NILES, Kenneth 1880-1923

NILES, GOUTERMAN

Posted By: S. Bell
Date: 2/15/2013 at 17:03:38

[Evening Courier and Reporter, Saturday, March 3, 1923, Waterloo, Iowa]

KENNETH L. NILES, COURIER EMPLOYE, PASSES TO BEYOND

Kenneth Lee Niles, 649 Conger street, assistant makeup in the mechanical deparment of the Waterloo Evening courier, died suddenly of cerebral hemorrhage at his home at 4 p.m. yesterday. He came to work as usual yesterday morning, but went home at 8:30 because he was not feeling well. He ate a light lunch and went to a drugstore a block distant from his home about 3:30 p.m. to get some medicine.

While on the way home, he was stricken and near the L. S. Cass residence, he leaned against a telephone pole for support. J.H. Rickert, noticing his distress, hastened to him. At that time Mr Niles spoke a few words and appeared to be conscious, but soon lapsed into unconsciousness. Mr. Rickert, John Fenlon and Herman Redd carried the stricken man to his home, where he lived only a few minutes.

Mrs. Niles said today her husband appeared to have a premonition that he was going to be very ill. After lunch he complained of pain in one shoulder. It seemed to ease later, and he said he believed he would write a check for his Woodmen dues. This he did and mailed the letter to headquarters only a short time before he was sticken.

Mr. Niles is the second employe of the Courier to die since the paper has carried group life insurance for employes. The amount now is $600.

For several days past, Mr. Niles had complained of dizzy spells and stomach trouble. He was 42 years old.

Funeral services will be from St. Paul's Methodist Church at 3:30 p.m. next Tuesday, conducted by the pastor, Rev. C.E. Luce. Interment will be in Fairview. The body may be seen by friends at Petersen Brothers undertaking parlors.

"Mr. Niles was industrious, quiet in manner, of good habits and well liked by all who knew him.

"There isn't a man in the mechanical department of the Courier who had more friends than Kenneth Niles," said Leon Link, foreman, today. "He was quiet and kindly in all his relations with his fellow employes, a good workman and a man whose thoughts were always of his family."

Mr. Niles was born at Swanton, Vt.

On Feb. 15, 1906,* he was married to Miss Jessie Gouterman at Dodge Center, Minn. They came to Waterloo three years ago last May. During the first year here he was employed by the Waterloo Tribune. For nearly three years he had been employed by the Courier.

The widow and four sons: Herbert, 16; Howard, 13; Stewart, 10; and Chester, 5, survive, together with his father, who lives at Uneedus, La.; brother, LeRoy, at Kasson, Minn; and uncle Charles Niles, St. Paul.

A daugther, Virginia, died at the age of 11 months. His mother died her last Easter and a sister died a year ago last August.

Mr. Niles was baptized and became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church in childhood, while at Kasson, Minn. He was a member of the Waterloo typographical union and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Owatonna, Minn.

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WPA Fairview Cemetery record:
NILES, Kenneth L. 1880 - 1923 Fairview Cemetery E.Waterloo Twp. blk. L. lot 42

*The obit of his wife; Jessie Katherine Gouterman says they were married Feb. 17, 1905.