Charles J. Skopec
May 29, 1917-Dec. 8, 1977

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Friday, December 9, 1977, page 1

City Councilman Skopec dies at 60

Niles—City flags are flying at half mast today in respect to First Ward Alderman Charles J. Skopec, 60 of 311 Pokagon St., who died at 9 p.m. Thursday.

Niles police were called to Skopec's home at 8:33 p.m. Thursday when the city councilman apparently collapsed on his sidewalk after shoveling snow.

Police administered cardio-pulmonary resuscitation to Skopec, who was taken to Pawating Hospital in a Southwest Michigan Community Ambulance Service vehicle. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

Mayor Robert Woodbridge ordered the flags to be put at half mast through Monday. The mayor also said that a decision would be made later about filling's[sic] Skopec's seat on the city council.

According to City Clerk Donna Fout, the mayor may appoint a replacement with the approval of the council, or a special election to fill the council vacancy may be held. There is some deliberation being taken on the procedure since Skopec was to begin a new term in January.

Mayor Woodbridge also announced this morning that Monday's meeting of the city council will be postponed until Monday, Dec. 19, and City Hall will be closed from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday.

Mr. Skopec was a member of St. John's United Church of Christ, the Fraternal Order of Police and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served in World War II.

Skopec was a retired 31-year veteran of the Niles Police Department, attaining the rank of captain. Following his retirement from the police, he was a security officer for the First Federal Savings and Loan Assn. of Niles.

In November, Skopec was elected to his third term on the city council. A Republican, he was chairman of the council finance committee, probably the most powerful segment of the council.

He was born May 29, 1917 in Polar, Wis., and had lived here since 1925, coming from Chicago. On May 19, 1937 in Roseland, Ind., he married Alta W. Prenkert, who survives.

Also surviving are a son, Martin E., of Buchanan; a daughter, Mrs. Alvin (Kay) Minick, of Fort Wayne, Ind.; three brothers, Frank of Chicago, Rudolph of Bridgman and Theodore of Niles; four sisters, Miss Agnes Skopec of Hartsdale, N.Y., Mrs. Glenn Jones of Russellville, Ark., Mrs. Ralph Peterson and Mrs. Donald Clubine, both of Niles; and one grandson.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the St. John's United Church of Christ with the Rev. Robert L. Livingston officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after noon Sunday at the Halbritter Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the St. John's United Church of Christ Memorial Fund or the Niles Community Library.

Glenn R. Slocum
May 5, 1940-July 25, 1995

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Wednesday, July 26, 1995, page 2, col. 2

Glenn R. Slocum
1940-1995
Four Flags Hotel manager

Funeral services for Glenn R. Slocum, 55 of 404 E. Main St., Niles, will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home in Niles.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Mr. Slocum died at 5:33 p.m. at Pawating Hospital, Niles.

He was born May 5 1940, in Buchanan.

On May 23, 1961, in Niles, he married the former Gladys Harrington, who survives.

Mr. Slocum was Four Flags Hotel manager, and operator of Four Flags Cab Co., Niles, for 11 years.

In addition to his wife, survivors include a daughter, Tracy Renee Raney of Berrien Springs; a son, Scott Edward Slocum of Dallas, Texas; a stepdaughter, Pamela Gwin of Montezuma, Ind.; three stepsons, Danny Vaughn and Michael Jasper, both of Niles, and Lawrence Jasper of Waukegon, Ill.; 11 grandchildren; two sisters, Delores Smith of Galien and Shirley Ruiz of Niles; and three brothers, Richard Slocum and South Carolina, Gerald Slocum of Buchanan, and Clifford Slocum of Niles. A stepson, Reggie Jasper, died in 1993.

Friends may all today from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Irene Clevering Smith
Aug. 1, 1900-June 8, 2002

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Monday, June 10, 2002

Irene Clevering Smith, 91, of 1333 Wells, Niles, and formerly of 36 S. Fifth st., Niles, died Saturday, June 8 at 11:10 p.m. at Riveridge Manor in Niles, following an extended illness.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will gather privately at the cemetery. The Rev. William T. Melody of Notre Dame, Ind. Will be officiating.

There will be no visitation or services. Arrangements are by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Smith was born on Aug. 1, 1910 in South Bend, Ind. to Camiel Van DeVoorde and Emma Matthews. She was a life-long area resident. On Aug. 3, 1929, she married L. Dwayne Clevering in South Bend, Ind. He preceded her in death on July 24, 1977. On Nov. 22, 1977, she married George F. Smith in Niles. He preceded her in death on Jan. 22, 1989. She was the owner/operator of Clevering Florist and Antique shop in Niles. She was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church. Survivors include: one step-daughter, Lois Simpson of Niles; on step-son, George m. Smith of Torrington, Wyo.; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren/ and three great-great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.

Gordon H. Smith
Sept. 24, 1934-June 23, 1994

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Saturday, June 23, 1994, page 2, col. 1-4

Gordon H. Smith
1934-1994
associate broker, Crouch
Realty Inc.

Funeral services for Gordon H. Smith, 59, of 1111 Weesaw, Niles, are Monday at 10:30 a.m. at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, Niles. Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Smith died Thursday at 5:50 p.m. at St. Joseph Medical Center, South Bend, Ind., after a brief illness. Born Sept. 24, 1934, in Nappannee, Ind., he was a long-time Niles resident.

On Aug. 24, 1955, in Niles, he married the former Priscilla Marston, who preceded him in death in March 1972.

On Aug. 1, 1975, in Niles, he married the former Cheryl Clymer Harrington, who survives.

Smith was an associate broker at Crouch Realty Inc. He was an Air Force veteran of the Korean Conflict. Smith was a member of the St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4 Free and Associated Masons, the Niles Shrine Club and the Niles-Buchanan Rotary Club.

Survivors, in addition his wife, include his mother, Flossie Baumgartner of South Bend, Ind.; two daughters, Teri DeLong of Niles and Cathy Smith of Crescent City, Fla., three sons, Greg Smith of Lansing, Jeff Smith of Atascadero, Calif., and Craig Herrington of St. Joseph; two brothers, Landon Smith of Layton, Utah, and Russell Smith of Knox, Ind.; and six grandchildren.

Friends may call Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army.

Jack A. Spence, Sr.
July 20, 1918-Oct. 17, 2001

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Friday, October 19, 2001, page 2, col. 1-2

Jack Spence, long-time assistant city engineer, dies

Funeral services for Jack A. Spence, Sr., 83, of 750 Broadway, Niles will be Saturday, Oct. 20, at 10 a.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. The Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman of First Presbyterian Church will be officiating.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Spence died Wednesday, Oct. 17, at 3:30 p.m. at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Ind., following an extended illness.

Spence was born July 20, 1918 in Brantford, Ontario, to Peter Stanger Spence and Mathilda Jane Scott. He came to Niles from Windsor, Ontario. He has lived in the same house for 50 years. On Sept. 14, 1943, he married Gertrude Elizabeth (Clover) Spence in South Bend, Ind. She survives.

He had worked on the New York Central Railroad for many years. In 1985, he retired from a position of Assistant City Engineer of the City of Niles after 20 years of employment.

He served Canada during World War II in the Royal Canadian Navy. In Canada, he attended the United Church of Canada.

He was a special life member of American Legion Post No. 26 in Niles. He enjoyed gardening vegetables and woodworking in his home shop.

Survivors (in addition to his wife) include: two sons, Jack A. Spence, Jr. of Richland and George Scott Spence of Niles; two grandsons; two great-granddaughters; and one sister, Margaret Hooper of Toronto, Ontario.

He was preceded in death by two sisters.

Friends may call Saturday at 9 a.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Respite Care Center.

Dorothy E. Spenner
Feb. 3, 1911-Jan. 8, 1994

The Herald-Palladium (Saint Joseph, Michigan) · Monday, January 10, 1994 · Page 7, col 5-6

NILES—Dorothy E. Spenner, 82, of Niles died Saturday at Woodfield Manor Nursing Home, Niles.

The funeral will be held Wednesday at 11:30 a.m. at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, Niles, where friends may call after 10 a.m. Wednesday. Cremation will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Memorials may be made to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Mrs. Spenner was born Feb. 3, 1911, in Rosedale, Kan. She retired from French Paper Co. Survivors include: a daughter, Geraldine Mullins of Arkansas; a son, Paul of Wisconsin; six grandchildren; a sister, Irene Williams of Niles; and a half brother, Earl Wood of Niles. She was preceded in death by her husband, Paul, in 1970, and by a daughter, Norma Schneck, in 1992.