Icy Marie Burge
June 24, 1900-February 8, 1977

NILES - Mrs. Icy Marie Burge, 76, formerly of 1323 Eagle St., died at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Wilmington Medical Center, Wilmington, Del., following an extended illness.

Mrs. Burge was born June 24, 1900, in Burlington, Ind., and lived in that area for a year. On Feb. 1, 1917, she married John Y. Burge in Niles. He preceded her in death on June 7,1964.  Survivors include Mrs. Kenneth (Norma) Hartman of Wilmington, Del., a sister; Delbert Susan of Texas, a half brother; Mrs. Walter Sutton of Niles, a half sister; six grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, the Rev. Harold G. Kaiser of St. John’s United Church of Christ officiating. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call after 2 p.m. Friday in the funeral home. 

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

John Y. Burge
July 16, 1839 -June 7, 1911

Death takes John Burge,

Had lived in Niles for half century-a Civil War Veteran

John Y. Burge, pioneer resident of Niles, died at his home, 1194 East Sycamore Street, yesterday afternoon at 4 o’clock, following a long illness with complications and heart trouble. Mr. Burge slept away and was surrounded by several of his children, as his death had been anticipated for several days.

Mr. Burge was born in Ashland County, Ohio, July 16, 1839, and came to Niles just prior to the Civil War, with his bride who was formally Miss Cleista M. Weaver. Mr. Burge enlisted at Buchanan in the 12th Michigan Artillery as a private and served the full term of four years, receiving an honorable discharge.

After he returned home, Mr. Burge followed the contracting business., having had charge of large jobs in Niles and vicinity. He worked at his trade until a few years ago, when he was compelled to retire on account of old age.

Beside a wife, Mr. Burge is survived by four children; a brother and sister, Wm. E. Burge, Mrs. U.C. Albright, Mrs. David Billett, and Wesley Burge, all of Niles, Henry Burge and Mrs. Ben Hutmon also Niles.

The funeral will be held from the residence Monday morning at 10 o’clock. Wm. Putman will officiate. Burial will be in Silver Brook Cemetery.Mr. Burge was a member of Frank Graves psot. G.A.R. and also of the Woodmen of the World. He carried $3,000 insurance. 

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John Y. Burge
June 29, 1897-June 7, 1964

Funeral services for John Y. Burge, 66 of 1332 Eagle St., will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Pifer Funeral home. the Rev. Richard Fraser, pastor of St. John’s Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  He died at 4:20 p.m. Sunday in Pawating Hospital, where he was admitted Sunday morning.

Mr. Burge who retired in 1962 from service as superintendent of the Niles Board of Public Works, was born here June 29, 1897, and was a lifetime resident of the community.

Surviving are his widow, I. Marie; his mother, Mrs. May Alma (Rossman) Burge, Niles; a daughter, Mrs. Kenneth Hartman, Newark, Del; three sisters, Mrs. Bessie War and Mrs. Ray McBride, both of Niles, and Mrs. Dave Ossmer, Brooklyn; Three brothers, A.E., Los Angeles, Calif., Samuel, Berrien Springs and Charles, Detroit; four grandchildren and a great-grandsons. Friends are being received at the funeral home. 

Kenneth R. Burge
Sept. 24, 1894-May 29, 1966

Funeral services will be held here Friday for Kenneth R. Burge, 71, Woodland Hills, Calif., who died Sunday.

Mr. Burge died at West Valley Doctor’s Hospital in Canaga Park, Calif., after a three week illness.

He was born Sept. 24 1894, in Niles. A retired restaurant owner, Mr. Burge moved from Niles to California in 1940.

Surviving in addition to his wife, Pleasant, are two sons, Donald, Niles, and Kenneth Jr., California; three daughters, Mrs. Betty Wessels, Niles, Mrs. Barbara Ward, Kalamazoo and Mrs. Audrey Perkins, Van Nuys, Calif.; two brothers, Earl, Niles and Lauris Dagget, Calif.; a sister, Mrs. Ruth Hayes, Niles; and 14 grandchildren.

Friends may call at the Halbritter-Swem Funeral home after noon Thursday.

Funeral services will be held at the funeral home at 2 p.m. Friday with the Rev. Arlan E. Schlundt, pastor of St. John’s United Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mr. Burge was a member of the Elks Lodge.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

May Alma (Rossman) Burge
June 28, 1878-June 26, 1968

Mrs. May Alma Burge, 89, of 1533 Huron St., died at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday in the Berrien General Hospital, Berrien Center, following a seven-moth illness.

A lifetime resident of this area, Mrs. Burge was born in Niles on June 28, 1878. Her husband, Wesley, died in 1948.

She is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Raymond McBride and Mrs. Bessie Ward, both of Niles; and Mrs. David Ossmer of Brooklyn; three sons, Samuel of Niles, Charles of Detroit and Arthur of Los Angels. Calif.; a sister Mrs. Bessie Brockhaus of Benton Harbor, 19 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday in the St. Mark Catholic church with the Rev. Francis E. Timmons officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Rosary services will be recited at 8:30 p.m. Friday in the Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home.

Friends may call at the funeral home, after 7 p.m. today.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Pleasant N. Burge
Oct. 20, 1900-July 9, 1995

Pleasant Niagara Burge, 94, of 55378 Wilbur Road, Three Rivers, formerly of 1643 Ferry St,, died at 11:06 Sunday in Riverview Manor, Three Rivers.

Mrs. Burge was born October 20, 1900 in Galien, living most of her life in Niles, and California from 1941 to 1966. In 1917 in Three Oaks, she married Robert Thompson.  He died in 1926.  In 1928, in Niles, she married Kenneth R. Burge.  He died May 29, 1966.

Surviving are two daughters, Betty Lou Garn of Three Rivers and Barbara Ann Ward of Kalamazoo; a son, Kenneth R. of Wyoming; 13 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; four sisters, Flora Cusick and Lillian Graham, both of Niles, Virginia Jacobs of South Bend and Shirley Ortez of New York city; and two brothers, Allison Smith of Florida and Merlyn Smith of Kalamazoo.  A daughter, Audrey Cunningham and a stepson, Donald Burge, preceded her in death. She was a member of Morris Chapel United Methodist Church and a 50 years member of Daughters of the American Revolution.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the church. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in Halbritter Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to the church or Riverview Manor Auxiliary.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown