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.

Womer, Wesley W. 1863-1930

Wesley W. Womer
June 10, 1863-Oct. 20, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, October 21, 1930, page 1, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

WESLEY W. WOMER, 67, DIES AT GRANT ST. HOME
Was a Resident of Niles Since 1885 and Followed Carpenter Trade

Wesley W. Womer, 67, a resident of Niles since 1885, died on Monday afternoon at 4:10 in his home , 712 Grant street after two weeks' of illness. He was born in Pennsylvania on June 10, 1863. He was married on August 28, 1910, to Mrs. Louise Jones who survives him. He is survived also by his father, Michael Womer, age 94, of Mexico, Penn., one brother, William Womer, of Iowa City, Iowa, and by two sisters, Mrs. H.C. Hass and Mrs. Francis Wilt, both of Mexico, Penn.

On account of the latter's illness neither sister will come to Niles for the funeral service but their brother will reach Niles this evening. Mrs. Floyd Antisdale of Buchanan and Mrs. Floyd Williams of [illegible] are step-daughters of the deceased.

The funeral services will be held in the Rutherford Funeral Home on Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The Rev. Myron Everett, pastor of the Evangelical church will officiate. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery under auspices of Niles lodge of Moose. Mr. Womer was a carpenter by trade. He was a cousin of W.A. Womer, supervisor of the Fourth ward.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, October 23, 1930, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: FUNERAL WESLEY WOMER

Funeral services for Wesley Womer were held this afternoon with the Rev. Myron Everett, pastor of the Evangelical church officiating. Burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery. The officers of the Niles lodge of Moose were in charge of the committal service.

Belknap, Juanita 1910-1961

Juanita Belknap
Aug. 11, 1910- Jan. 5, 1961

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, January 5, 1993, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Juanita Belknap, 50, 1441 Ferry St., died at 1:40 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital. She had been in ill health for two years.

She was born on Aug. 11, 1910 in Charleston, Ill., and moved to Niles from Charleston in 1924. She was a member of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church and the Women's Benefit Association.

She is survived by her husband, Simeon, a daughter, Mrs. Donna Shaffer, Hayward, Calif., a son, Eugene, San Lorenzo, Calif. and four grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m Saturday at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. H. Allen Maxwell, pastor of the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m. on Friday.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Friday, January 6, 1993, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

SURVIVOR OMITTED

Mrs. Juanita Belknap, 50, 1441 Ferry St., who died early Thursday in Pawating Hospital following a lingering illness, also is survived by a sister, Mrs. Donald McConnell, Niles. Mrs. McConnell was inadvertently omitted from a list of survivors in a previous announcement of the death.

Funeral services for Mrs. Belknap have been set for 10 a.m. Saturday in the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. H. Allen Maxwell, pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends are being received at the funeral home.

 

 

Champion, Frank J. 1879-1961

Frank J. Champion
Feb. 6, 1879-Jan. 18, 1961

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Friday, January 20, 1961, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Frank J. Champion, 90, Centralia, Wash., former Niles resident and retired employe of National Printing and Engraving Co., died Wednesday following a long illness.

Mr. Champion was born Feb. 6, 1870, in Niles and had lived in this city most of his life until Michigan Bell Telephone Co. purchased his home to expand telephone operations in the city. He moved from here to Madison, Wis., to make his home with his son, moving from there in 1959 to Centralia, Wash. His wife, Mae, preceded him in death in 1929.

He was a member of the First Methodist Church and the Royal Arcanum Lodge of Niles.

Surviving are: his son, F.J. Champion, Centralia, Wash., with whom he had lived; a granddaughter, Mrs. Robert C. Godsey, also Centralia; a grandson, Matthew M. Champion, Littleton, Colo., and a sister, Miss Ella Champion, Niles.

Committal services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 24, at Silverbrook Cemetery with Dr. Maurice McKean, pastor of First Methodist Church, officiating.

Friends will be received at the Kiger and Halbritter Funeral Home beginning Monday evening.

Clevering, Constance Berylle 1906-1992

Constance Berylle Clevering
April 20, 1906-Dec. 31, 1992

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, January 4, 1993, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

C. Berylle Clevering
1906-1992
retired art teacher
for Niles schools

Private funeral services for C. Berylle Clevering, 86, 501 Oak St., Niles are scheduled.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Clevering died at 8 p.m. Thursday at Pawating Hospital following an extended illness.

Born April 20, 1906, in Kalamazoo, she moved to Niles in 1919, coming from Niles.

She was a retired art teacher for Niles Community schools. She was a graduate of Western Michigan University. She was a member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority and was 1985-86 chapter woman of distinction. She was a member of the Michigan Education Association.

She is survived by a cousin, June Miller-Soucek of Niles.

Friends may call today from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the scholarship fund of the Delta Gamma Sorority, care of Wyvonne Johnson at Oak Manor School in Niles.

 

Daley, Eva M. 1892-1961

Eva M. Daley
May 3, 1892-Jan. 17, 1961

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, January 17, 1993, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Eva M. Daley, 68, 231 Bond St., died at 10:35 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital following an illness of only one day.

Mrs. Daley was born May 3, 1892, in Coleman, Tex., and came to this community in 1917 from Chicago. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church, the order of Eastern Star and White Shrine.

Surviving are: her husband, Bert S. Daley; three children, Mrs. Jack Eberhard, South Bend, Robert Daley, Albuquerque, N. Mex., and Lyle Daley, Santa Fe, N. M.; six grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. Charles Hubler, Niles.

Friends will be received at the Kiger and Halbritter Funeral Home here beginning Wednesday evening. Arrangements for memorial services are incomplete.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, January 18, 1993, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

DALEY RITES SET

Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Friday in First Presbyterian Church for Mrs. Eva M. Daley, 68, 231 Bond St., who died Tuesday morning in Pawating Hospital. The pastor, the Rev. John P. MacLachlan, will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the Kiger and Halbritter Funeral Home beginning this evening.

East, Frieda C. 1900-1993

Freida C. East
Aug. 17, 1900-Jan. 3, 1993

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, January 4, 1993, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Freida East
1900-1993
Niles homemaker

Graveside funeral services for Freida C. East, 91, of 911 S. Third St., Niles, are scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday at Silverbrook Cemetery with the Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg officiating.

Burial will follow at the cemetery.

East died at 1 p.m. at Pawating Hospital following an extended illness.

Born Aug. 17, 1900, in Williamsville, Mich., she moved to Niles in 1921, coming from Youngstown, Ohio.

On Nov. 11, 1916, in St. Joseph, she married the late Eugene East, who preceded her in death on July 26, 1984.

She was a homemaker.

Survivors include a daughter, Vivian Bolton of Niles; two sons, John R. East of Niles and Michael D. East of Bridgman; five grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Arrangements are being handled by Halbritter Funeral Home.

Finn, Augusta M. 1880-1961

Augusta M. Finn
Jan. 17, 1880-Jan. 16, 1961

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, January 17, 1993, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Augusta M. Finn, 80, died at 2:45 p.m. Monday in the home of her daughter, Mrs. G. Russell Ramsby, 9 N. 13th St., where she had made her home. She had been in failing health for the past six months.

Mrs. Finn was born Jan 17, 1880, in Elkhart, Ind., and came to Niles 16 years ago from New York City.

Surviving besides her daughter are: two grandsons, Gale R. Ramsby, Detroit, and Pfc Richard A. Ramsby, with the United States Marines on Okinawa; two great-grandchildren; a brother, Harry Krumpetz, Elkhart, Ind., and a sister, Miss Hazel Krumpetz, also Elkhart.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Kiger and Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. John P. MacLachlan, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.