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.

Edmonds, Minna (Walter)

Minna Edmonds
May 9, 1873-June 14, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Friday, June 15, 1945, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Hold Rites Here for Mrs. Minna Edmonds, Aged 72

Funeral services for Mrs. Minna Edmonds, 72, of Twining, Mich., who died Thursday in a hospital at Omer, will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the Pifer funeral home with the Rev. Theo Eisen, pastor of the St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church, officiating.

Sister of Fred N. and Carl E. Walter and Mrs. Arthur Lillie, of Niles, Mrs. Edmonds was born here May 9, 1873, and lived at Elwood, Ind., sometime before moving to northern Michigan. Sh was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Karl Walter and was married to D.B. Edmonds in Niles, Sept. 25, 1895.

In addition to the two brothers and a sister here and her husband, she is survived by three sons, Walter of Frankfort, Ind., Paul, of AuGres, Mich., and D.B. Edmonds, Jr. of Elkhart; and another sister, Mrs. Elmer Decker, of Berrien Springs, as well as five grandchildren.

The body is expected to arrive here Saturday noon and burial will be n Silverbrook cemetery.

Eyles, Clare Emery

Clare Emery Eyles
Jan. 4, 1862-June 17, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, June 23, 1945, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Ashes of Former Niles Resident to Be Brought Here

Ashes of a former resident of Niles, Miss Clare Eyles, who was about 80 years old, will be brought here for interment according to word received today.

Miss Eyles died in Newark, N.J. Last Sunday and was cremated Tuesday.  The ashes are being sent to the Kiger funeral home but no services have been planned.

A sister of William J. Eyles, who was pastor of the first Baptist church here about 1900, who had lived here at that time. Another sister, Miss Jennie Eyles, taught in the Niles schools from 1900 to 1910.

Another sister, Miss Erminie Eyles, of Newark, survives.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 14, 1945, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Committal Rites Here for Former Resident

Committal services will be held at 4 p.m. Monday in Silverbrook cemetery for Miss Clare Emery Eyles, about 80 years old, former resident of Niles, who died June 17 in Newark, N.J.  The Rev. L. George Beacock will be in charge.

The ashes are at the Kiger funeral home. She was cremated June 19 in Newark.  Miss Eyles was a sister of William J. Eyles, who was pastor of the First Baptist church here about 1900.  She lived here at that time. A sister, Miss Jennie Eyles, taught in the Niles schools from 1900 to 1910.

Miss Erminie Eyles, of Newark, another sister, survives.

 

Note: DOB from US Passport Application, 1924.

 

Gulbranson, Marie

Marie Gulbranson
Nov. 5, 1903-July 27, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 28, 1945, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Gulbranson, 41 Dies Friday

After several months of illness, Mrs. Marie Gulbranson, 41, of 71 North State street, died at her home at 3:45 Friday afternoon.

Born in South Bend Nov. 5, 1903, she came to Niles 39 years ago and was married to Louis Gulbranson Dec. 9, 1920.

Besides her husband, she is survived by three children, Sgt. George and Pfc. Richard, both in Germany with the United States army, and Carolyn at home.

Also surviving are a stepfather, Joseph Hibiske of Niles and the following brothers and sisters: Mrs. Willard Schroeder, of Bertrand; Mrs. Cleland Muntz, of Niles; Anna Hibiske, rural route four; Pfc Arthur Hibiske, on Okinawa; Pfc Harry Hibiske in Germany; seaman first class Edward Hibiske, in the south Pacific with the Seabees; seaman first class . . .[illegible] . . .

She was a member of the Lady Elks and Mothers of World War II.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home where services will be conducted at 2 by the Rev. Fr. Jacob Gensterblum, assistant pastor of St. Mary's Catholic church.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Hahn, Earle H.

Earle H. Hahn
June 22, 1908-July 14, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 14, 1945, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Earle H. Hahn, 37, Dies Today at Garyton, Ind.

Earle H. Hahn, 37, of rural route four, died at 12:15 a.m. Today in Garyton, Ind.  He had been ill eight months.

Hahn was born June 22, 1908 in Nappanee, Ind., and was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Hahn, rural route four.  He had lived in Niles 37 years and was graduated from the Niles high school in 1927.  Hahn was an employee of the Clark Equipment Co., Buchanan.

Surviving in addition to his parents are his wife, Mrs. Helen Alta Hahn, four children, Joyce Alice, Nancy Ann, Lawrence Edwin, Betty Joan and four brothers and sisters, Mrs. Albert Kuhl, Niles; Mrs. Emil Kegebein, Garyton; Mrs. Gene Butterfield, Niles and aviation cadet Wayne Heyn, Aloe, Tex.

Time for the funeral has not been set but services will be conducted in the chapel at the Kiger funeral home by the Rev. J. W. Hyink, Bertrand Community church.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Ham, Dora F.

Dora F. Ham
Sept. 29, 1865-June 18, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 18, 1945, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Woman, 79, Dies at Niles Home of Her Daughter

Mrs. Dora F. Ham, 79 of Arlington, Va., died at 6 a.m.  today at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Myrtle Lydick, of 11 South Third street.

Born in South Bend, Sept. 29, 1865, she has lived in Niles at various times and came here with her daughter three weeks ago.

In addition to the daughter in Niles, she is survived by a son, Adrian, of Arlington; five grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home whee services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday by the Rev. H. Nicholson, pastor of Trinity Episcopal church. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Johnson, John

John Johnson
Nov. 22, 1872-June 23, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 25, 1945, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Resident of Niles One Year Succumbs Sunday

Coming to Niles a year ago, John Johnson, 72, who lived at the Elms hotel, died at Pawating hospital at 1:50 p.m. Saturday.

Born in Montevideo, Minn., Nov. 22, 1872, he lived in Chicago before coming here as an experimental worker at the Lorensen propellor plant here.

Surviving are a son, Theodore, in the Navy; and three daughters, Mrs. Olive Leedall, of Wilmar, Minn., Mr. Ruby Brecke, of Aurora, Ill., and Mrs. Marian DeCamp, of Marshall, Minn.

Committal services will be held at Silverbrook cemetery at 2 p.m Tuesday.

 

Keeler, Mark W.

M.W. Keeler
Feb. 12, 1872-July 3, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 5, 1945, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Keeler, Spanish War Vet Dies at Home in Roseland

M.W. Keeler, 1027 East Green Acres, Roseland, Ind., 73, died in his home of a heart attack, July 3 at 6 a.m.  He was born in Monroe, Feb. 12, 1872 and has lived around Niles for 45 years.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Alida Mae Keeler, four children, Miss Esther Keeler, Niles; Horace Keeler, Marcellus; Carol Keeler, Berrien Springs; and M/Sgt. Kenneth Keeler, home on furlough; and one sister, Mrs. Sadie Smith, Flint. He was a member of the Niles chapter of veterans of Spanish-American War.

Services will be held in the Pfifer funeral home Saturday at 2 p.m. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.