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.

Zanders, Charlie E.

Charlie E. Zanders
Aug. 17, 1922-March 20, 1993


Charlie E. Zanders
1922-1993
Retired engineer

Funeral services for Charlie E. Zanders, 70, of 742 Oak St., Niles, are scheduled for 11:30 p.m. Wednesday at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. Lloyd Phillips officiating.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Zanders died at 7:15 p.m.  Saturday at Pawating Hospital following a short illness.

Born Aug. 17, 1922, in Grand Forks, N.D., he was a resident of the area most of his lifetime.

He worked for 25 years as a mechanical engineer for Voice of Music in Benton Harbor. He retired in 1985 from Clark Equipment Co. as a contract engineer.

Survivors include two sons, Patrick Zanders of Niles and Steven Zanders of Phoenix, Ariz.; five grandchildren and two brothers, Vernon Zanders of Coloma and Robert Zanders of Bradington, Fla.

Friends may call from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Billy Graham Ministries.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 22, 1993, page 2, col. 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library.

Bascue, Jimmie D.

Jimmie D. Bascue
Aug. 6, 1954-April 17, 1993


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday April 20, 1993, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Jimmie D. Bascue, 38, 616 23rd St.  Sacramento, Calif., will be announced at a later date. Bascue died Saturday at his home following a year-long illness.

Born Aug. 6, 1954, in Ft. Chaffee, Ariz., he was a resident of Niles until 1973.

Survivors include four brothers, Harvey Marrow of Sacramento, Calif., Leonard Marrow of Niles, Roger Marrow of Niles and Harley Marrow of Galien and four sisters, JoNell LaPointe of DeKalb, Ill., Peggy Ott of Northville, Mich., Cheryl Blair of Sacramento., Calif., and Janie Stevenson of Niles.

Local funeral arrangements are being handled by Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.

* * *
Niles Daily Star, Thursday April 22, 1993, page 2, co. 4-5, microfilm Niles District Library

Graveside commital[sic] services for Jimmie D. Bascue, 38, of 616 23rd St., Sacramento, Calif., are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Bascue died last Saturday at his home in Sacramento, following a one-year illness.

Born Aug. 6, 1954, in Ft. Chaffee, Ark., he lived in Niles until 1973.

Survivors include four brothers, Harvey Marrow of Sacramento, Leonard Marrow of Niles, Roger Marrow of Niles and Harley Marrow of Galien and four sisters, JoNell LaPointe of DeKalb, Ill., Peggy Ott of Northville, Mich., Cheryl Blair of Sacramento and Janie Stevenson of Niles.

Local arrangements are being handled by Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions can be made to the donor's choice.

 

Young, Martha C. (Storms)

Martha C. Young
Aug. 19, 1857-January 10, 1934

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 11, 1934, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library.

Mrs. Martha C. Young, 76, died at her home west of Niles late Wednesday afternoon after an illness of but two days.  Mrs. Young suffered a stroke of apoplexy Tuesday noon and remained in an unconscious condition until her death.

Funeral services have been announced for 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon at the first Presbyterian church.  The Rev. G.W. Simon will be in charge and burial will be in the Silverbrook cemetery.

Mrs. Young is survived by one brother, Supervisor E.B. Storms of Niles, and by five sons and 13 grandchildren. The sons are Arthur, John, Harry, Homer and Lyle Young, all residing near Niles.

Note: DOB from Michigan Death Record

Chapman, George

George Chapman
Oct. 10, 1877-Jan. 13, 1934


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, January 13, 1934, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

George Chapman Dies At Ann Arbor Today


George Chapman, 56, 111 Emmons street, died at the University hospital in Ann Arbor early today.  Mr. Chapman was taken to Ann Arbor Tuesday for treatment. The body will be brought to Niles today and taken to the Rutherford funeral home.

Mr. Chapman was born in Galien, Oct. 10, 1877, and has spent his whole life in Southern Berrien county. He had been employed in Niles garages and on nearby farms for many years.  In recent months he had been making his home with a brother, Earl Chapman.

He is survived by six brothers, Earl, Arthur and Edward of Niles; James, of River Bluff, William of the Edwardsburg road and Arthur of Galien. Funeral services will be held at the Rutherford chapel at 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon. The Rev. G. W. Simon will be in charge and burial will be in the Silverbrook cemetery.


Blanchard, Larue

Larue Blanchard
May 27, 1885-January 5, 1934

Blanchard, Former Niles Man, Is Dead


Word of the death of a former Niles man, Larue Blanchard, 43, was received here today.  He died this morning in a Detroit hospital where he had been confined for some time.
The body will be sent here Saturday night and funeral services will be held at the Price & Kiger funeral home at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon.  The Rev. Dr. G.W. Simon will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.
The widow survives as do several brothers and sisters living in and near Niles.
Mr. Blanchard was born and reared in Niles, but had  been living in Detroit for several years.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 5, 1930, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Note: Date of birth is from WWI Draft Registration Card, 9/12/1918 at Detroit.

Robson, Tryphena H.

Mrs. Tryphena H. Robson
Dec. 8, 1872-June 19, 1948


Mrs. Tryphena H. Robson, 75, of 112 South Fourth street, died Saturday afternoon at Pawating hospital after a three day illness.  She was born in Cobourg, Ontario, Canada, Dec. 8, 1872, and had lived in Niles for the past 13 years.  Her husband, James, preceded her in death.  Mrs. Robson was a member of the First Presbyterian church, and life member of the missionary society of the Presbyterian church of Brighton, Ontario.  Surviving are two sisters, Mrs. B.D. Giddings, Niles; and Mrs. H.J. Bowman, Cobourg. Funeral services will be held at the Kiger funeral home at 2 p.m. Tuesday. The Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 21, 1848, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Koontz, Roy

Roy Koontz
Jan. 7, 1873-Jan. 4, 1934


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 4, 1934, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Post Office Janitor Dies of Influenza


Roy Koontz, 61, for 14 years janitor at the local postoffice, died at 11 o'clock this morning at his home, 755 Maple street. He had been ill with influenza since Dec. 22.
Funeral arrangements have not been completed, but the services will be held at the Rutherford Mortuary Saturday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.
Mr. Koontz was born in Niles Jan. 7, 1873. Surviving are the widow and three step-children: Frank Kinney, Royal Oak; Mrs. Henry Korman and Mrs. Lynn Shurter, Niles. Harry Stowe, Niles and Mrs. Ollie Warren, Grand Rapids, are cousins.
Mr Koontz was a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Modern Woodmen lodges.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 4, 1934, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Roy Koontz Funeral Is Set for Sunday


Arrangements for the funeral of Roy Koontz have been changed and completed.  Services will be held from the Rutherford mortuary Sunday afternoon at 3 o'clock in charge of the Rev. William Putnam.
Mr. Koontz was a past chancellor commander of the Knights of Pythias and that lodge will conduct services at the grave in Silverbrook cemetery.
Death occurred at the home here Thursday morning.