, 1964, in Niles. He married Lucybelle Holmes. She survives with a sister, Betty Farmer of Niles and two brothers, Richard Deibler of Palm Beach Gardens, FL, and Donald Diebler of Niles.  Mr. Cain was an Army veteran of World War II.  He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church and American Legion Post 26.  He was a former Boy Scout leader and secretary/treasurer of the Michigan Association of Municipal Cemeteries.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in the church.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 9 p.m. Friday in Halbritter Funeral Home.  Memorial contributions may be made to the church or American Diabetes Association.

Josephine (Wood) Cain
Oct. 30, 1907-Aug. 29, 1962

Mrs. Josephine Cain, 54, of 1522 Cherry St., died yesterday at 9:30 a.m. in Billings Hospital, Chicago. She had been ill 2 1/2 years.

Mrs. Cain, a school teacher in Clay Township, Ind., was born October 30, 1907 in Peculiar, MO.  She was married to Orin (Mike) Cain on May 26, 1943. He survives.

Other survivors include her mother, Mrs. Leta Wood, Peculiar; four sisters, Mrs. Dwight Whitten, Mrs. Gail Steiner, and Mrs. Charles Murphy, all of Niles and miss Margaret Wood, Peculiar; a brother, Robert C. Wood of Advance, MO.

Her father, LeRoy M. Wood preceded her in death.

She was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church.

Funeral services will be conducted at 3:30 p.m. Saturday in Westminster Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Kenneth Carey officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the Pifer Funeral Home from 7 p.m. today till noon Saturday.

Joseph F. Cain
May 13, 1891-April 6, 1964

Funeral services for Joseph F. Cain, 72, of 1236 Phoenix St., will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Kiger Funeral Home. The Rev. Gordon Jackson, pastor of the First Church of God, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

He died at 4:15 a.m.  April 6, 1964, today in Pawating Hospital, where he had been a patients since February 12. he had been ill a year.

Mr. Cain who retired eight years ago from services as a guard at the Kawneer Company, was born May 13, 1891, in Lake City, Minn. He came I to Niles from Tonopah, Nev. In 1918.

Survivors include his widow, Melba R.; a daughter, Mrs. Joseph Schrader, Dowagiac; three sons, Phillip D. and Joseph F, both of Niles and Richard B., Smithtown, Long Island, NY; three brothers, Paul, Colonsay Sask, Can, Harry Saskatoon Sask, Cain and Ira Owatonso, Minn. And 14 grandchildren.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown