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.

Figley, Helen

Helen Figley
Aug. 23, 1905-Jan. 9, 1958

Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 10,1958, page2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Helen Sigley [sic], 52, of Bay City, native of Niles, died at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Bay City Hospital.

Mrs. Sigley was born Aug. 23, 1905, in Niles and moved to Bay City from Buchanan in 1931. Surviving are: her husband, Rever; a son Donald Sigley of Bay City, two daughters,Mrs. Lyle Bisel and Mrs. Richard Wellman,both of Bay City; nine grandchildren; four brothers, Harold, Guy and Bassett Mitchell, all of Niles, and Iva Mitchell, of Dowagiac,and two sisters, Mrs. Kate Hurlbutt, of Buchanan,and Mrs. Gertrude Heater, of Mineral Point, Wis.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday form the Vallender-Tenzien Funeral Home at Bay City. Committal services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at Silverbrook Cemetery here.

Note: Obituary refers to "Sigley"; however, city records and death record show last name as FIGLEY.

Neff, Audrey Kay

Audrey Kay Neff
Jan. 7, 1958-Jan. 7, 1958

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, January 8, 1958, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

INFANT RITES

Committal rites were to be held at 4 p.m. today at Silverbrook Cemetery for Audrey Kay Neff, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Neff, of Buchanan, who was still-born at 4:05 p.m. Tuesday in Pawating Hospital.  The Rev. Claud W. Satterlee, pastor of the Buchanan Methodist Church, was to officiate.

Surviving besides the parents are a sister, Rhonda Susan Neff, at home and the grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Leo Johnson, of Niles.

Nelson, John W.

John W. Nelson
June 7, 1874-Feb. 2, 1958

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 4, 1958, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

NELSON RITES SET

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday in the Pifer Funeral Home here for John W. Nelson, 83, of Niles, who died Sunday night in the Quick Convalescent Home, following an extended illness. The Rev. John MacLachlan, pastor of the first Presbyterian Church, will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mr. Nelson was born June 7, 1874, in Varmland, Sweden, and came to Niles in 1938 from Chicago, where he was engaged in the profession of an interior wood finisher for railroad passenger coaches. His wife, Caroline, preceded him in death in 1952.

Surviving are: two sons, Arthur Nelson, of Chicago, and Bertal Nelson, of Los Angeles, Calif.; five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Friends may call at the funeral home.

 

Parker, Joseph Jasper

Jasper Parker
Feb. 16, 1851-July 23, 1934

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 24, 1934, page 1, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Jasper Parker Dies at River Bluff Home

Jasper Parker, 83, Niles River Bluff  district, died at his home at 5 o'clock Monday night after a six -year's illness with paralysis.

Mr. Parker is well known in this vicinity,  having lived here practically all his life. He was born February 15, 1851, in Cass county. He was married twice and his divorced wife, Miss Effie Slee, died in 1930. In 1902 he was married to Mrs. Jessie Schrumpf who survives him.

He is also survived by three daughters Mrs. Claude Westfall, Mrs. Hollie Binkley and Mrs. James Chapman, all of Niles; four sons, Archie, Jasper, Leon and Edward, Niles, and Frank, Kalamazoo; one step-daughter, Mrs. Charles Cooper, Elkhart; two step-sons, Walter Schrumpf, Niles, and Nelson Schrumpf, Elkhart.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 o'clock Wednesday morning at the Rutherford funeral home with William Putnam pastor of the South Niles Community church officiating. Burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, July 25, 1934, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

PARKER RITES HELD

Through an error in funeral records, the report was erroneously given that the first wife of Jasper Parker, who died at his home in the Niles River Bluff district at 5 o'clock Monday, had died in 1930, Mrs. Effie Parker, however, died in 1900.

Funeral rites were held at 10:30 o'clock this morning in the Rutherford funeral home with William Putnam, pastor of the South Niles Community church, officiating. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Reid, Edna E.

Edna E. Reid
Jan. 3, 1900-Aug. 30, 1968

Niles Daily Star, Friday, August 30, 1968, page 13, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Edna E. Reid, 68, of 1525 N. 12th St., died at 7:25 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital where she had been a patient for the past two months. Mrs. Reid had been in poor health for the past eight months.

She was born Jun. 3, 1900 in South Bend and had lived in this area most of her life.

Mrs. Reid is survived by her husband, Foster L. Reid; three daughters, Mrs. Alice Donaghe, Mrs. Betty Curtis, Mrs. Beverly Johnson, all of Niles; two step-daughters: Mrs. Louise Collins of Muskegon, Mich. And Mrs. Vivian Christenson of Los Angeles, Calif.; two step-sons: Oscar Reid of Shelby, Mich. And Russell Reid of Colo.; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren and a sister, Mrs. Alice Rhinehart of Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday

 in the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. Arlan E. Schlundt, pastor of the St. John's United Church of Christ, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home after noon Sunday.

 

 

Roebeck, Robert L.

Robert L. Roebeck
April 20, 1908-Feb. 21 1958

Niles Daily Star, Friday, February 21, 1958, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Robert L. Roebeck, 49, of 922 Oak Street, prominent Niles businessman, died unexpectedly at 5 a.m. Today in his home.

He was born April 20, 1908, in Niles and lived his entire life here.  He was a graduate of Niles High School and attended Michigan State University. He operated an insurance agency in the city.

Mr. Roebeck married the former Marian Hawley in Ludington on September 5, 1938. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church ans was assistant treasurer of the church's Sunday School; St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. Four, F, & A.M.; and Niles Commandery No. 12, Knights Templar.

Surviving besides Mrs. Roebeck are his mother, Mrs. Herman Roebeck, Niles; A daughter, Mary at Hillsdale College, Hillsdale; a son, Thomas, at home; and three sisters, Mrs. Richard Warren, Muskegon; Mrs. G.A. Lightner, Dowagiac; and Mrs. H.J. Edmands, Bay City.

The body was taken to the Kiger-Halbritter Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Sunday at 2 p.m. in the First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. John MacLachlan officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

Schaber, Charles W.

Charles W. Schaber
Jan. 7, 1884-Jan. 3, 1958

Niles Daily Star, Friday, Jan 3, 1958, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Charles W. Schaber, 73, 514 Howard Street, died at 3:30 a.m today in the Fuller Rest Home, Eau Claire, where he had been a patient for two years.

Mr. Schaber, who was born January 7, 1884, in Three Oaks, is survived by three sons, Clyde and Lorenzo, both of Niles; Ralph, Buchanan; and four grandchildren. His wife, Mary, died in 1954.

He was a lifetime resident of Niles and a retired New York Central car repairman. Mr. Schaber was a member of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church, the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, Modern Woodmen; Eagles; St. John's Brotherhood; Loyal Star of America; and the Pioneer Association of America.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Kiger-Halbritter Funeral Home. The Rev. Herbert Meussling will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.