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.

Robbins, Charlotte Emily 1902-1949

Charlotte Emily Robbins
May 16, 1902-Sept. 16, 1949

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, September 17, 1949, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library.

Charlotte Emily Robbins, 47, 523 North Fourteenth street, died at 8:05 last night in her home. She was in poor health for the past year.

Surviving are her husband, Captain James Robbins, of the Niles fire department, and their two daughters, Mrs. John Rodebush and Mrs. William Ortman, of Niles.

Also surviving are one grandchild; two sisters, Mrs. Peter Mack and Mrs. Clarence Killarney, of Niles, and seven brothers, Oscar and Cleveland Horner, of Chicago, Floyd, Harle, John and Robert Horner, of Niles, and Ezra Horner, of LaPorte, Ind.

Mrs. Robbins was born in Galien May 16, 1902, and came her 47 years ago from Galien. She was a member of the First Methodist church here.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, and services will be conducted at 4 p.m. Monday at the First Methodist church by the pastor, the Rev. L. George Beacock. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Robbins, Baby Girl 1930-1930

Robbins, Infant
June 26, 1930-June 26, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, June 26, 1930, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library.

Niles News in Brief: DEATH BABY GIRL

The committal service for the girl born this morning to Mr. and Mrs. James Robbins, 1296 S. Eleventh street, will be held tomorrow. Mr. Robbins is a member of the Niles city fire department. Besides the parents, the baby is survived by two sisters.

 

Rockwell, Charles Jr. 1924-1929

Charles Rockwell, Jr.
Aug. 7, 1924-Sept. 27, 1929

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, September 28, 1929, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library.

News in Brief: FUNERAL CHAS. ROCKWELL, Jr.

Funeral services for Charles Rockwell, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rockwell, Sr., who reside on Thirteenth street, just south of the Niles city limit, will be held on Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Troost and Augustine chapel. Elder O.E. Sanders will officiate. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery.

The boy died on Friday morning after a week of illness with summer influenza. He was five years old last August and had entered the kindergarten grade at Brandywine school in the fall. He is survived by his parents and by three sisters and two brothers, who are Helen, Beulah, Bessie, Woodrow and Walter. E.S. Sherrick and Ezra are the boy's grandfathers. His grandfather [sic], Mrs. E.S. Sherrick died last Sunday at the home of her son, Clyde Deever.

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, October 1, 1929, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library.

News in Brief: FUNERAL CHAS. ROCKWELL, JR.

Funeral services for the five year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rockwell of South Niles were held on Monday afternoon. Elder Sanders of the Pentecostal church officiated. Burial was made at Silver Brook cemetery.

Shedrow, Harry L. 1944-1978

Harry L. Shedrow
May 31, 1944-Nov. 29, 1978

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, November 29, 1978, page 3, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

BUCHANAN – Harry L. Shedrow, 34 of 2785 Orange Rd., died at 1:18 a.m. today at St. Joseph Hospital, South Bend, following an illness of two weeks.

A veteran of the Vietnam War, he was a member of the Niles American Legion Post 26 and was an employee of the Bendix Corp.

Shedrow was born May 31, 1944 in Niles, and had lived his lifetime here.

Survivors include his father, Harry H. of Niles; his daughters, Carrie, Staci, and Jackie, all of Three Oaks; and three sisters, Mrs. Janet Goble of Niles, Mrs. Mary Jean Jackson of Three Oaks, and Mrs. Connie Lyons of Chicago.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Friday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Niles Community Library.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, November 30, 1978, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library.

BUCHANAN – Several survivors of Harry L. Shedrow, 34, of 2783 Orange Road, were omitted in Wednesday's obituary. Also surviving are his mother, Maude Honeycutt, Galien; two half brothers, Robert of Plainwell and Jerry of Buchanan, and two half sisters, Carol VanLew, Fort Riley, Kan., and Debra Honeycutt, Buchanan.

 

Swartz, Anna K. (Reum) 1866-1949

Anna K. Swartz (Reum)
Sept. 6, 1866-Sept. 4, 1949

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, September 6, 1949, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Anna C. Swartz, of rural route two, died at 4:30 a.m. Sunday in her home, after having been ill for the past year. Her husband Chris, died in October of 1942.

Surviving are their children, Mrs. H.W. Doehrer, of Niles, Mrs. E.F. Wright, of Niles, Mrs. Floyd C. Wolfe, of Granger, Ind., and Clarence and Emmet Swartz, both at home. Also surviving is one brother, William Reum, of Niles.

Mrs. Swartz was born in Milton township and had lived around here all of her life.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where Christian Science services will be conducted at 3:30 p.m. Friday. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mrs. Swartz was a member of the First Church of Christ, Scientist.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, September 8, 1949, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

SWARTZ RITES FRIDAY

Christian Science services for Mrs. Anna Swartz, rural route two, who died Sunday, will be held at 3:30 p.m. Friday at the Pifer funeral home. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

 

Sterner, Clara C. Bachman (Stewart) 1856-1929

Clara C. Sterner
June 4, 1856-Oct. 28, 1929

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, October 29, 1929, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. CLARA STERNER DIES AT CHERRY STREET
Passes Away After Long Illness at Family Home for 30 Years

Mrs. Clara Sterner, 69, wife of George Sterner died last evening about 9:15 at 527 Cherry street their home for almost 30 years. Mrs. sterner had been in ill health for several years but her condition had been criticcal[sic] from a complication of dieseases[sic] for the last six weeks.

Mrs. Sterner's maiden name was Clara C. Stewart. She was born near Dover, Delaware, on June 4, 1856, a daughter of Ames and Louisa Ellen Stewart. About 60- years ago, Mr. Stewart moved his family to Niles and both and his wife continued to reside here until their deaths. Mrs. Sterner was one of four children born to them. One of these, James, died five years ago. Mrs. Sterner was maried[sic] twice, her first husband having been Charles Bachman who died in 1897. Three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Bachman preceded their mother in death. One of them, a son, met a tragic death having been shot while hunting. On June 21, 1900 Mrs. Bachman was married to George Sterner who survives her. Besides her husband she is survived by one sister, Mrs. Conrad Shaffer, of South Bend and one brother, Amos Stewart, of Niles. Claude Stewart, of Niles and Gertrude Mary Stewart Ley, of South Bend, are nephew and neice[sic] of the deceased.

Mrs. Sterner was a member of Trinity Episcopal church, and the guilds of that church, the Rev. . .Chidester, will conduct . .services tomorrow at . . . o'clock in the home. .made in Silver B . . [the corner of the page is folded over when the page was microfilmed so some words are partially covered.]

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, October 30, 1929, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: FUNERAL MRS. GEO STERNER

Funeral services for Mrs. George Sterner were conducted by the Rev. W. Keith Chidester at the home 527 Cherry street, this afternoon. Burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery. Among those from out of the city who attended the services were Mrs. Meda Bachman Bristol, of Detroit, Mr. and Mrs. Conrad Shaffer and Mr. and Mrs. Earl Adamson, of South Bend.

Stout, William H. 1870-1955

William H. Stout
Oct. 6, 1870-April 21, 1955

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, April 21, 1955, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

William H. Stout, 84, of 19 South Third Street, died at 1:30 a.m. today at his home following an illness of 18 months.

Stout, a retired employe of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, was born Oct. 6, 1870, in Oil City, Pa., and came to Niles 48 years ago. He was married Dec. 28, 1896, to Mehetabel Blake, who died Nov. 16, 1950. He was a life member of the Niles Elks Lodge.

Surviving are: a daughter, Miss Arlene Stout, of Niles, and two nephews, both in Pennsylvania.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Kiger Funeral Home here with the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home.