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.

Morros, Esther A.

Esther A. Morros
Nov. 8, 1895-Feb. 9, 1966


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, February 19, 1966, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Esther A. Morros, 70, of 406 Harger St., died at 11 a.m. Wednesday in her home. She was born in Milton Township Nov. 8, 1895, and was a lifetime resident of this area.

Her husband, Mervin L., died Feb. 24, 1958.

She is survived by two children, Mervin L. Morros and Mrs. Evelyn Moneysmith, both of Niles; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at the Pifer Funeral Home at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. The Rev. Arlan E. Schlundt, pastor of St. John's United Church of Christ will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

 

Nichols, Charles H.

Charles H. Nichols
May 8, 1857-Aug. 22, 1935


Niles Daily Star, Friday, August 23, 1935, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

NICHOLS FUNERAL RITES SATURDAY

Retired Executive of French Paper Company Dies at Family Home

 

Charles H. Nichols, 78, a retired executive of the French Paper company, died at 5 o'clock Thursday afternoon after a prolonged illness. His death occurred at his home, 548 Cherry street.

Mr. Nichols was born in Comstock, Mich., May 8, 1857. He came to Niles from Three Rivers 43 years ago, as superintendent of the French Paper company.

Surviving are six children: Mrs. Roy Babcock, Niles; Mrs. Eugene U. Bingham, South Bend; Warren, Neal, Ray and Charles Nichols, of Niles, also 12 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the family home. The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson, rector of Trinity Episcopal church, will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Friends of the family may call at the home until the hour of the funeral.

 

Reif, Christiana

Christiana Reif
May 11, 1837-April 20, 1907


Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 22, 1907, page 3, col, 3, microfilm Niles District Library

The funeral of Mrs. Christian Reif will take place at St. John's Evangelical church at 2 o'clock tomorrow afternoon, Rev. F. Rahn officiating. The Ladies Aid society, of which Mrs. Reif was a charter member will attend the services in a body. Interment will take place at Silver Brook.

Schaen, Paul Herbert

Paul Herbert Schaen
Dec. 27, 1897-Jan. 29, 1982


Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 1, 1982, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Paul Herbert Schaen, 84, 1716 Ontario, died Friday night at his home after a brief illness.

A member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Schaen was a retired employee of South Bend Lathe Co.

His wife, Ruth, died in 1945.

Survivors include two sons, Paul R. of Newport Beach, Calif. and Frederic W. of Brooklyn, N.Y.; four daughters, Dorothea Hardy of Mishawaka, May VanDyke and Dorris McKibbin both of Niles and Clara Huff, Jones; a brother, A.J. Schaen of Lafayette, Ind. and a sister, Mary H. Holmes of Muncie; 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Services for Paul Herbert Schaen will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church. Rev. Michael Schulz will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.  Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be given to the St. Paul's Lutheran Church Memorial Fund.

 

Schmoker, Paul

Paul Schmoker
April 10, 1950-Dec. 4, 2001


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, December 6, 2001, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Paul Schmoker, 51, of 123 W. Alexander St., Niles will be Friday, Dec. 7 at 1 p.m. at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Schmoker died of natural causes Dec. 4 at Westwood of Niles Nursing Home.

Schmoker was born April 10, 1950 in Niles. He is survived by one sister, Mae Jean VanGilder of Niles.

Friends may call Friday from noon until time of services at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home in Niles.

Arrangements are by Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.

 

Starke, John August


John August Starke
Feb. 17, 1843-April 24, 1907


Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 22, 1907, page 2, col, 4, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH OF JOHN STARKE

Passed Away Yesterday Morning after Long Illness

 

John Starke passed away yesterday morning, at the age of 64 years, at his home on Lake street, after an extended illness with paresis and shaking palsy, with which he had suffered for the past 14 years.  He was born in Hanover, Germany, and came to this country in his early manhood.

He is survived by a wife and six children, as follows: Mrs. Emma Parks, Misses Lena and Etta, Henry, Charles and William, all of this city. The funeral services will be held at St. John's Evangelical church on Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, interment taking place at Silver brook Cemetery.


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 23, 1907, page 3, col, 1, microfilm Niles District Library

The funeral services of the late John August Starke, will be held at St. John's Evangelical church tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock.  Interment will take place at Silver Brook cemetery.

Note: DOB from Michigan Death Record

 

Walton, Herbert F.

Herbert F. Walton
June 2, 1874-Jan. 27, 1966


Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 28, 1966, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Herbert F. Walton, 91, Lansing, formerly of Niles, died at 10:15 p.m., Thursday in St. Lawrence Hospital, Lansing, where he had been a patient two days.

Mr. Walton, a retired farmer, was born June 2, 1874, in Niles Township, and moved to Lansing from Niles five years ago.

His wife, Mabel A., died Feb. 22, 1961.

Surviving is a daughter, Esther Walton, Lansing.

He was a charter member of the Bend of the River Grange.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m., Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev. Leon Manning, pastor of the First Methodist Church, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the funeral home after 7 p.m., Saturday.