Obituaries

We now have over 7,000 obituaries collected about the interred here at Silverbrook Cemetery.

The obituaries are transcribed by the volunteers of the Friends of Silverbrook Cemetery from various sources.  If you see an opportunity for an addition or a correction, please email our obituary editor at obits@friendsofsilverbrook.org.

Dalenberg, May Ella (Doster)

May Ella Dalenberg
May 8, 1888-Sept. 1, 1958


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, September 2, 1958, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. May Ella Dalenberg, 70, of 208 Fort Street, died at 1:25 a.m. Monday in Pawating Hospital.

Surviving are her husband, Henry; a daughter, Mrs. Paul Prenkert, of Niles;  a son, Robert Howard Dalenberg, of Niles; three grandchildren, four brothers, Willard, John, Wilson, and Irving Doster, all of Kalamazoo.

Mrs. Dalenberg was born in the Kalamazoo area May 8, 1888, and came to Niles [illegible].  Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, and services will be held there at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Elder G.M. Nerness of the Seventh-day Adventisit Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery

 

Dearborn, George Edwin

George Edwin Dearborn
Abt. 1846-Sept. 4, 1875


Niles Democrat, Saturday, September 11, 1875, page 3, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Death of G.E. Dearborn

 

Died, in this city, on Saturday last, of consumption, after a lingering and painful illness; Mr. GEORGE EDWIN DEARBORN, in the 29th year of his age.

Mr. Dearborn was born in Kensington, New Hampshire, and subsequently removed with his family to New York City. When 16 years of age he responded to his country's call and joined the thousands who went forth to battle beneath the stars and strips. Since the war he has been engaged in various enterprises, being at one time connected with one of the prominent Eastern Insurance Companys. While residing in Brooklyn, he had a severe attack of pneumonia, that nearly proved fatal, and from the effects of which he probably never fully recovered. Finding his health impaired, and expecting to derive benefit from adopting a more active life, he made an engagement with a music establishment in Baltimore, for which he travelled until compelled to give up in consequence of declining health and strength.

Some five years since, Mr. Dearborn became acquainted with and married Miss Emma Auld, a daughter of Mrs. H.N. Sterling, of thiscity, who was then visiting in Brooklyn. After being compelled to relinquish his business engagements, Mr. Dearborn came to this city, where he remained until his death. He had travelled extensively and acquired a large and varied experience. Being  possessed of rare conversational powers, a genial and social desposition[sic] and prompted by generous impulses, he had during his brief sojourn among us of a few months, formed many sincere attachments.  His friends noticed with anxious solicitude the daily wasting of his once fine, manly form, and the weak step, growing weaker, as he passed in and out among us and when at last disease had laid him prostrate, still he was cheerful and hopeful, and held on firmly to the belief that would recover, until within a few hours before the drop curtain fell, which shut out the world from his sight.  If faults he had, we were ignorant of them, and his friends will only cherish those qualities of head and heart which endeared him to them.--a kind fther arrived in time to assist Mrs. Dearborn and other friends in their last offices of love, and his presence contributed much to sooth the last few hours of his life. His wife has the sincere sympathy of the community in her bereavement.

Dick, Carl Jr.

Carl Dick, Jr.
Sept. 4, 1923-July 18, 1976


Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 19, 1976, page 3, col. 6-7, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Carl Dick, Jr., 52, 1401 Regent St., died Sunday at 12:10 a.m at Berrien General Hosptial after a three-day illness.

He was born Sept. 4, 1923 in Niles and had lived his lifetime in the area.

He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Marie H. Dick of Niles.

Funeral services will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home, the Rev. Mark D. Graham of Wesley United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Friends may call from 7 to 0 p.m. tonight at the Halbritter Funeral Home. Mr. Dick had been crippled since birth and memorials may be sent to the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children.

 

Dozois, Louis O.

Louis O. Dozois
Nov. 18, 1881-July 16, 1976


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 17, 1976, page 3, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Louis O. Dozois, 94, died at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 6, in Houston, Tex., after an extended illness.

He was born Nov. 18, 1881 in Norwich, Conn., and had lived in Texas since 1960.

He is survived by a daughter, Mrs. G.E. (Elise) Arnold of Niles, one grandchild, three great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren.

Services for Mr. Dozois will be at 4 p.m. Monday at graveside in Silverbrook Cemetery, the Rev. Karen S. Slager of the Assoc. of Wesley United Methodist Church officiating.  Arrangements are being handled by Halbritter Funeral Home.

 

Geideman, Emma (Mahoney)

Emma Geideman
June 8, 1874-Aug. 27, 1958


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, August 27, 1958, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Emma Geideman, 84, of 441 South St.Joseph Avenue, lifetime resident of Niles whose grandfather, Jacob K. Brown, was one of Niles' first pioneer settlers, died at 1 a.m. today in her home following an extended illness.

Mrs. Geideman was born in Niles on June 8, 1874, the daughter of James and Emma Mahoney. She was a member of St. Agnes Guild of the Womans' Auxiliary of Trinity Episcopal Church.

Surviving are: her husband, Henry; two daughters, Mrs. Irma Taft, of Detroit, and Mrs. Dorotha McVeigh, of Niles, and two grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in Trinity Episcopal Church with the rector, the Rev. John G. Carlton, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home here from Thursday evening until 1 p.m. Saturday when the remains will be taken to the church to lie in state in the hour of services.

 

Gray, Samuel J.

Samuel J. Gray
1829-Sept. 22, 1880


Niles Republican, Thursday, September 23, 1880, page 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Death of Samuel J. Gray

 

Mr. Samuel J. Gray, a modest, unassuming and much respected citizen, died suddenly at his residence in the east end of the city last night, of dropsy of the heart. Mr. Gray has been sick some time but was down town yesterday, and his sudden death was a surprise and shock to its community. Mr. Gray was a native of Richmond, Indiana, and came to this place with his parents in 1829, when he was but five months old, and when there were but about five families in what is now the City of Niles. Mr. Gray went to California in 1849, made some money, returned here a few years after, and has since been a resident of this city. His funeral  will take place to-morrow at 10 o'clock.


Niles Weekly Mirror, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 1880, page 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mr. Samuel J. Gray, a modest unassuming and much respected citizen, died suddenly at his residence in the east end of the city last Wednesday night of dropsy of the heart.  Mr. Gray has been sick some time but was down town last Wednesday, and his death was a surprise and shock to the community.  Mr. Gray was a native of Richmond, Indiana, and came to his place with his parents in 1829 when he was but five months old, and when there were but five families in what is now the City of Niles.  Mr. Gray went to California in 1849, made some money, returned  here a few years after, and has since been a resident of his city. His funeral took place Friday at 10 o'clock--Republican

 

Hall, Maude L.

Maude L. Hall
June 20, 1883-July 6, 1976


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 6, 1976, page 9 , col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Maude L. Hall, 93, of 1207 Red Bud Tr., N. Heritage Home, Buchanan, died at 5:25 a.m. Tuesday at Pawating Hospital. She was a former Niles resident.

She was born June 20, 1883, in Hersey, Mich., and lived in this area for 56 years, coming from Jackson in 1920. She married Roy Hall, who died Nov. 20, 1951.

She is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Fern Helmick, Union City, Mich.; five grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home, the Rev. Mark D. Graham of Wesley United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call after noon Wednesday at Pifer Chapel, and memorials may be presented to the Memorial Fund at Wesley United Methodist Church.