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From 1925 to 1929, the Bradley-Haben mortuary was located at 8106 Lincoln Avenue. In
1929, after having dissolved the partnership with Bradley, Ray opened up the Haben Funeral
Home at 8057 Niles Center Road. The business is still operating under the ownership of Ray's
widow, Margaret, his son R. William and grandson, John W. Haben, presently a member of
the Section.
In 1925, Ray married Margaret K. Seul, daughter of John Seul the baker and cousin to Pat
Seul. They had four children.
Among his many activities, Ray was a charter member of Rotary, Knights of Columbus,
Post Commander of the Morton Grove American Legion, Skokie VFW, and was a Treasurer
and Director of the Chamber of Commerce. During his tenure as Treasurer, he was chairman
of Niles Center Days, an annual carnival held in downtown Niles Center, and was a shareholder
and officer of the Niles Center Mercantile Company (Skokie's Ace Hardware) until
the early 1950's.
In May, 1967, Ray was hospitalized with circulatory problems and died on June 2, 1967. In
his memory, flagpoles were erected in each of the Christian cemeteries in Skokie to honor those
who had served in the Armed Forces.
The year 1935 was a banner year for membership. It was the first year of Scotty Krier's reign
as President and sixty-six men joined. They were: Markens Schmitt, Joseph Freres, Leonard
Lazar, Anthony Abbink, Edward Huscher, William K. Lyon, John W. Wuerth, Ted J. Heinz,
Martin Mueller, Roy B. Moore, Bill Biegert, Sr., F. Bruce Harris, Russell Tucker, Ambrose
Brod, Math Bauman, Jr. Stephen L. Weber, Ambrose M. Bauman, Joseph F. Urbanus, Richard
J. Lockard, Harold "Holly" Klehm, Peter J. Hohs, Frank Chitty, Joseph Zimmer, Joseph
J. Schildgen, Michael E. Fuerst, John C. Busscher, John R. Weber, Harry Heinz, Edward A.
Heinz, John J. Puetz, John E. Mooney, Herman Hinze, Robert Hoffman, Peter Nellson, Ben
Hachenberg, Max Schedelbauer, Ralf Edinger, Irving Harrer, Paul Allen, D.D.S., Thomas J.
O'Connell Sr., Gustav Milz, Herman Giannini, Henry G. Vogt, Claren J. Dahm, A.W. Morf,
Anthony Schmitt, William P. Hohs, Robert W. De Pau, Joseph Weber, Edward B. Schyllar,
Clarence Ridley, Elmer A. Aleckson, William Zwimpfer, George Papinean, Edward R. Kutz,
Claude E. Lange, Peter A. Kalmes, William C. Flanigan, Robert R. Lutz, Thomas J. McMullen,
Edmund V. Lykes, Armond King, Albert J. Cote, Roland R. Moore, and Lawrence Weber.
William K. Lyon (married to Evelyn Chambers) was born in Chicago in 1900. In the
mid-20's, he moved to Niles Center and lived at 8029 Kilbourn Avenue. Bill was afflicted with
polio, and this illness would lead to an acquaintanceship with a prominent citizen of the world,
Franklin D. Roosevelt. He met the future President while both were going through polio
therapy. In 1935, the President personally appointed Bill to be Postmaster of the Village of Niles
Center, a post he would hold until 1945. Bill's son, Don Lyon, would be the campaign manager
for Joseph J. Witry, Sr.'s unsuccessful campaign for Judge, in 1960.
In 1939, Bill Lyon was elected Secretary-Treasurer of the Illinois Chapter No. 6 of the
National Association of Postmasters and was also President of the Cook County Postmaster's
Association. Bill's Post Office was located at 7914 Lincoln Avenue.
Also joining the Section was John W. Wuerth. An accountant by profession, he was born in
Minneapolis, MN in 1895. He and his wife Francis moved to Niles Center and John promptly
became involved in local politics. He was elected a Trustee in 1935 and served in that capacity
until 1944, when he succeeded George E. Blameuser as Village President for the years 1945,1946
and 1947. He was the Village's eighth President.
In the 1938 Golden Jubilee Book, published by the Brotherhood, there appeared a
congratulatory ad from the Village of Niles Center. It is reproduced here:
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