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.

Shackelford, Thomas B. Sr.

editor Obituaries

Thomas B. Shackelford, Sr.
March 13, 1921-December 16, 1976

NILES--Thomas B. Shackelford St., 55, of 2115 Spansail Dr., died at 12:36 p.m. Thursday at Pawating Hospital after an illness of five days.

He was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, a veteran of the U.S. Army, having served in W.W. II, a member of the St. Joseph Valley Masonic Lodge, the Mobile, Ala. Athelstan Lodge, and the Niles Shrine Club, the Niles Commandery K.T. and the St. Joseph Valley Chapter of the RAM.

A self-employed trucker, he was born March 13, 1921 in Mobile, Ala., and had lived here since 1951, coming from Mobile.

On Aug. 2, 1942 in Frederick, Okla, he married marilyn Brodie, who survives.

Also surviving are three sons, Thomas B. of Elkhart, Ind., Gordon B. and Thaddeus H., both of Niles; three daughters, Mrs. Marilynn Weybright of New Paris, Ind., and Virginia Shackelford and Mrs. Susan Dickerson, both of Niles; a brother, H.L. Shackelford, Jr. of Miami, Fla.; a sister, Mrs. Villiam H. Peck of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; and four grandchildren.

Funeral services, including full Masonic rites, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Halbritter Funeral Home conducted by the St. Joseph Valley Masonic Lodge. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 7 to 0 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Memorials may be given to the Shriner's Crippled Children's Hospital, Chicago. Forms are available at the funeral home.


Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 17, 1976, page 2 col. 7-8, microfilm Niles District Library

Negron, Ramone

editor Obituaries

Ramone Negron
June 9, 1921-May 11, 1990

Graveside services for Ramone Negron, 68, of 1013 N. 5th St., Niles, will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 16 at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles, by the Rev. W.L. Daniel of the Mount Calvary Baptist Church of Niles.

Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Negron died at 9:30 p.m. Friday, May 11, at Pawating Hospital.

He was retired from the Green Giant Company of Niles.

Negron was born June 9, 1921 in Puerto Rico, and had lived here for 30 years, coming from New York.

Survivors include three brothers, Rufino Negron of Niles, Pete Negron and Franco Negron, both of Puerto Rico.

Friends may call during the wake service from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Hoven Funeral Home.


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 15, 1990, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Lesniak, Vickie Jane

editor Obituaries

Vickie Jane Lesniak
March 17, 1958-May 13, 1990

Services for Vickie Jane Lesniak, 32, of 418 Michigan St., Niles, will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday May 17 at St Mark's Catholic Church of Niles by Rev. Wieber of St. Mark's Catholic Church.

Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Lesniak died at 9:55 p.m Sunday, May 13 at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo of natural causes.

Lesniak was born March 17, 1958 in South Bend, Ind. and had been a lifetime resident of the area.

Survivors include her father, Mr. Glenn Lesniak of Niles; a brother, Mr. Glenn Noel Lesniak of Cave Creek, Ariz.; and a sister, Mrs. Marie Weimer of Niles.

Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 16 at Hoven funeral Home in Buchanan.


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 15, 1990, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Van Sickel, Mabel F.

editor Obituaries

Mabel F. Van Sickel
May 6, 1894-May 14, 1990

Services for Mabel F. Van Sickel, 96, of the Jordan Nursing Home in Bridgman will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 16 at the Kerley and Starks Funeral  Home in St. Joseph by Rev. Brian Hamilton of the Stevensville Seventh Day Adventist church.

Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Van Sickel died at 11:50 p.m. Monday, May 14 at the Jordan Nursing Home after a lengthy illness.

She was a member of the Stevensville Seventh Day Adventist Church, and a former secretary for the Child and Family Services in St. Joseph, and later, the Kerley and Starks Funeral Home.

Van Sickel was born May 6, 1894 in Benton Township.

Her husband, Robet Van Sickel, preceded her in death in 1974.  A step-daughter, Janet Ladd, also preceded her in death.

Survivors include a step-daughter, Ruth Carnahan of Evanston, Ill.; a sister, Laura Scofield of Bridgman; and five step-grandchildren.

Friends may call from 9 a.m. until time of the service at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Stevensville Seventh Day Adventist Church.


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 15, 1990, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Lusk, Jimmie L.

editor Obituaries

Jimmie L. Lusk
July 28, 1905-May 14, 1990

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 15, 1990, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Jimmie L. Lusk, 84, formerly of 1212 N. 9th St., Niles, died at 10:20 a.m. Monday, May 14 at Dowagiac Nursing Home following an extended illness.

Arrangemetns are incomplete and will  be announced at a later date by the Halbritter Funeral Home.


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 16, 1990, page 2, col. 5-6, microfilm Niles District Library

Services for a former Niles resident, Jimmie L. Lusk, 84, of 610 Uneta St., Dowagiac will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Mount Calvary Baptist Church in Niles, the Rev. W.L. Daniel, pastor, officiating.

Lusk died at 10:20 a.m. Monday at the Dowagiac Nursing Home following an extended illness.

Lusk was born July 28, 1905, in Selmer, Tenn., and had lived in Dowagiac and formerly 1212 N. 9th St., Niles, since 1937, coming from Tennessee.  He was a 42-year member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church, a member of the John W. Moore Masonic Lodge No. 42, F&AM, in Niles, and a charter member of the Niles NAACP.  He was a retired employee of the City of Niles.

On July 12, 1963, in Dowagiac, he married Kathryn L. (Dawson) Lusk, who survives him.

Also surviving is a brother, Linnie M. Lusk of Selmer, Tenn.    Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.  A wake will be held Wednesday from 7 to 8 pm. at the Halbritter Funeral Home.  Masonic rites will be held Wednesday at the funeral home at 7:30 p.m., John W. Moore Lodge No. 42, F&AM officiating.

 

Coon, Evelyne Mae (Marlin)

editor Obituaries

Evelyne Mae Coon
Jan. 19, 1928-May15, 1990

Services for Evelyne Mae Coon, 62, of 1272 Thomson Road, Niles will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles, the Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg officiating.

Coon died at 2 a.m. Tuesday at home following a brief illness.

Coon was born Jan. 19, 1928, in Grand Rapids and had lived in Niles since 1945, coming from Gaylord.  She and her daughter had recently opened "Granny's Hot Dog House" on North Thirteenth and Eagle streets in Niles. She was an employee of Simplicity Pattern Co. of Niles.

On Sept 22, 1946, in Niles, she married William Charles Coon, who preceded her in death Oct. 7, 1985.

Survivors include her mother, Dena J. Marlin of Niles; three daughters, Barbara Jean Ketchum, Catherine Coon and Evelyn L. "Vonnie" Fox, all of Niles, seven brothers, Lloyd Marlin, James Marlin, Howard Marlin, Kenneth Marlin, Gerald "Jerry" Marlin, all of Niles, Robert Marlin of Watervliet and Jack Marlin of South Bend; a sister, LaVonde "Bonnie" Velez of Niles and ten grandchildren.

Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.  Friends may call from 2 to 4 pm. and 7 to 9 p.m Thursday at Halbritter Funeral Home.


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 16, 1990, page 2, col. 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library

Matthews, Laura Elizabeth

editor Obituaries

Laura E. Matthews
Feb. 18, 1912-April 26, 1993

Laura E. Matthews
1912-1993
Niles homemaker

Funeral services for Laura Elizabeth Matthews, 81, of 1609 Superior St., Niles, are scheduled for  10:0 a.m. Thursday at Trinity Episcopal Church in Niles with the Rev. Steven Schuneman, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, officiating.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Matthews died at 10:35 p.m. Sunday at Pawating Hospital following a short illness.

Bron Feb. 18, 1912, in Gary, Ind., she was a resident of the area most of her lifetime.

On Oct. 5, 1928, in Goshen, Ind., she married the late J. Earl Matthews, who preceded her in death on March 20, 1980.

She was a homemaker. She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Niles, the Pawating Hospital Auxiliary, the Order of the Eastern Star, Golden Agers, the Macabees and the Afternoon Lady Elks in Niles.

Survivors include two sons, Thomas E. Matthews of Lilburn, Ga., and Richard L. Matthews of Niles; a daughter, Patricia J. Hoblick of Carthage, Mo.; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Friends may call from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m .Wednesday at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church or the Berrien County Cancer Services.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 26, 1993, page 2, col. 5-6, microfilm Niles District Library

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