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.

Thompson, Everett W.

Everett W. Thompson
May 4, 1863-Nov. 13, 1934

The Galien Gazette (Galien, Berrien Co., Michigan), Thursday, November 15, 1934, page 1, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library.

EVERT THOMPSON DIES IN KALAMAZOO HOSPITAL

Word was received here of the death of Evert Thompson, who died Tuesday at a Kalamazoo hospital after a long illness.

Funeral services were held this  (Thursday) afternoon at 1:30 o'clock from the Rutherford funeral home at Niles, and interment will take place in Niles cemetery.

Mr. Thompson resided in Three Oaks several years ago, and was engaged as bridge contractor for the Michigan Central railroad. He was a member of the local order of F. & A.M., and several from here attended the services and had charge of the rites at the grave.  

Mr. Thompson is survived by two brothers, Frank, Galien, and Theodore, Berrien Springs.

Turner, Hubert or Herbert

Hubert Turner
Nov. 8, 1933-Nov. 8, 1933

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, November 9, 1933, page 1,col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Edwin Turner and Infant Son Die

Mrs. Anna E. Turner, 27, wife of Edwin Turner, 4 North St. Joseph avenue, and her newly-born son, Herbert, died Wednesday night at the home of her parents-in-law, the Rev. and Mrs. W.H. Turner, 515 Oak street.

The son died at 10 o'clock and at at 11:15 o'clock the mother died.

Surviving Mrs. Turner are the husband; parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Banks, Milford, Conn., and a sister, Miss Lillian Banks, at home.

She was born Nov. 28, 1906, in Bridgeport, Conn., and was married Oct. 15, 1932 in Niles.

The body may be viewed at the Rutherford funeral home. Funeral arrangements have not been completed.

 

Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 10, 1933, page 2,col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

TO HOLD TURNER RITES

Funeral services for Mrs. Anna E. Turner, 27, wife of Edwin Turner, 4 North St. Joseph avenue, and daughter-in-law of the Rev. and Mrs. W.H. Turner, will be held at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon at the Rutherford funeral home. The Rev. G.W. Simon, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, will officiate.  Interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mrs. Turner died Wednesday night at the home of Rev. and Mrs. Turner, following the birth of a son, who preceeded her in death.

 

Turner, Anna E.

Anna Turner
Nov. 28, 1906-Nov. 8 1933

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, November 9, 1933, page 1,col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Edwin Turner and Infant Son Die

Mrs. Anna E. Turner, 27, wife of Edwin Turner, 4 North St. Joseph avenue, and her newly-born son, Herbert, died Wednesday night at the home of her parents-in-law, the Rev. and Mrs. W.H. Turner, 515 Oak street.

The son died at 10 o'clock and at 11:15 o'clock the mother died.

Surviving Mrs. Turner are the husband; parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Banks, Milford, Conn., and a sister, Miss Lillian Banks, at home.

She was born Nov. 28, 1906, in Bridgeport, Conn., and was married Oct. 15, 1932 in Niles.

The body may be viewed at the Rutherford funeral home. Funeral arrangements have not been completed.

 

Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 10, 1933, page 2,col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

TO HOLD TURNER RITES

Funeral services for Mrs. Anna E. Turner, 27, wife of Edwin Turner, 4 North St. Joseph avenue, and daughter-in-law of the Rev. and Mrs. W.H. Turner, will be held at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon at the Rutherford funeral home. The Rev. G.W. Simon, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, will officiate.  Interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mrs. Turner died Wednesday night at the home of Rev. and Mrs. Turner, following the birth of a son, who preceeded her in death.

 

 

Walton, Byron A.

B.A. Walton
Dec. 13, 1869-Dec. 24, 1950

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 26, 1950; page 2, column 5, microfilm, Niles District Library

Byron A. Walton, of Aberdeen, S.D., brother of Herbert F. Walton, of Niles, died on Sunday, Dec. 24 in Aberdeen, according to word received by his brother today.

Surviving are his widow, Mary, and their son, Jay M. Walton, of Chicago, and three brothers, Jay, of Portland, Ore., Dwight of Kansas City, Mo., and Herbert of Niles.

Walton was born on Dec. 13, 1869 . .  and moved from here about ?? years ago. He was a retired attorney.

The body will arrive here on Friday afternoon, and friends may call at the Pifer funeral home after that time. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home, and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Wiatrolik, Alfred

Alfred Wiatrolik
April 9, 1876-June 22, 1950

Niles Daily Star, Friday, June 23, 1950; page 2, column 5, microfilm, Niles District Library

Alfred Wiatrolik, 74 of South Bend, the father of several Niles residents, died at 8 p.m. Thursday after a six day’s illness.

Wiatrolik was born April 9, 1876, in Poland, and lived in the Niles-South Bend area for 60 years.

Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. Jasper Fye, and Mrs. Clarence Fye, both of South Bend; Mrs. Fred Brubaker, of Niles, and Mrs. Leo Kubiak, of the state line; two sons, Ted and Clem, both of Niles; 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where the Rev. Percy D. Jones will conduct services at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

 

 

 

Martinsen, Oscar

Oscar Martinsen
March 13, 1874-Aug. 28, 1950

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 29, 1950; page 2, column 6, microfilm, Niles District Library

Oscar Martinsen, of rural route five, died at 930 a.m. Monday at the Berrien Center hospital. He had been in poor health for four years.

Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Russell Grafford, and one grandchild, both of Niles. Martinsen was born in Moss, Norway, on March 13, 1874, and came to Niles from Houghton in 1916. He was employed as a car repairman, by the New York Central Railroad company, and was a member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Carmen.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday (illegible text) pastor of the First Methodist church. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Mell, Alice Irene

Alice Irene Mell
April 12, 1857-June 18, 1950

Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 19, 1950; page 2, column 4, microfilm, Niles District Library

Mrs. Alice Irene Mell, 93, of 30 South Barrett street, died at 12:47 a.m. Sunday in her home after an illness of nine weeks. Her husband, M.Z. Mell, died in 1913.

Surviving are her children, Raymond, Mrs. Lloyd Ostrader, Mrs. Myrtle Bachman and Carl Mell, all of Niles; 16 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren, and two sisters, Mrs. Henry Sauer, of Girard, Kan., and Mrs. Flora Holm of Middlesex, Pa.

Mrs. Mell was born in Wabash, Ind., on April 12, 1857, and came here from Wabash. She has lived here since 1885. She graduated from Wabash high school in 1875 and attended a normal school there, after which she taught neighboring schools. She also taught in Muskegon for some time.

She has been a member of the Methodist church since she was nine years old, and active for the past 84 years in the church. She taught the Ladies’ Adult Bible class for 23 years.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday by the Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster of Holland. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.