Gail M. Deibler, of Niles
Jan. 31, 1937 — Nov. 10, 2014

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:28am Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Gail M. Deibler

Gail Marie Deibler, 77, of Niles, Michigan died on Monday, Nov. 10, 2014, at the Hospice House in South Bend, Indiana following an illness.

She was born on Jan. 31, 1937, in Jackson, Michigan to Howard Henry and Marion (Jones) Rausch. She was graduated from Niles High School, and has lived here most of her life. On July 7, 1956, in Niles she married Donald Eugene Deibler. She was employed in the high school office of Niles Community Schools for 25 years, retiring in 1997.

Gail was a member of Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Niles and its Ladies Aid Society. She was also a member of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority since 1955, and the Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel. She volunteered with the Pawating Auxiliary at Lakeland Community Hospital, usually at the information desk.

The Deibler family enjoyed camping and boating. Gail and her husband had toured all 50 of the United States, and had traveled in Europe. They owned two vintage Chevrolet Corvettes – 1958 and 1963 models – which they enjoyed showing at car shows throughout the region.

Don and Gail celebrated the forty-second anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on March 6, 1999. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Michael Rausch in 2004.

Surviving family includes a son, Donald (Brenda) Deibler of Richland, Michigan and daughter, Mary Lynn (Randy) Krichbaum of Adrian, Michigan; grandchildren Michelle Krichbaum, Kyle Krichbaum, Ryan Deibler and Adam Deibler; great-grandchildren, Bryanna Deibler and Adryanna Deibler; and Gail’s brother, Richard Rausch of Meridian, Idaho and sister, Patricia Leet of Niles; and several cousins in Cheboygan and Lansing, Michigan.

The funeral service for Gail Deibler will be at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 13, 2014, at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church with the Rev. Carl W. Bassett of the church officiating assisted by the Associate Pastor Joseph Liss. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday from 5 until 8 p.m. at the church. Contributions in memory of Gail may be made to the Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church Building Fund. Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Mrs. Matilda Smallwood
Nov. 20, 1875-May 22, 1950

Niles Daily Star, Monday, May 22, 1950; page 2, col. 7, microfilm, Niles District Library

Matilda L. Smallwood, formerly of 313 South Fifteenth street, died at 1:30 p.m. at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. John Williams, 1502 Maple street, after an illness of four weeks.

Her husband, Garfield, died in 1942. Surviving are her children, Henry E. Smallwood; of Fort Wayne, Ind., Mrs. D.H. DeHaven, of Logansport, Ind., Mrs. Williams, Carl, Ralph and James Smallwood, of Niles, nine great-grandchildren, and one brother, Paul Eggert, of Gaylord, Minn.

Mrs. Smallwood was born Nov. 20, 1875, and came here from Logansport, Ind. 24 years ago. She was a member of the First Presbyterian church.

(Eligible text) funeral home, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday. The Rev. T. M. Greenhoe, Presbyterian pastor, will officiate, and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Carl B. Barnett
Oct. 30, 1925-Aug. 3,1950

Niles Daily Star, Friday, August 4, 1950; page 2, col. 5, microfilm, Niles District Library

Rites for Carl Bradford Barnett, of rural route one, Buchanan, who died as the result of an automobile accident near South Bend Thursday morning will be held at 2 p.m.

The Rev. Harold W. Hohman, pastor of St. John’s Evangelical and Reformed church will perform the rites in the Pifer funeral home, where the body may be viewed. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery, Veterans of World War II will conduct committal services.

Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Barnett, of Vardaman, Miss.; his widow, Betty; his son, Ronald, three step-children, Shirley, Sharon and Vicki Jo Barnett, all at home; his sister, Mrs. Sanford Williams, of Buchanan; four brothers, Slater and James Barnett, both in the army and Edgar and Charles Barnett, of Vardaman; and two step-brothers, Jesse, Jr., and Calvert Barnett, of Vardaman.

Barnett was born in Little Rock, Ark., on Oct. 30, 1925, and came here from Vardaman three years ago. He was employed as a laborer by the Sollitt Construction company in South Bend.

Mrs. Alma M. Garrett
Feb. 23, 1878-June 11, 1950

Niles Daily Star, Monday June 12, 1950; page 2, col. 5, microfilm, Niles District Library

Mrs. Alma M. Garrett, 72, of 330 North Fourth street, died at 12:30 a.m. yesterday at the Mary Moss hospital in Kalamazoo after an illness of eight years.

Mrs. Garrett was born Feb. 23, 1878, in Howard township, Cass county, and lived in the Niles area all of her life. She was a member of the Methodist church here.

Surviving are her husband, Charles W.; a daughter, Mrs. Lyle Jones, of Niles; a son, Carl W., of Hermosa Beach, Cal.; and four grandchildren.

The Rev. L. George Beacock will conduct funeral services at 1 p.m. tomorrow at the Kiger funeral home. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Ford Walter (aka Fred Woodpuff)
Sept. 28, 1877-June 2, 1950

Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 5, 1950; page 2, Col. 1, microfilm, Niles District Library

Services for Ford Walter, known here under the name Fred Woodpuff, who was identified by a brother, Frank Walter, of Grand Rapids, will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Pifer funeral home.

The Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor of the First Methodist church, will officiate, and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home.

The deceased, who was found dead as the result of a heart attack early Friday morning was identified by his surviving brother, who said he had not seen him in the past 20 years. He had lived under his assumed name since his residence in Niles for the past 25 years. Walter was born Sept. 28, 1877, in St. Joseph, Ind.

William Pifer, coroner, said the brother, Frank, connected a story published in the Grand Rapids paper concerning the death, with his missing brother, and arrived to identify the body.

Minerva E. Boyle
Sept. 4, 1864-June 6, 1950

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, June 7, 1950; page 2, col. 2, microfilm, Niles District Library

Mrs. Minerva E. Boyle died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. V.R. McGowan, Garver lake at 9:45 p.m. Tuesday.

Surviving besides her daughter are five grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Boyle was born in Tippecanoe, Miami county Ohio, on Sept. 4, 1864, and came here from Toledo 14 years ago. She was a member of the First Methodist church.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home where services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday. The Rev.J. Kenneth Hoffmaster, of Holland former pastor of the First Methodist church here, will officiate, and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.