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.

Klute, Walter Paul

Walter Paul Klute
December 12, 1910 - March 9, 1970

Niles Daily Star published Tuesday March 10, 1970, pg. 2

NILES -- Walter Paul Klute, 59, of 413 S. 15th St., died at 3:20 p.m. Monday in Pawating Hospital, after an illness of two months.

A wire drawer at National Standard Co., Mr. Klute was born Dec. 12, 1910, in Three Oaks, and had lived here since 1941.   On July 16, 1966, in Detroit, he married the former Mildred Carol Moug, who survives.

He was a member of the Niles Elks Lodge.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Richard DeFreez Jr. of Galien;   a brother, Alfred Klute of Three Oaks, and two grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Richard F. Arent of St. Johns Reformed Church officiating.   Burial will be in  Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 tonight at the funeral home.         

 

LaMonica, Jack Marcel

Jack Marcel Lamonica
Feb. 25, 1929-July 8, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 9, 1945, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

16-Year-Old Niles Youth Succumbs at Cleveland Clinic

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Pifer funeral home for Jack Marcel Lamoneca[sic], 16-year-old- son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Lamoneca of 723 Sycamore street.  Lamoneca died at 7:15 p.m. , Saturday in Cleveland clinic, Cleveland, O.  Death followed an illness of two weeks.

Rites will be conducted by Rev. Theo Eisen, pastor of St. John's Evangelical church, and burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery.

Lamoneca was born in Niles on Feb. 24, 1929.  He was formerly employed as a carrier boy for the Daily Star. Surviving, in addition to the parents, is a brother, Jerry.

Miller, Lena B.

Lena Miller 
April 28, 1880-June 3, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 3, 1945, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Lena Miller, 65, Dies Sunday Eve

Miss Lena Miller, 65, of 303 South third street, died at 6:10 Sunday night at Pawating hospital after on illness of five months.  Born in Niles April 28, 180, she  had lived here all her life.  She was a member of Trinity Episcopal church and of the St. Catherine's guild of that church.

Surviving are three sisters, Miss [illegible] of Niles with whom she made her home; Mrs. John F. Plummer, of Berwyn, Ill., and Mrs. Frank Gallagher, of Evanston, Ill.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home until Tuesday afternoon when the body will be taken to the home.

Funeral services will be conduct[sic] at the latter place at 2 Wednesday afternoon by the Rev. Harry L. Nicholson, pastor of Trinity church  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mitchell, James Henry

James Henry Mitchell
Sept. 30, 1857-June 12, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, June 13, 1945, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Illness Ends in Death for Man 87

Several years of failing health resulted int eh death sometime Tuesday night of James Henry Mitchell, 87, a well-known colored resident of Niles.  He was discovered this morning by his daughter, Mrs. Ann Mitchell Chavis, with whom he lived at 12 South Fifteenth street.

Born in Green county,  Ind., on Sept. 30, 1857, he came to Niles at the age of 11 and has lived here continuously since. He was engaged for some time as a farmer. His wife died 14 years ago.

In addition to Mrs. Chavis, he is survived by another daughter, Mrs. Arthur Harrod, also of Niles; two brothers, Charles, of Kalamazoo; and David, of Summerville[sic]; and one sister, Mrs. Maude Lane, Vandalia.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home where the Christian Science service will be read at 2 Friday afternoon by Mrs. Gertrude Ostrander. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, June 16, 1945, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Services Held Friday for James H. Mitchell

Nephews of James henry Mitchell, 87, who died Tuesday night here, served as pall bearers at his funeral held Friday afternoon at the Pifer funeral home. They included Kenneth and Max Mitchell, of Sumnerville, Oscar Mitchell and Clarence Brown, of Benton Harbor; Lyle and William Lawson, of Cassopolis, and Thomas Ampey, of Lawrence.

Out of town relatives who attended the services were Mr. and Mrs. Vern Ampey and son, Lawrence, Mr. and Mrs. Orin Mitchell, Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Mitchell, Mrs. Melvin Mitchell and Vern Patterson, of Benton Harbor, Mrs. Ilah Bright and sister, Benito, of Chicago, Alonzo and Arthur Mahoney, of Decatur, Mrs. Maude Lane, of Vandalia, Mr. and Mrs. William Lawson and Mr. and Mrs. Lyle Lawson, of Cassopolis.

Robb, Helen K. (Ryder)

Mrs. Helen K. Robb
January 7, 1918 - February 25, 1970

Niles Daily Star published Wednesday February 25, 1970, pg 2

NILES -- Mrs. Helen K. Robb, 52, of 525 S. Lincoln, died at 1:10 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital after an illness of several months.

The owner-operator of the Niles Telephone Answering Service for 25 years, Mrs. Robb was born Jan. 7, 1918, in Kalamazoo and had lived in this area all her life.

She was a member of the New Apostolic Church;   Answer America, Inc., and the Berrien County Chapter of the Michigan Vocational Rehabilitation Society.

Survivors include a son, Ronald L. Robb of Niles;   her mother, Mrs. Emily Ryder of Niles;   five brothers, Robert Ryder of Jackson, and Rollie, George, Larry and Kenneth Ryder, all of Niles;   a sister Mrs. Dale Guisinger of Jackson, and a grandson.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the New Apostolic Church, with District Evangelist George A. Meisinger and Ernest Lindsteadt Jr. officiating.   Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after Thursday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

 

Schiffman, John Joseph

John Schiffman
Sept. 30, 1832*-June 20, 1901

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, June 20, 1901, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

John Schiffman died at his home 1199 north Sixth street, at 7:30 o'clock this morning. Mr. Schiffman had been ill for nine years and Bright's disease, terminating in hemorrhage, was the cause of death. Deceased was born in Bavaria, Germany, 63 years ago.  He came to America in 1869 and to Niles in 1873.  He leaves many friends. There are left to mourn his lass, a wife and four children, as follows, Fred, Will, Charles, and Miss Frieda. Funeral arrangements have not been made, awaiting word from all of the children.

Note: Computed from age 68y8m20d at dod per Michigan Death record.

Shipperley, Richard W.

S/Sgt. Richard W. Shipperley
Nov. 28, 1922-June 13, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, June 27, 1945, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Memorial Rites for Shipperley

Memorial services for S/Sgt. Richard W. Shipperley, 21, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Shipperley, rural route four, who reportedly died after parachuting from his plane when it was damaged on a bombing mission over Munich, Germany, June 13, 1944, will be held Sunday at 2:30 p.m in the First Methodist church with the Rev. L.G. Beacock, pastor, officiating.

According to a letter received from a buddy of his, S/Sgt. Shipperley had bailed out over the Alps mountains after being ordered to do so by the pilot. The fuel tank had been hit and the plane was running out of gas.  The pilot headed the plane for the Swiss border but the plan was abandoned and the entire crew parachuted to safety.

The soldier who wrote the letter said they saw the plane crash on the other side of the mountain.  The crew became separated in the jump and he and another soldier headed toward a valley where they found the body of Shipperley. At first they thought he was wounded but then found that he had died possibly of internal injuries. They believed his parachute had become entangled in a mountain rock and had been ripped from him since it was gone when the body was found.

Shipperley was buried in the valley after short funeral rites.  The next day the survivors of the crash were captured by the Germans and were liberated sometime in May. The letter was written after the soldier's return to the United States.

Members of the American Legion Post will present the colors and act as guard of honor.