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.

Asmus, Hattie B.

Hattie B. Asmus
Jan. 22, 1886-Sept. 16, 1910

Niles Daily Sun, Saturday, September 17, 1910, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles Daily Star

MISS HATTIE ASMUS
Demise of Well Known Young Lady from Diphtheria

    Miss Hattie Asmus, age 24 years, passed away at 5 o'clock last evening at the home of her father, George Asmus on north Eleventh street after one week's illness with diphtheria.
    Miss Asmus became afflicted the the sore throat in an aggevated[sic] form last Friday which in the few days developed into diphtheria. She was thought to be improving however, until yesterday afternoon when she became worse rapidly and although medical aid was summoned and the attending physican[sic] hurried to the home, she passed away shortly after his arrival.
    Besides her father, Miss Asmus is survived by three sisters and a brother all of Niles as follows: Mrs. Charles Walters, Anna, Clara and Herman Asmus.  Her mother passed away six years ago.
    The youngest sister, Clara and the brother have been at Mrs. Walters' residence since the disease was pronounced diphtheria and the separation of the family in their hour of sorrow but adds to their grief.
    When Miss Asmus passed away her father, and sister, Anna, and Mrs. George Wadel who has been assisting to care for her, only were at her bedside and they were also the only attendants at the funeral which was held this afternoon at 2 o'clock.
    The funeral service was conducted by Rev. F. Rahn of St. John's German church of which Miss Asmus was a life long and faithful member. Interment took place at Silver Brook cemetery.
    The house was thoroughly fumigated before and after the service by Undertaker Skalla.
    Miss Asmus was born in Niles and always resided here. She was a most highly esteemed young lady and her death is mourned by a large number of friends and acqauintances.[sic] Much sorrow was particularly manifested in the neighborhood where she spent her entire life.
    Miss Asmus has been an employe of the National Wire Cloth company for some time and is a member of the Wire Cloth Relief association from which the family will receive a death claim.
* * *
Niles Daily Sun, Monday, September 19, 1910, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library.

    A memorial service for the late Miss Hattie Asmus, whose death was caused by diphtheria which necessitated a private burial service on Saturday will be conducted at St. John's German church by Rev. F. Rahn next Sunday morning.  A particularly sad circumstance connected with the unfortunate young lady's death is the fact that the date for her wedding to Jacob Brown, a Niles young man employed as a Michigan Central fireman, was set for this coming November and her trousseau was all in readiness.  Mr. Brown came to Niles at once when apprised of her death and he was permitted to attend the funeral services.

Potter, Jerome

Jerome Potter
1838-1910

    The remains of Jerome Potter who died at South Bend Sunday will be brought to  Niles for burial at Silver Brook cemetery tomorrow afternoon.  Mr. Potter is 72 years old and for the past 34 years has followed the occupation of engineer at Singer's factory in South Bend.  He was an ex-councilman, a grand army veteran and member of the Masons, No. 294.  In 1883 he married Miss Edith Whiting of Niles, Mich.  He is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters.

Niles Daily Sun, Monday, Sept. 19, 1910, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Winn, Elizabeth Bernice (Wynn)

Elizabeth Bernice (Wynn) Winn
Nov. 7, 1873-June 20, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Friday, June 21, 1936, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library.

    MEMBER OF PIONEER FAMILY IS STRICKEN
Mrs. Elizabeth Winn, Bend of the River District, Dies at Family Home


The death of Mrs. Elizabeth Bernice Winn, 61, at the family home in the Bend of the River district Thursday removed one of the prominent pioneers of that section.  Mrs. Winn, who was the widow of George Winn, widely known in this section of the county, was born and had lived her entire life in the farm home where she died.
    Mrs. Winn's death followed an illness of four years.  She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Morgan Wynn, pioneer residents of the Bend of the River district. She was married to George Winn in 1892.
    Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Mae Winn Steinbauer, who lives at the faminly[sic] home; a brother, Glenn Wynn, of Kalamazoo, and a sister, Mrs. Catherine Gorman of Tulsa, Okla.
    Funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o[clock at the home.  Friends may call there until the hour of the funeral.  The Rev. Guy W. Simon will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 25, 1935, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News In Brief: WINN SERVICES

The Rev. Guy W. Simon officiated Monday afternoon at the services for Mrs. Elizabeth Winn, who died Saturday. The services were held at the family home at the Bend of the River. The following were pall bearers: Arthur Beebe, Ray Foster, John Foster, Edward Bunbury, F.J. Steinbauer and Thomas Hastings.

 

 

Hahn, Evelyn H.

Evelyn Hahn, 92
May 22, 1918 – May 23, 2010

Evelyn H. Hahn, 92, of Howard Street, Niles died at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 23, 2010 at West Woods of Niles in Niles following a brief illness.

She was born May 22, 1918 in Michigan City, Ind. to Herman F. Daun and Hazel Mary Hurst. She lived most of her life in Niles and graduated from Niles High School.

She was a clerk at the former Parmalee Store and the former The Mayfair Shop in Niles. She was a member of Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Niles. She enjoyed caring for her grandchildren.

On June 24, 1939 in Niles she married Paul W. Hahn, who died Aug. 3, 1993.

She is survived by her son, Charles (Cathleen) Hahn, of Niles; daughters, Carol (Fred) Laesch, of Niles and Merian Kessler, of Niles; grandchildren, Rich Laesch, Mary Sibley, Michael Laesch, Michele Manis and Lisa Dieringer; great-grandchildren, Jonah Sibley, Nicholas Sibley, Andrew Laesch, Maya Laesch, Tristan Manis, Braeden Manis, Keegan Manis, Elliot Dieringer and Rylan Dieringer.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles with the Rev. Carl W. Bassett of Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Friends may call beginning at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church or the Resident Activity Fund at West Woods.

Niles Daily Star, Published 11:09pm Monday, May 24, 2010

Monahan, Irma M.

Irma Monahon, 95
1915-2010

Irma M. Monahon, 95, of Niles died at 1 a.m. Tuesday, June 1, 2010 at West Woods of Niles of natural causes.

No services will be held. Cremation has taken place.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles at a later date.

Niles Daily Star, Published 11:09pm Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Toney, Franklin Benjamin

Franklin Toney, 88
March 29, 1922 – May 31, 2010

Franklin Benjamin Toney, 88, of Niles died at 1:25 p.m. Monday, May 31, 2010 at Silverbrook Manor in Niles of a brief illness.

Mr. Toney was born March 29, 1922 in Niles to Henry and Florence (McClary) Toney. He graduated from Niles High School and lived in Niles all of his life.

He was a veteran of World War II, having served in the United States Coast Guard. He was a life member of Disabled American Veterans.

Franklin worked for many years as a tool and die maker, first at Kawneer Co. and he later retired from the Modineer Co., both of Niles.

Franklin was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church of Niles. He was also a life member of Saint Joseph Valley Lodge 4, F. & A.M. He enjoyed music, especially big band and jazz, and dancing with his wife. He was a competitive bowler on the Stroh’s team. His greatest interest was raising his children.

On Jan. 11, 1947 in Niles, he married the former Bette Lou Bailey, who preceded him in death Dec. 7, 1997. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Nancy Gordon, who died March 31, 1952.

Surviving family includes a son, Terry Toney, of Buchanan; daughters, Nancy (Bruce) Evick and Tracey Toney, both of Niles; grandchildren, Heather Lee Polk, Tyler Lee Toney, Ryan Anthony Evick, Danielle Kristen Watson and Anthony Roger Tracey; great-grandchildren, Bailey, Austin and Isabella Castillo.

The funeral service for Franklin Benjamin Toney will be at 11 a.m. Friday, June 4, 2010 at First Presbyterian Church of Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of the church officiating.

Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles and will conclude with a flag presentation and “Taps” by a unit of the United States Coast Guard.

The family will receive relatives and friends at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday with Masonic rites at 7:30 p.m. by Saint Joseph Valley Lodge 4.

Contributions in memory of Mr. Toney may be made to First Presbyterian Church in Niles or to In House Hospice.

Niles Daily Star, Published 11:11pm Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Fox, Excel Sr.

Excel Fox Sr., 70
July 18, 1939 – May 27, 2010

 

Excel Fox Sr., 70

 

Excel Fox Sr., 70, died Thursday, May 27 at 7:15 a.m. at Blessed Home Adult Foster Care in Niles of natural causes.

He was born on July 18, 1939 in Arkansas.

A lifetime area resident, he was a Mason and a supervisor at TOEFCO Engineering.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Sr. and Ethel Fox; daughter Helen Fox; sister Carrie Mae Fox; brothers Oxyzlee Fox and Walter Fox Jr. and an ex-wife Lodean Fox.

He is survived by sons Excel Fox Jr. and Thomas Fox; daughters Elizabeth Fox-Pedley, Rennie Fox, Threasa Fox, Wynee “Nisie” D. Wilson and Secusser Green; sister Lela Fox-Willis and a host of grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held Tuesday, June 8 at 10 a.m. at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 7:36pm Sunday, June 6, 2010