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.

King, Lydia A.

Lydia A. King
July 24, 1905-Aug. 19, 1974


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 20, 1974, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Lydia A. King, 69, of 803 Iroquois Tr., died at 10:50 a.m. Monday in Pawating Hospital after an illness of several months.

She was a retired teacher and a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women and the Order of Eastern Star.

She was born July 24, 1905 in Marion, Ill., and lived in this area since 1966, coming from Northville, Mich. On Dec. 22, 1934, in East St. Louis, Ill., she married Charles F. King, who survives.     Also surviving is one son, the Rev. Charles F. King of Racine, Wis.; a daughter, Mrs. Joseph (Marianne) Kepczyk, of East Lansing, a brother Col. Lowell A. Davis of Auburn, Ill., and four grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10 :30 a.m. Thursday at Wesley United Methodist Church with the Rev. Karen S. Slager and the Rev. Charles F. King officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Halbritter funeral home from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday.  Memorials be given to the Wesley United Methodist Church Memorial Fund.

 

Miller, Elizabeth 1882-1930

Elizabeth Miller
Dec. 9, 1882-April 9, 1930


Niles Daily Star, Thursday , April 10, 1930, page 5, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. ELIZABETH MILLER DIES AT AGE OF 67 YEARS

Passes Away at Sycamore Street Home After Week's Illness

Mrs. Elizabeth Miller, 67, widow of William Miller, died Wednesday afternoon at 8:30 at her home, 701 Sycamore street, after a week of illness. The body is at the Troost and Augustine chapel and friends may call there to view the body this evening and until 2 o'clock on Saturday afternoon. The funeral services will be held in the chapel at 2:30 on Saturday afternoon. The Rev. W.G. Webbink, pastor of St. John's Evangelical church, will officiate. Burial will be made in the family lot in Silver Brook cemetery.

Mrs. Miller was born in Wilgartswiesen, Germany. She came to America in 1892. She was married to Mr. Miller on June 18, 1893.  He died on Jan. 11, 1924. Until six years ago when her health began to fail Mrs. Miller was an ernest [sic]worker in St. John's church and was highly esteemed as a neighbor and friend. She was bedfast for but one week prior to her death.

Surviving Mrs. Miller are her three children, Harry and Herman Miller and Mrs. G.C. Walters, all of Niles and four stepchildren who are Rudolf Miller, Niles, Mrs. Clara Larsen, Chicago, Mrs. Lizzzie Kreuger, Benton Harbor and Fred Miller of Kalamazoo. Four grandchildren, Mildred and Malcolm Walters, Raymond Miller and Walter Larsen also survive.

 

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 15, 1930, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: FUNERAL MRS. MILLER

Among those from out of the city who attended the funeral services for Mrs. Elizabeth Miller on Saturday afternoon were Mrs. Minnie Lehr, of Bremen, Ind., Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Meyer of Wyatt, Ind., Mrs. Clara Larson, of Chicago, Mrs. Elizabeth Kreuger and Mrs. Corinne Williams of Benton Harbor and Fred Miller and daughter of Kalamazoo. The services were conducted by the Rev. W.G. Webbink, pastor of St. John's Evangelical church. Mr. and Mrs. Rex Leach sang. Burial was made in Silver brook cemetery. Beautiful flowers covered the casket.

Miller, Harry W.

Harry W. Miller
March 21, 1894-Aug. 26, 1974


Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 26, 1974, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES-- Harry W. Miller, 80 of 538 Lake St., died at 4:15 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital after an illness of two weeks.

He was a retired employe of National-Standard Co.

Mr. Miller was born March 21, 1894, in Niles and lived here his lifetime.

Survivors include one brother, Herman F. of Niles, and one sister, Mrs. Emma W. Walters, also of Niles.

Private services will be held Wednesday with the Rev. Arlan E. Schlundt of St. John's United Church of Christ officiating.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

Scruggs, Marian E. (Finley)

Marion E. Scruggs (Finley)
June 5, 1925-Aug. 13, 1974


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 13, 1974, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Marion E. Scruggs, 49, of 1619 Huron St., died at 6:05 a.m. Tuesday in Borgess Hospital, Kalamazoo, following an illness of two years.

Mrs. Scruggs was born June 5, 1925, and was a lifetime resident of Niles. She was a retired employe of Clark Equipment of Co. and was a member of the Franklin A.M.E. Church.

She is survived by a son, William, two daughters, Maribeth and Wendy, all of Niles; three brothers, Homer Finley of Chicago, Clarence Finley of Niles and Seth Finley of Tacoma, Wash., and three sisters, Mrs. Anita Travick  and Mrs. Norma Taylor of Niles and Mrs. Esther Woodford of White Cloud, Mich.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Halbritter Funeral Home. The Rev. Charles E. Wilson of the Franklin A.M.E. Church will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday. Memorials may be given to the Berrien County Cancer Service and Open Door Mental Retardation Center.

 

Smith, Donna B.

Donna B. Smith
Sept. 21, 1911-Aug. 12, 1974


Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 12, 1974, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES-- Mrs. Donna B. Smith, 62, 251 Cass St., died at 6 a.m. today at Pawating Hospital after an extended illness.

Born Sept. 21, 1911, in Niles. Mrs. Smith was a lifetime resident of Niles.

Survivors include one son, Maurice Laubach of Niles; two sisters, Mrs. Harold Treesh and Mrs. William Bowers, both of Niles, and six grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Donald Cozadd of Grace United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

 

Smith, Stuart F.

Stuart F. Smith
July 26,1906-Aug. 4, 1974


Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 5, 1974, page 2, col. 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library

Ex-Niles alderman dies at 68

 

NILES--Stuart F. Smith, 68, of 519 Broadway and also of Sturgis, died Sunday morning in his sleep at his Sturgis home. He was a former Niles businessman, alderman and hospital trustee.

Mr. Smith was born July 26, 1906, at Sturgis, but had lived most of his life in NIles. He was president of Niles Lumber Co. and director manager of the Niles Dowagiac Credit Bureau. He served on the City Council here for many years and was president of the Pawating Hospital Board for nine years. He was a sponsor of big Brothers and an avid outdoorsman and gardener.

Mr. Smith was a member of St. Mark's Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, Associated Lumbermen and of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity at DePauw University, Greencastle, Ind.

On Sept. 14, 1933, at Kalamazoo, he married the former Marion Parker, who died Aug. 25, 1964. On Oct. 11, 1969, also at Kalamazoo, he married the former Evelyn Kirsch, who survives.

Also surviving are three sons, Peter Smith of Homewood, Ill., David Smith of Park Forest, Ill., and John W. Kirsch of Sturgis, Four daughters, Mrs. Gail Ramsby of Brandord, Conn., Mrs. Andrew Clark of New Brighton, Minn., Mrs. Subhi Kalla of Phoenix, Ariz., and Mrs. Howard Thompson of Sturgis, two sisters, Mrs. A.T. Buskens of Evanston, Ill., and Mrs. D.R. McAuliffe of Albion, and 16 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Mark's Church. The Rev. Fr. Julius L. Hengesbach will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home, where a rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Memorials may be made to the Michigan Heart Assn.

 

 

 

Stevens, Wanda (Pointer)

Wanda Stevens, 81
March 17, 1931-May 22, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:51pm Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Stevens

Wanda M. Stevens, 81, of Niles, passed away at Memorial Hospital in South Bend on Tuesday, May 22, 2012, with her family by her side.

Wanda was born to the late Glennie and Lettie (Gobble) Pointer on March 17, 1931, in Parma, Mo., and at age 10 her family moved to Niles.

Wanda graduated from Niles High School in 1950 and attended Vogue Beauty College in South Bend. She worked at Clark Equipment Co. before meeting Carl F. Stevens at Calvary Bible Church in Dowagiac. After a very short courtship they exchanged vows on Easter Sunday, April 13, 1952, and were married for more than 60 years. She returned to work at Brandywine Community Schools’ office until her and Carl’s retirement.

Wanda was an extremely devoted mother and wife. Her greatest joy in life was taking care of her family. She will be fondly remembered for her servant’s heart, her lyrical loving greeting of “hello,” followed by an immediate offering of a good cup of coffee and the ever-present reminder of how much she loved you. Many of her summers were spent out on their boat on Lake Michigan then at their cottage on Indian Lake.

Preceding Wanda in death are her parents and three brothers; Denver Pointer, Gaines Pointer, and Dorsey Pointer.

She is survived by her husband, Carl, and her three sons, Randy (Ginny) Stevens of Niles, Danny (Shirley) Stevens of Niles and Jeffrey (Pam) Stevens of Elkhart. She is also survived by seven grandchildren, Aaron Holloway, Heather (Derek) Weatherholt, Mallory Stevens, Adam Stevens, Jennifer Stevens, Madison and Cullen Fisher; as well as two great-grandchildren, Jayln and Palmer Weatherholt; a sister, Patricia Stover Skarbeck of Niles; and many nieces and nephews.

Those wishing to make a memorial donation in Wanda’s name may do so to the Berrien County Cancer Services, 7301 Red Arrow Highway, Stevensville, MI 49127 or to the Brandywine Community Schools Improvement Foundation at 1830 S. Third St., Niles, MI 49120.

Visitation will be Thursday, May 24, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home with funeral service officiated by David Stevens, Friday at 11 a.m. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Photos, memories, or condolences may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or www.Facebook.com/BrownFuneralHomeNiles.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home.