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.

Hatfield, Milton

editor Obituaries

Milton Hatfield
Apr. 2, 1847-May 11, 1926

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 12, 1926, page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES MAN DIES IN SOUTH BEND

Milton Hatfield Will Be Buried Here Friday

 

Milton Hatfield, a former well known and highly respected resident of Niles, died last evening at the home of his son, Lloyd, in South Bend. His death followed a prolonged illness. The body was brought to Niles this morning and taken to  the Troost and Augustine Undertaking parlors. The funeral services will b held Friday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the First Baptist church, of which Mr. Hatfield was for many years a pominent[sic] member and officer. Burial will be made in the family lot in Silver Brook cemetery.

Mr. Hatfield was a son of Nathan and Emily Rowe Hatfield. He was born April 2, 1847 on a farm near Portage Prairie, where he spent his early boyhood with three brothers and five sisters. Later he moved to a farm north of Niles which was the family home for many years until he retired from farming and moved to Niles.

On March 15, 1870, he married Miss Ellen Sampson, of Niles. To this union were born three children, Mrs. Milton Kelsey, of Niles, and Frank and Lloyd Hatfield, of South Bend, who with two brothers, Frank Hatfield, of Seattle, Washington, and Jasper Hatfield of Dowagiac, survive him. Mrs. Hatfield died in Florida March 12, 1923, and since that time Mr. Hatfield had been making his home with his children.


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 13, 1926, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral Tomorrow

The body of Milton Hatfield, who died in South Bend Tuesday evening will be taken to the First Baptist church from the Troost and Augustine undertaking rooms tomorrow at 1 o'clock and may be viewed by friends until the hour of the funeral services, 2 o'clock. Rev. Walter Osborn will conduct the services. Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.

Hawley, William

editor Obituaries

William Hawley
1867-Jan. 1926

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 5, 1926, page 1, col. 4 & 5, microfilm Niles District Library

HAD PLANNED TO MAKE HOME IN NILES, WIDOW BRINGS HUSBAND'S BODY HERE FOR INTERMENT

 

The body of William Hawley is expected in Niles Friday afternoon . . . [illegible] on Michigan Central train No. 10, according to word received today by Undertaker M. A. Rutherford, and will be taken directly to Silver Brook cemetery for burial. The body will be accompanied by the widow of the deceased, and by friends, Mr. and Mrs. Rothrock.

Mr. and Mrs. Hawley were in Niles on two occasions to visit Mr. and Mrs. M.S. Peters, East Main street, old friends, and became so impressed with Niles as a residence city that they decided when Mr. Hawley should retire from active work they would some[sic] here to spend their remaining days. In January, 1926, Mr. Hawley who had been employed for a  . . . [illegible]. . .for the city of Duluth, while on an inspection trip was overcome with gas. When he failed to return to his office at the time expected a search was made and he was found dead in the basement of a building.  The body has since been in a vault in Duluth.

Mrs. Hawley decided to come to Niles as they had planned, and after closing her business affairs there, expects to leave there Thursday night.  Mr. and Mrs. Rothrock, too, have decided to locate in Niles.  A house on South Fifteenth street has been rented for their occupancy.

 

Higgins, Catherine Eva (Asmus)

editor Obituaries

Catherine Eva Higgins
Sept. 3, 1864-Feb. 19, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 19, 1945, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Higgins, 80, Dies Early Today at Daughter's Home

 

Ill a week, Mrs. Catharine Eva Higgins, 80, died at 3:45 this morning in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Anna Mae Starke, 1535 Lake street.

She was born in Germany Sept. 3, 1864, and spent most  of her life in South Bend.

Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Martha Barnett, North Hollywood, Calif., and Mrs. Starke; four grandchildren; a great-grandchild; a sister, Mrs. Anna Zimmerman, Niles, and three brothers, William and August Asmus, Niles, and Carl Asmus, Pasadena, Calif.

Friends may call at the family residence where the Rev. Theo Eisen will officiate at services at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, February 21, 1945, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

HIGGINS' RITES

Funeral services for Mrs. Catherine Eva Higgins, 80, who died Monday morning in the home of her daughter, Mrs. Anna Mae Starke, 1535 Lake street, were conducted today in the residence. The Rev. Theo Eisen officiated at the rites and at burial in Silverbrook cemetery.  Pallbearers were Paul Hastings, Ralph Fickes, Paul Wright, Edwin Hodgson, Bernard Clark and Quincy Cummings.

Higgins, Eva Katherine

editor Obituaries

Eva Katherine Higgins
Jan. 25, 1897-Nov. 15, 1980

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 17, 1980, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Eva Katherine Higgins, 83, formerly of Niles-Buchanan Rd.,  died at 3:40 p.m. Saturday at her daughter's home in Traverse City following a brief illness.

She was a retired employee of Simplicity Pattern Co. She was a member of Messiah Shrine Number 10 of South Bend.

Mrs. Higgins was born Jan. 25, 1897 in Niles and had moved to Traverse City in 1976. She was married on Feb. 28, 1920 at Niles to Floyd B. Higgins.  He died in 1972.

Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Herbert (Marian) Boehm of Niles and Mrs. Robert (Barbara) Kromer of Traverse City; a brother, Rudolph Wenzel of Niles; six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Silverbrook Cemetery. The Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg will officiate.

Arrangements are being handled by the Halbritter Funeral Home. The family requests that memorials may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service.

 

Higgins, William

editor Obituaries

William Higgins
Sept. 16, 1864-Sept. 2, 1928

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, September 4, 1928, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

WILLIAM HIGGINS DIES

William Higgins, 64, of 112 1/2 S. Williams street, South Bend, died on Sunday evening at 7 o'clock at the home of Mrs. Higgins' daughter, Mrs. Chas. Starkie, 1525 Lake street, in Niles. His death followed his fourth stroke of paralysis.  He was brought to Niles from South Bend on Saturday. Mr. Higgins was born in New York state on Sept. 16, 1864.  He moved to South Bend from Niles 15 years ago.  While in Niles he was for a number of years in the employ of the late J.S. Tuttle at his tannery. Mr. Higgins is survived by a widow, who was formerly Mrs. Catherine Ausmus Thompson of Niles, and by two step-daughters, Mrs. A.W. Barnett of Chicago and Mrs. Starkie of Niles. The funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Starkie. Rev. G.W. Simon, pastor of the Presbyterian church, will officiate. Burial . .[Illegible] ..

Kain, Helen H.

editor Obituaries

Helen H. Kain
May 18, 1922-Nov. 27, 1976

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 29, 1976, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Helen H. Kain, 54, of 2900 Matthew Rd., died at 4 a.m. Saturday at Berrien General Hospital after an extended illness.

A member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, she was born May 18, 1922 in North Judson, Ind., and had lived here since 1947, coming from North Judson.  On June 7, 1947 in North Judon, she married Hilbert L. Kain, who survives.

Also surviving are three sons, Donald, Melvin and Glen, all of Niles; a brother, Ora Bachert of North Judson; four sisters, Mrs. Herm Finkbinder of Culver, Ind., Mrs. Carl Liskey of North Judson, Mrs. Lloyd Benson of North Judson and Mrs. Tom Pitts of Knox, Ind.; and two grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m tuesday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church with the Rev. Theodore Laesch of St. Paul's officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are calling at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

 

Kompass, Mary Jane

editor Obituaries

Mary Jane Kompass
Sept. 15, 1899-Nov. 14, 1980

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 17, 1980, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mary J. Kompass, 81, formerly of 421 N. 4th St., Niles, died at 8:20 a.m. Friday in Appleton, Wis. following an extended illness.

She had been a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, the Niles Service League and Ladies' Historical Society.

Mrs. Kompass was born Sept. 15, 1899 in Glendora, Calif. She was married on Sept. 28, 1922 in Niles to Frederick B. Kompass. He died in 1975.

Survivors include two daughters, Anne K. Glasner of Appleton, Wis., and Jane K. Klopp of Battle Creek; a brother, George R. Kneeshaw, Niles; and five grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Trinity Episcopal Church.  The Rev. Vincent J. Anderson will officiate.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Local arrangements are being handled by the Halbritter Funeral Home. There will be no visitation.

The family requests that memorials be made to the Niles Community Library.

 

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