W

Updated August 25, 2009

Walker, Catharine ( Nugent) - Berrien Township, 20 April 1904
CATHARINE (NUGEN) WALKER—April 20, 1904 Catharine Nugen was born June 1, 1808, near Belturbet, Ireland, in the county of Fermanagh. Died at the home of her son, Solomon Walker, in Berrien Township, April 20, 1904, being nearly 96 years of age. She was left without a mother when a mere child, and lived with an aunt, who immigrated to the province of Canada 84 years ago. She often recounted a ship wreck during the voyage. She was married to Joseph Walker 76 years ago and they located on a farm near Port Hope Canada. From there they moved near Sandusky, Ohio, in 1833, and on account of ill heath moved back to Canada. In the spring of 1842 they came to Michigan and settled on section 2 in Niles Township, where she has since remained until about 15 months ago she came to live with her son Solomon. Her husband preceded her in death, February 15, 1868. She was the mother of twelve children, five girls and seven boys. The five daughters are; Mrs. W. B. Smith, Mrs. Joseph Stafford, of Berrien Township, Mrs. Catherine Deniaton of Niles, Mrs. Sarah Archer of Iowa, and Mrs. Elizabeth Lewis of Washington. The remaining sons are Joseph, Solomon, and David Walker of Berrien Township, and an elder brother, Charles Walker of Iowa, who was at his mother’s bedside when she died. She was converted 69 years ago and was a model of purity and Christian purity. She was one of the charter members of the M. E. Church at Morris Chapel and as an example of the Christian religion she had but few equals. Her tenacious belief in God and the efficacy of prayer was wonderful. Her example as an exponent of experimental religion will stand out as a beacon light to her children and neighbors who have all learned from her life and example that “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.” Interment at Morris Chapel Cemetery Saturday 10 a.m. Services conducted by Rev. Bowerman.
Contributed By John Walker

Wards, Jeanette (Klann)
NILES -- Jeanette (Klann) Warda, 65, of Niles died Friday, June 25, 2004, at home.
Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. Tuesday, June 29, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 1340 Sycamore St., Niles, with Pastor Carl Bassett officiating. Visitation will be from 3 to 5 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, June 28, at Swem Funeral Home, Buchanan. Burial will be in Mission Hills Memorial Gardens, Niles. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church or Hospice at Home.
Jeanette was born Sept. 9, 1938, in Baroda to Henry and Elsie (Rosentreter) Klann. She married Henry Warda on Oct. 22, 1955, in Niles. She was a homemaker.
Mrs. Warda is survived by her husband, Henry; daughters -- Christine (Craig) DeHart of Niles, Karen (Jimmie) Kelley of Berrien Center and Tamala (Dennis) Rahn of Manistee, Mich.; a son, Stanley (Debby) Warda of Berrien Springs; a sister, Elaine Gibson of Niles; a brother, Kurt Klann of Niles; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Contributed By Genweb Coordinator 2005

Westphal, Hulda nee Zordel
The Hearld Press carried another article concerning this incident on 17 Feb 1922: “Mrs. Westphal, 72, Struck By Auto, Is Dead Aged Woman Spent Almost Entire Life in St. Joseph Seriously injured a week ago when she was struck by a Ford automobile at the corner of State and Market streets, Mrs. Hulda Westphal passed away this morning at 10 o’clock at the home of her son-in-law, A.G. Marshall, 609 Wayne street.
   Mrs. Wesphal was born in Germany on April 26, 1849 and came to this country when she was 19 years of age. She has remained in St. Joseph continuously since that time. Her Husband passed away many years ago. She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. John Lange, Sodus and Mrs. A.G. Marshall, St. Joseph; three grandchildren, Helen Marchall, St. Joseph, and Herbert Lange of this city and Arthur Lange, Sodus; one sister, Mrs. Elvina Dombrowsky, Harrison avenue, St. Joseph, and three brothers, Albert Zordel, St. Joseph, August Zordel, Ransom, Kansas, and Carl Zordel, Germany.
   Funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at 1:45 at the Marshall residence and at 2 o’clock at the Trinity Lutheran church. Rev. Louis Nuechterlein officiating. Interment will be made in the City cemetery. The Ladies Aid society of the church will attend in a body. Mrs. Westphal met with the accident that contributed to her death while attempting to cross State street late last Friday afternoon. John Walsh, a trusty at the county jail, who has been sent down town with a Ford sedan to procure gasoline, was executing a complete turn on State street and was driving slowly when he struck the aged woman. Eye witnesses of the affair are unwilling to fix the blame.” A family story is that her long skirt got caught in the spokes of the wheels of the vehicle and she was dragged to her death? - Contributed by: William Brackett at brackettwilliam@yahoo.com

Wheeler, John R.
John R. Wheeler, 87, 350 South McCord street, died at 2:50 a.m. today at his home.
Mr. Wheeler was born Dec. 6, 1873 in Kenton, Ill. He was a member of the Salvation Army and the Golden Agers.
Survivors include his widow, May (Mary): two sons, Frank of Watervliet and James L. of Benton Harbor: four daughters, Mrs James Chronisler of Portland, Ore., Mrs Anna Adams, Mrs. Laura Countryman and Mrs. Everett Smith of Benton Harbor: 41 grandchildren: 85 greatgrandchildren and 8 great great grandchldren.
Other survivors include 12 stepchildren: two brothers. Fred Wheeler of Rochester, Mich. and Harve Wheeler of Kansas and a sister, Mrs. Frank Evans of Lawrence.
The body is at the Reiser mortuary where funeral arrangements were incomplete this forenoon.
Friends may call at the funeral home beginning Wednesday evening.
Taken from The News - Palladium Tuesday, September 19, 1961

Wheeler Rites Set
Funeral services will be held Saturday at 2:00 p.m. in the Reiser Chapel for John R. Wheeler, 87, 350 South McCord street, who died Tuesday at his home.
Brigadier Edward Johnson of the Salvation Army will officiate.
Burial will be in the Crystal Springs cemetery.
Taken from The News - Palladium Wednesday, September 20, 1961
Contributed By Donna Lewis

Wheeler, Mrs. Mary I.
Mrs. Mary Isabelle Wheeler of Route 2, Benton Harbor, died at 12:12 p.m. yesterday at the home of a daughter, Mrs. Laura Countryman, 139 Belview street where she had been living since she became ill almost two months ago.
Born May 18, 1875, in Terre Haute, Ind., Mrs. Wheeler was 72 years old. She was married to John R. Wheeler, who survives, on July 1, 1896, in LaMarr, Mo. Of the couples 10 children, the following seven remain: Mrs Bessie Chronister, Portland, Ore., Jess Wheeler, Mrs Laura Countryman, Mrs Florence Smith, Frank Wheeler, Lawrence Wheeler, Benton Harbor: and Mrs Rose Anna Adams, St. Joseph. Mrs. Wheeler also leaves a number of nieces and nephews, 40 grandchildren, and 18 great grandchildren. A brother, Oliver Cooper, Neodeswa, Kas., and a sister, Mrs. Loan Wyant, Smithland, Mo. Mrs. Wheeler was a member of the Salvation Army.
The body is at the Reiser mortuary where friends may call and arrangements for the funeral are being made.
Taken from The News - Palladium Friday, August 29, 1947

Wheeler, Mrs. Mary I. - - The funeral of Mrs. Mary Isabelle Wheeler, Route 2, Benton Harbor, who died last Tuesday, was held at 2:30 p.m. at the Reiser chapel.
Major Fred Summers of Traverse City, formerly of the Salvation Army in Benton Harbor, officiated and Mrs. Summers sang. Mrs. M.J. White presided at the organ.
Burial was in Crystal Springs cemetery.
Taken from The News - Palladium Tuesday, September 2, 1947
Contributed By Donna Lewis

Williams, Deacon Fred Sr. - -
BENTON HARBOR -- Deacon Fred Williams Sr. was born on May 25, 1916, to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Williams in Earle, Ark.
Deacon Williams gave his life to Christ at an early age, under the leadership of Elder Days, in Wildner, Ark. After relocating to Benton Harbor, in 1966, he became a member of Holy Temple COGIC under the leadership of Pastor R. Thomas. He served on the Deacons Board.
Deacon Williams moved to Detroit in 1968. He became a member of East Vernon COGIC under the leadership of Pastor Brown. After a few years God called Pastor Brown home to rest from his labor. Then God sent another shepherd to come and lead the flock, by the name of Pastor Dennis Mallory. Deacon Williams served on the Deacons Board and he also was the church treasurer.
He retired from Crown Packing/Thorn Apple Valley in Detroit. He relocated back to Benton Harbor in 1998. He continued his membership at Holy Temple COGIC under the leadership of Pastor R. Thomas.
Deacon Williams was faithful even though he had no strength to walk, but he kept pressing his way out in his wheelchair until the Lord called him home.
Deacon Fred Williams departed this life on Monday, May 24, 2004, at 2:25 a.m.
    He leaves to cherish his memories: four sons -- Fred Jr. (Alvern) Williams and Isaiah (Rosa) Williams, both of Benton Harbor, and Charlie (Clara) Williams and Rubin (Marilyn) Williams, both of Detroit; three daughters -- Gennie (Calvin) Rogers, Laura Mae Holmes and Virginia (Larry) Wooden, all of Benton Harbor; 35 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Vera Snodgrass and Wilma Graves, both of Indianapolis; adopted daughter, Willie Zelma Mendenhall; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Preceding him in death was his wife, Mamie Williams, Jan. 6, 2003; his mother, Lula Brown Williams; his father, Paul Williams; sisters -- Rosie Burton and Pearlie Mae Simpson; brothers-in-law, Willie Simpson and Walter Curtis; and son-in-law, Herbert Holmes.
Visitation will begin at 9 a.m. Friday followed by funeral services at 11 a.m. at Holy Temple COGIC, Benton Harbor. Burial will be in Crystal Springs Cemetery, Benton Harbor.
Arrangements by Robbins Brothers Funeral Home, Benton Harbor
Taken from The Herald - Palladium May 26, 2004 edition
Contributed By Genweb Coordinator 2005

Williams, Sara Jean - Sara Jean Williams - Private funeral services were held at 10 a.m. today in the Kerlikowski funeral home for Miss Sara Jean Williams, 17-years-old Benton Harbor girl. The Rev. W. Maylan Jones. St. Joseph Methodist minister, officiated. Mrs. Mildred Johns presided at the organ. Fifteen members of the auxiliary to V.F.W. post 1137 attended in a body. The body will be sent to Doncola, Ind. Friday night for burial in the Christian Chapel cemetery Saturday afternoon. Harvey Williams will accompany the body of his daughter to Doncola.

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