Mary M. Arven

May 16, 1908-Dec. 26, 1994

NILES - Mary M. Arven, 86, of 911 S. Third Street, died at 10:45 p.m. Monday in Silverbrook Manor, after an illness. Mrs. Arven was born May 16, 1908, in Monterey, Va., and had lived in Niles since 1977, coming from Granger. On June 7, 1930, in Fulton, she married Walker Arven. He died Jan. 17, 1988.

Burial will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Silverbrook Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Halbritter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to any charity.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

 THERE IS NO RECORD OF THIS BURIAL AT SILVERBROOK AND SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE OBIT SAYS BURIAL AT ST. JOSEPH VALLEY MEMORIAL PARK, GRANGER.  FINDAGRAVE PHOTOS SHOW BURIAL THERE.

June 3, 1924 - Jan. 3, 1999

Richard H. Arrick, 74, of 1331 Howard Street, Niles, Mich., died of natural causes in the early evening of Sunday, Jan. 3, at the Lakeland Medical Center-Niles.

Mr. Arrick was born on June 3, 1924, in White County, Ind.  He was the owner and operator of Arrick's Decor Service, Niles, since 1946.

On Jan. 17, 1987, in Niles, he married Gloria Parker. His first wife, Maxine Arrick, preceded him in death in 1969. He was also preceded in death by two daughters, Diane and Dale Arrick; and by a son, Dean Arrick.

He is survived by a daughter, Janice White of Howell, Mich.; a stepdaughter, Mary Dilts of Sugargrove, Ill.; three stepsons, Steven Parker of Myrna, Tenn., Jerry Parker of Niles and Mark Parker of Granger, Ind.; five sisters, Marie Patton of Niles, Barbara Sullivan of South Bend, Ind., Kay Brownback of Ligonier, Ind., Theresa Beardslee of Paisley, Fla., and Carol Arrick of Niceville, Fla.; and by 11 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 7, in St. John's United Church of Christ, Niles, where he was a deacon. Pastor Al Bastin will officiate.

Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. today at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home. Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. John's United Church of Christ.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Stephen Arney

1864-Oct. 29, 1922

      Funeral services for Stephen Arney who died at his home in Buchanan on Sunday after a brief illness with valvular heart disease, was held this afternoon at his home in Buchanan. Rev. H.t. Scherer, pastor of the Presbyterian Church in this City, assisted at the services in Buchanan and at the committal services. The body was brought to Niles for burial in Silverbrook Cemetery..

      Mr. Arney was 58 years old. He had been a resident of Buchanan for 35 years. For a number of years he had engaged in the painting and decorating business.  He is survived by his wife, who was formerly Miss Nettie McDonald of Niles, by one daughter, Miss Louise, who teaches in the Niles public schools, by one brother, Jacob Arney of Buchanan and by two sisters, one of whom, Mrs. Ella Rollins, lives in Buchanan.  Mrs. Arney is a sister of Mrs. Belle Babcock of Tenth Street, this city.

      The deceased was a prominent resident of Buchanan and was well known in Niles.

       Misses Mabel and Sarah Fowler of Chicago, cousins of the deceased, were the relatives who attended the services.

Robert Anton

March 21, 1903 - Nov. 21, 1999

Robert Anton, 96, passed away of natural causes on Sunday, Nov. 21, while at the Silverbrook Nursing Home.

He was born on March 21, 1903, in Prague, Czechoslovakia. In 1920 he immigrated to Chicago, Ill. There he met and married the former Bessie Klapp on July 30, 1937. Theirs was a love match that lasted over 73 years. In 1937 the Antons moved to Cassopolis, Mich., where he farmed and operated a barber shop. He had made his home in Niles, Mich., since retiring in 1976.

He is survived by his wife, Bessie; a son, Robert G. Anton; a grandson, Gerald R. Anton; and by three great-grandchildren, Amy, Robert and Patty Anton of Niles; and by a granddaughter, Julie Anton Wiggins of Half Moon Bay, Calif.

Services will be at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 24, at the First Baptist Church, 1446 E. Main Street, Niles.

Visitation will be from 12:30 p.m., prior to the services. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

The Pifer-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church of Niles.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Bessie Anton

Aug. 23, 1908 -- Aug. 16, 2007

NILES -- Bessie (Klapp) Anton, 98, of Niles passed away on Thursday, August 16, 2007, in Silverbrook Manor, following a lengthy illness.

She was born on August 23, 1908, in Newark, New Jersey, to the late Jerry and Francis (Hamerle) Klapp.

On July 30, 1927, Bessie married her sweetheart Robert Anton. He preceded her in death in 1999 after 72 years of marriage.

A homemaker most of her life, she also enjoyed needlepoint, crafts, gardening, cooking and baking. Bessie was a member of First Baptist Church in Niles and many home economic and Gardening clubs.  She loved spending time with her family, friends, and her dog Smokey.

In addition to her parents and husband, she was also preceded in death by a sister Rose Fricek.

Bessie is survived by her son, Robert G. (Nancy) Anton of Niles; two grandchildren, Julia Anton (Reynold III) Wiggins of Half Moon Bay, California and Gerald (Pam) Anton of Niles; three great-grandchildren, Amy Marie, Robert G. and Patricia Anton all of Niles; a sister, Emily Petranek of Brookfield, Illinois; and several nieces.

In keeping with her wishes, a private memorial service will be held in Brown Funeral Home, Niles, with Pastor Jim Wing officiating.  An interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in Bessie's memory to First Baptist Church, 1446 E. Main Street, Niles, Michigan 49120.

Condolences can be left for the family by visiting www.brownfuneralhomeniles.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Niles.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

George David Anstiss

Nov. 17, 1886 – July 27, 1950

George David Anstiss, 63, of 211 North Second Street died at 11:40 a.m. Tuesday at Berrien county Hospital.  He had been ill for six months.

Anstiss was born Nov. 17, 1886 in Berrien Center and moved to Niles from there 23 years ago. He was a carpenter and a member of the First Baptist Church.

Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. Bernice Hocking of Lake City, IA, Mrs Arbella Pease of Early IA, Mrs. Maryette Hartman of Jacksonville, FL, and Miss Cleora Anstiss of Niles; two sons, Eugene of Lake City, IA and Darvin of Detroit; four brothers, Leo and Claude of Niles, Fred of Buchanan, and Mearle of Berrien Springs; and two sisters, Mrs. Hazel Bunnell of Oak Park , IL, and Mrs. Grace Personette of Buchanan.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the funeral Home with the Rev. Clarence Graham officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Published in Niles Daily Star, July 28, 1950.