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.

Kaiser, Henry

Vickie Caison Obituaries

Henry Kaiser
Abt. 1864-Feb. 27, 1921

Henry Kaiser killed in auto accident Sunday

Car driven by son-in-law, Earl Rinehart

Henry Kaiser, 1276 North Twelfth street, 57 years old, a section foreman for the Michigan Central Railroad co., was instantly killed, and his son-in-law, Earl Rhinehart, 29 years old, of Niles, was seriously injured, soon after 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon where their Studebaker roadster after plunging into a tree on the Niles road, one half mile south of the state line, crashed into another tee and then turned over, pinning the occupants underneath. The body of Mr. Kaiser was taken to a South Bend funeral parlor and Mr. Rhinehart was taken to the Epworth hospital, where he was attended by Dr. J. H. Casson, who said last night, that he would recover. He suffered a severe cut in the head and had bruises and lacerations on his right leg.

According to the report made to the South Bend police who answered in ambulance call to the place. Rhinehart, who was driving the machine had turned out to pass an automobile coming from the north.  In doing so he drove over the edge of the concrete road and lost control of the machine, which plunged into a tree, the speed of the machine caused it to turn completely and crashed into another tree and then turn over. Other motorists passing by lifted the machine from the men and called an ambulance, Mr. Kaiser was dead when he was taken from the wreckage. The other automobile did not stop it is said. The two men had been in South Bend and were returning home when the accident occurred.

Mr. Kaiser was born in Germany 56 years ago. When a boy of 4 years he came to Niles with his parents. Mr., and Mrs. Chris Kaiser.  When he was a young man he entered the employ of the Michigan Central Railway Co., and remained in the company’s employee for 37 years, or until his death, having on Sunday morning gone over his section. Thirty-seven years ago he was married to Anna Ausmus of Niles, who survives him,  Of the children born to them, the following survive their father. Mrs. Emil Johnson, Mrs. Earl Rhinehart, Mrs. Carl Wolford, Mrs. Stuart Miller and Frank Kaiser, all of Niles; a sister, Mrs. Henry Fitterer of Chicago also survives.  Mr. Kaiser lived in South Bend for 18 years, but returned to this city, 19 years ago and had since resided her.

The decease was a member of the M. W. A., the New Era and the Brotherhood of Railwaymen.

The body was brought to Niles this morning. The funeral arrangements have not been complete.

Mrs. Rhinehart was informed by telephone today that her husband was resting as comfortable as could be expected 

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Kaiser, George A.

Vickie Caison Obituaries

George A. Kaiser
April 24, 1874-July 4, 1954

George A. Kaiser, 80

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Kiger Funeral Home for George A. Kaiser of 301 Pokagon Street who died at 6:20 p.m. July 4, at the Berrien County Hospital at Berrien Center. He had been ill for five months.

Kaiser, a retired employee of The Kawneer Company, was born in Germany on April 24, 1874, and came to this country at the age of 10.

He is survived by two children, Raymond Kaiser of Niles and Mrs. Carl Voelkers of South Bend, and four grandchildren.’

Services will be conducted by the Rev. Herbert Meussling of the St. John’s Evangelical and Reformed Church of which the deceased was a member, and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 6, 1954, page 2, col 4, microfilm Niles District Library)

Kaiser, Frank G.

Vickie Caison Obituaries
Frank G. Kaiser, 55, of rural route three, Niles, was dead on admittance to Pawating Hospital following an attack in the downtown district Thursday afternoon. He had been ill for two years.Kaiser was born June 3, 1897, in South Bend. He was a New York Central yard conductor for 22 years, and had spent the last five years farming. He lived in the South Bend-Niles area all his life.Surviving along with his widow, Emma are four daughters, Mrs. Edna Reid, Mrs. Alice Rinehart, Mrs. Cora Wolford, and Mrs. Martha Miller, all of Niles; a stepson, Alfred Chamberlain, rural route three, Niles, and four grandchildren.Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home, where funeral services will be conducted Sunday at 2:30 p.m. with the Rev. Herbert Meussling, pastor of St. John’s Evangelical and Reformed Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Kaiser, Elizabeth (Smith)

Vickie Caison Obituaries

Elizabeth Kaiser
May 4, 1825-Sept. 8, 1909

Mrs. Chris Kaiser, a highly respected pioneer resident of this city, passed away this morning at 1:30 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. B. A. Volkhart on Pokagon Street, age 86 years. The cause of death was senility. Mrs. Kaiser, whose maiden name was Elizabeth Smith was born May 4, 1825, in Saxony, Germany. She was married in Germany, Feb. 24, 1851, to Christ Kaiser, who survives her.  Mr. and Mrs. Kaiser came to this country in August 1864.  Unto them six children were born, one of which died in Germany, and another was shot in Elwood, IN, five years ago. The living children are Mrs. B. A. Volkhart, Mrs. Henry Fitterer, Andrew Kaiser and Henry Kaiser, all of this city.  Mrs. Kaiser is also survived by 24 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. The funeral will take place Friday afternoon at 2 o’clock at the home of Mrs. B.A. Volkhart, Rev. F. Rahn officiating. The remains will be laid to rest in Silverbrook Cemetery.  

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Kaiser, Bernard "Barney" C.

Vickie Caison Obituaries
Bernard "Barney" C. Kaiser
April 21, 1864-June 11, 1929

Barney C. Kaiser, 65, is stricken by death. 

Passes away at Pawating Hospital after long period of ill health. 

Barney C. Kaiser, 65 years, died this morning at 4:20 in Pawating Hospital where he had been a patient for two weeks.  Mr. Kaiser had long been in ill health and about two months ago was required to give up his work on account of his health.  While the immediate cause of death was heart trouble, Mr. Kaiser had suffered from an infection and gangrene and during last week a portion of his right foot and one finger from his right hand were amputated to relieve his sufferings.

Mr. Kaiser was born in Saxony, Germany, on April 21, 1864.  When he was four years of age he was brought to the United States and directly to Niles where he had since lived continuously.  He was married in 1886 to Miss Anna Walters, a native of Niles, and she survives him.  He is also survived by two children, Carl Kaiser of Berrien Springs and Mrs. Harold Sittler of Niles, by four grandchildren and two sisters, Mrs. Anne Fehmling of Limo, O. and Mrs. John Goldfuss of Niles.

For 16 years Mr. Kaiser had been an employee of the Kawneer Company.  He was highly esteemed as an employee by his fellow workmen and in his death the community loses a highly respected citizen.

Mr. Kaiser was a member of St. John’s brotherhood.The funeral services will be held on Thursday afternoon in St. John’s Evangelical Church. The hour for the service will be announced tomorrow. Burial will be made in Silver Brook Cemetery. 

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Kaiser, Anna Eliza (Walters)

Vickie Caison Obituaries

Anna Eliza Kaiser
November 21, 1863-November 22, 1932

Mrs. Barney Kaiser, Dies after operation. 

Passed away from effect of Gangrene infection.

Mrs. Anna Eliza Kaiser, widow of Barney Kaiser, died last evening at 2:40 in Pawating Hospital where she had been a patient for 10 days during which time she had a major operations.

Mrs. Kaiser had been in ill health for about a year bur since last September she had been confined in her bed. The operation performed with for the amputation of her left leg in an effort to arrest gangrene.

Mrs Kaiser’s maiden name was Anna Eliza Walters. She was born in Niles on Nov. 21, 1852, a daughter of Mrs. and Mrs. Karl A. Walters. She was married to Mr. Kaiser in Niles on Aug. 4, 1886. Mr. Kaiser died in June 1929. Of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Kaiser; two survived their mother, Karl Kaiser who resides north of Niles in the Long Lake neighborhood and who is employed at the Kawneer plant in Niles and Mrs. Harold Sittler of West Niles. Mrs. Kaiser had been at Mrs. Sittlers home since last summer but formerly lived for many years at 235 Pokagon street and the family home was still maintained there. Besides her children Mrs. Kaiser is survived by three sisters and two brothers who are Mrs. Elmer Decker, Mrs. Arthur Lillie, Charles and Fred Walters of Niles and Mrs. D.B. Edmonds of Elwood, Ind. Four grandchildren survive also one of home, Karl, the only son of Mrs. and Mrs. Karl Kaiser is a student of Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo.

Mrs. Kaiser was a life long member of St. John’s Evangelical Church. She was a member of the Ladies aid society and active in the church life until ill health prevented.

The funeral services will be held on Friday afternoon. A service will be held at 2 o’clock in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sittler at 556 West Main Street, and a services will be held at 2:30 in St. John’s church. The Rev. Theo Eisen will officiate. Burial will be made in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Kaiser, Anna Belle (Slater)

Vickie Caison Obituaries

Anna Belle Kaiser (Slater)
Sept. 13, 1888-March 17, 1933

Mrs. Karl Kaiser is Dead at Rural Home

Wife of Kawneer foreman passed away after long illness. 

Mrs. Anna B. Kaiser, 44, wife of Karl Kaiser, died March 17, 1933, this morning in their home on the range line road, North of Niles, off US-31.  Mr. Kaiser is in charge of the window, door and specialty department of the Kawneer Company in Niles.  Mr. and Mrs. Kaiser formerly lived in Niles, but 12 years ago moved from Niles to the home where her death occurred.  Mrs. Kaiser had been in ill health for many years and on several occasions has been in the hospital for treatment.  For several months little hope for her recovery had been held.

Mrs. Kaiser was born in St. Joseph on Sept. 13, 1888, a daughter of Mrs. and Mrs. Frank Slater, deceased. She was married to Mr. Kaiser in South Bend on July 5, 1913.  He is a son of Mrs. and Mrs. Barney Kaiser of Niles, deceased and Mrs. Harold Sittler of West Niles is his sister.

Surviving Mrs. Kaiser is her husband, Karl Kaiser; a son, Karl Kaiser, student at Kalamazoo College, where remained home this week on account of his mother’s critical condition, by a brother, Frank Slater of South Bend and two sisters, Mrs. Charles Dilley of South Bend and Mrs. Effie Wall, who or several months has made her home with Mr. and Mrs. Kaiser.  Mrs. Kaiser was a member of the New Century Rebekah Lodge in Niles and for three years has been president of the Long Lake Neighborhood Cub.  The funeral plans are not completed but the services will be held on Sunday in the home.  Burial will be made in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call at the home this evening and until the hour of services.

* * *

Funeral services for Mrs. Karl Kaiser, will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 in her home north of Niles. The Rev. R. D. Wearns of Berrien Springs will officiate. Burial will be made in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

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