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.

Copley, Nancy (Wilson)

Nancy Copley
Dec. 7, 1885-Aug. 27, 1934

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 28, 1934, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Nancy Copley, Ill for Month, Dies

Mrs. Nancy Copley, 48, colored, 32 Cass street, died at 5:40 o'clock Monday afternoon at Pawating hospital after about a month's illness. The deceased was born Dec. 7, 1885, in Cass county and has lived in Niles for number of years.

Besides her husband, Oscar Copley, she is survived by four daughters, Mrs. Walter Flint, Niles, Miss Hortense Copley, Three Rivers; Alene and Joyce, at home; three sons, Delbert, Chicago, Orman and Kenneth , at home; two brothers, Granville Wilson, Elkhart, Levi Wilson, Milwaukee; three sisters, Mrs. Francis Jones, Chicago, Mrs. Charley Copley, Cassopolis, and Mrs. Delbert Roberts, Vandalia.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete. Friends may call at the Troost and Turner funeral home.

 

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, August 29, 1934, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

COPLEY RITES THURSDAY

Funeral services for Mrs. Nancy Copley, 48, colored, who died Monday morning at Pawating hospital, will be held at 1:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon at the Franklin A.M.E. Church with the Rev. R.E. Carr officiating.  Burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, August 30, 1934, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Mrs. Nancy Copley, 48, colored, who died Monday morning at Pawating hospital were held at 1:30 o'clock this afternoon at the Franklin A.M.E. Church with the Rev. R.E. Carr officiating.  Interment was held in Silverbrook cemetery.

Henry Griffin, Paul Askin, Frank Jones, M. Gully, Eugene Higgins and Charles Brown acted as pallbearers.

 

Fisher, Dora

DORA FISHER
June 2, 1869-Sept. 12, 1934

 

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 12, 1934, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. FISHER DIES

Mrs. Dora Fisher, 65, 515 North Fifth street, died at her home at 1:30 o'clock this morning after a five weeks' illness with influenza and heart trouble. She was born on June 2, 1869 in Pennsylvania and moved to Niles 13 years ago from South Bend.

The deceased is survived by her husband, Leo, whom she married on July 12, 1924, in Cassopolis; two daughters by a previous marriage, Mrs. Eva Ingelhorn, Fond Du Lac, Wis., and Mrs. Flora Manston, Blytheville, Ark. 

Funeral arrangements are incomplete but friends may view the body at the  Rutherford funeral home.

 

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, September 15, 1934, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

FISHER RITES HELD

Funeral services for Mrs. Dora Fisher, 65, who died at her home, 515 South Fifth street, were held at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon at the Rutherford funeral home with the Rev. Fern Fisher, South Bend, officiating.  Interment was held in Silverbrook cemetery.

Lawrence Gilbert, Norman Gilbert, Eugene Myers, Bert Ives, John Beckner and Willis Ridener acted as pallbearers.

 

Forsythe, Archie W.

Archie W. Forsythe
May 15, 1867-Sept. 2, 1934

 

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, September 4, 1934, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Archie Forsythe Dies Suddenly at His Home

Archie W. Forsythe, 67, passed away suddenly at his home, 603 Howard street, at 2 :30 o'clock Sunday morning. The deceased was born in Mt. Brydges, Ont., Canada, on May 15, 1867. He is well known in this city, having moved here 26 years ago from Jackson.

On June 1 of this year Mr. Forsythe completed 47 years as an employe of the Michigan Central railroad and was in charge of the building department of the western rivision[sic] at the time of his death.

He is survived by a daughter, Miss Marion Forsythe; one son, Oren, both at home, and one brother, George Forsythe, Muncey, Ont., Canada.

Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the Price & Kiger funeral home with the Rev. Guy W. Simon, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, officiating.  Burial will be held at Silverbrook cemetery.  Friends may view the body at the funeral home.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian church and the Masonic lodge of Jackson.

 

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 5, 1934, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

FORSYTHE RITES HELD

Funeral services for Archie W. Forsythe, 67, 603 Howard street, who passed away at his home early Sunday morning were held at 2 :30 o'clock this afternoon at the Price and Kiger funeral home with the Rev. Guy W. Simon, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, officiating.  Interment was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Payne Phelps, John Soules, Simeon Belknap, W.H. Corbett, Rocco Ventrella and Henry Horning acted as pallbearers.

Gallup, Laura E. (Caster)

Laura E. Gallup
Nov. 15, 1844-Aug. 27, 1934

 

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 27, 1934, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Laura Gallup, Sick 4 Years, Dies  At home This A. M.

Mrs. Laura E. Gallup, widow of the late Edgar H. Gallup, a former music dealer, passed away at 10:10 o'clock this morning at her home, 1216 cedar street.

The deceased had been an invalid and confined to her bed for the past four years. She was born at Menominee, Wis., Nov. 15, 1844, and came with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William H. Caster, to Chicago in 1870 where she taught in the public schools, and later held a similar position int eh Niles schools, being the first teacher of Dr. F.N. Bonine noted eye specialist.

She was married to Edgar H. Gallup on Feb. 12, 1872, and has made her home in Niles since that time. Sh e is survived by her son, Arthur H. Gallup, sister-in-law, Mrs. Lora Dexter, Urbana, Ill., four nieces, Misses Lula Dexter, Urbana, Ill., Grace Dexter, Cleveland, O., Mrs. Leonard R. Read and Mrs. Paul Chapman, River Forest, Ill., a nephew, Earle H. Caster, Oak Park, Ill., and a cousin Mrs. Thornton Paterson, Berrien Springs.

Mrs. Gallup was a member of the Presbyterian church and formerly took an active part in church societies. Friends may view the body at the Price & Kiger funeral home. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

 

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 28, 1934, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

GALLUP RITES THURSDAY

Funeral rites for Mrs. Laura E. Gallup, 1216 Cedar street, who died at her home Monday morning, will be held at  4 o'clock Thursday afternoon at the Price & Kiger funeral home with the Rev. Guy W. Simon, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, officiating.  Interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, August 30, 1934, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

 

GALLUP RITES TODAY

 

Funeral services for Mrs. Laura E. Gallup, 1216 Cedar street, who died at her home Monday morning were held at 4 o'clock this afternoon at the Price and Kiger funeral home with the Rev. Guy W. Simon, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, officiating.

Evan Rutter, Leavitt Brown, Louis Slee, Roger Hopkins, E.B. Storms and Frederick Powell acted as pallbearers.

 

Goldfuss, John

John Goldfuss
June 28, 1857-Aug. 26, 1934

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 27, 1934, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

John Goldfuss Dies Sunday in Hospital

John Goldfuss, 77, 1614 Michigan street, died about 5:30 o'clock Sunday at the Pawating hospital.  He had been ill for a week with heart trouble.  He was a retired night watchman for the National Printing and Engraving company.

Mrs. Mary Goldfuss, his widow, and nine children survive him.  Their names are Fred Goldfuss, Buchanan; Mrs. Miles Dodd, Chicago; Miss Katie Goldfuss, Berrien Springs; Mrs. Fred Kocker, Niles; George Goldfuss, Niles; Frank Goldfuss, Niles; Clyde Goldfuss, Canton, O.; Mrs. Clivelle Williams, Niles, and Miss Irene Goldfuss, Niles. A sister, Mrs. Anna Below, Buffalo, N.Y., and nine grandchildren also survive him.

Mr. Goldfuss was born in Germany June 28, 1857, and has lived in Niles for 40 years. The funeral will take place Tuesday at 3:30 o'clock at the home. The Rev. Theo Eisen will officiate and burial will be in the Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 28, 1934, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

GOLDFUSS RITES HELD

Funeral services for John Goldfuss, 77, 1614 Michigan street, who died Sunday morning at the Pawating hospital, were held at 3:30 o'clock this afternoon at the home, with the  Rev. Theo. Eisen officiating. Burial was made in Silverbrook cemetery.

Frank Muntz, William Bachman, William Wideman, Charles Pfeil, Fred Vetter and Frank Vetter acted as pallbearers.

 

 

Greenamyer, Grace (Allen)

Grace Greenamyer
April 1861-Aug. 22, 1934

 

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, August 25, 1934, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Grace Greenamyer, Widow of Niles Doctor, Is Dead

Word was received here today of the death of Mrs. Grace Greenamyer, former resident and member of a prominent Niles family, at the home of her sister, Mrs. E.S. Cameron, Glendale, Cal., Wednesday night.

The deceased was the wife of the late Dr. John Greenamyer who was well known throughout the district here as a physician prior to his death in Niles on Oct. 12, 1928.

Born in Howard township in April 1861, she moved to Niles in 1906. The sister is the only survivor. 

The body will arrive at the Rutherford funeral home Monday morning and funeral services will be held at the Methodist church at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon with the Rev. Robert E. Meader, pastor, officiating.  Interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home prior to the services.

Mrs. Greenamyer was a past matron of the Order of Easter Star and a member of the Methodist church here.

 

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 28, 1934, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

GREENAMYER RITES HELD

Pallbearers in the funeral services for Mrs. Grace Greenamyer this afternoon were Ben  Smith, Fred Emmons, R.C. Atkinson, Jerome Pease, W.S. Hinkle and Edwin Nevair. The services which started at 2 o'clock, were held at the Methodist church.  Mrs. Greenamyer is a former resident of Niles. She died at the home of her sister, Mrs. E.S. Cameron, Glendale, Cal.

Note: Per Berrien County Marriage Record John D. Greenamyer married Grace Allen December 30, 1914.

Novak, Olive (Shaffer)

Olive Novak
Oct. 2, 1880-Aug. 28, 1934

 

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 28, 1934, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Olive Novak Is Taken by Death

Mrs. Olive Novak, 53, 803 Grant street, died at her home at 5:15 o'clock this morning. The deceased has been a lifelong resident of Niles, having been born in this city on Oct. 2, 1880.

She is survived by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. George Shaffer; a daughter, Mabel; two sisters, Mrs. Walter Jannery, Chicago; Mrs. Fred Ford, Niles; two brothers, George Shaffer, Chicago, and Hilles Shaffer, Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 3 o'clock Thursday afternoon at the First Evangelical church with the Rev. Theo Eisen officiating.  Interment will be at Silverbrook cemetery.  Friends may call at the home tomorrow.

 

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, August 29, 1934, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

NOVAK RITES THURSDAY

Funeral rites for Mrs. Olive Novak, 53, who died Monday morning at her home, 803 Grant street, will be held at 3 o'clock Thursday afternoon at the First Evangelical church with the Rev. Theo Eisen officiating.  Interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, August 30, 1934, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

NOVAK RITES HELD

Funeral rites for Mrs. Olive Novak, 53, who died at her home, 803 Grant street, Monday morning, were held at  5 o'clock this afternoon at the St. John's Evangelical church with the Rev. Theo. Eisen officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Pallbearers for the funeral are Albert Bachman, Howard Benjamin, Dan Nieb, Floyd Horner, Edwin Dunn and Walter Martin.