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.

Squiers, John C.

John C. Squiers
July 1, 1880-June 19, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, June 20, 1945, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Former Resident of Niles Dies at Home in Mason

A former resident of Niles, John C. Squiers, 64, died at his home in Mason, Mich., and will be buried here in Silverbrook cemetery with a graveside military service Friday afternoon.

Squiers was a brother-in-law of Mrs. Walter Wright, of 903 North Third street and left here about 30 years ago after having been employed at Dean's drug store.  He had retired at the time of his death.

In addition to a son, John, a lieutenant in the Navy he is survived by four daughters and his widow.

The funeral party is expected to arrive here about 2 Friday afternoon when a prayer service at the grave will be conducted by the rev. Theo Eisen and the military rites by Spanish-American war veterans, of which he was a member.

 

 

Tappan, Adela W.

Adela W. Tappan
1900-June 17, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 19, 1945, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Former Resident of Niles Dies at Gary Sunday

Miss Adela Tappan, formerly of Niles, died suddenly Sunday night in Gary of a heart attack, according to word received in Niles Monday afternoon.  She was a teacher of English in the Gary High School.

Funeral services will be held and interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery, Niles, at 1:30 Wednesday afternoon in the family lot where her parents, the C.Q. Tappans, are buried.

A graduate of the University of Michigan, she is survived by a brother, Clarence and a sister, Elaine.  Her father was a mail carrier here for many years.

Wagmer, Nellie Edna

Mrs. Nellie Edna Wagmer
September 4, 1889 - February 20, 1970

Niles Daily Star published Friday February 20, 1970, pg. 2 (from E. Lee)

SOUTH BEND -- Mrs. Nellie Edna Wagner, 80, of 19996 Auten Road, formerly of Niles, died early this morning in the Melrose Manor Nursing Home of Mishawaka, after an extended illness.

Born Sept. 4, 1889, in Kewanna, Ind., Mrs. Wagner had lived in the South Bend-Niles area all her life.   Her husband, George, proceded her in death on Dec. 10, 1959.

Survivors include two sons, Dale and Jack Wagner, both of South Bend;   two daughters, Mrs. Lucile Prieve of South Bend and Mrs. Betty McCormick of Niles;   a sister, Mrs. Dola Clinton of South Bend;   four grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Charles W. Fenton of St. Paul's Lutheran Church of South B end officiating.   Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. 

Wagner, Nellie Edna

Mrs. Nellie Edna Wagner
September 4, 1889 - February 20, 1970

Niles Daily Star published Friday February 20, 1970, pg. 2 (from E. Lee)

SOUTH BEND -- Mrs. Nellie Edna Wagner, 80, of 19996 Auten Road, formerly of Niles, died early this morning in the Melrose Manor Nursing Home of Mishawaka, after an extended illness.

Born Sept. 4, 1889, in Kewanna, Ind., Mrs. Wagner had lived in the South Bend-Niles area all her life.   Her husband, George, proceded her in death on Dec. 10, 1959.

Survivors include two sons, Dale and Jack Wagner, both of South Bend;   two daughters, Mrs. Lucile Prieve of South Bend and Mrs. Betty McCormick of Niles;   a sister, Mrs. Dola Clinton of South Bend;   four grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Charles W. Fenton of St. Paul's Lutheran Church of South B end officiating.   Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. 

Watson, Bertha M.

Bertha M. Watson
June 12, 1863-June 28, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, June 28, 1945, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral Saturday for Mother of Dailey Resident

Mrs. Bertha M. Watson, Buchanan, who formerly made her home with a son at Dailey, died at 6:15 a.m.  today at a rest home in Buchanan where she had been taken two weeks ago.  She was a former resident of Chicago.

Mrs. Watson was born in Effingham, Ill., June 12, 1863. She was a member of Eastern Star, Francis Willard chapter 433, Chicago. Survivors are two children, Forest Watson, of Daily[sic], and Alvin Watson, Chicago; and two sisters, Mrs. Sophie Henenthal, East St. Louis, Mo., and Mrs. Vina Moffett, Chicago.

The body is at the Pifer funeral home where services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday with the Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor of the Methodist church, in charge. Burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery, Niles.

Williams, Marguerite (Johnson)

Marguerite Williams
Oct. 24, 1925-July 8, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 9, 1945, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Young Wife, 19, Succumbs Sunday

Mrs. Marguerite Williams, 19, wife of Laverne Williams, died unexpectedly Sunday morning at her home on rural route three, Niles.

Funeral services have been set tentatively for 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Pifer funeral home. Lewis Culp of the Friends Missionary Society will be in charge of the rites and burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mrs. Williams, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Raleigh Johnson, was born in Niles on Oct. 24, 1925.  Survivors, in addition to the husband and parents, are a daughter, Sharon Anne; brothers and sisters, Mary Anne, Muriel Vawn, Morris Max, Malcolm Mark, Mrs. Walter Martz of Cassopolis, Mrs. Ray Dietrich of Niles, Marvin Williams of Fort Custer and Marshall Gene of the U.S. Navy, now at home.

 

Winget, David

David Winget
May 24, 1862-June 19, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 19, 1945, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

David Winget, 83, Dies Early Today

Following a lingering illness, David Winget, 83, of 1109 Cass street, died at 1 this morning in Pawating hospital.

Born at Wolf Lake, Ind., May 24, 1862, he came here from South Bend 26 years ago and was a carpenter by trade.  His wife, Anna, died several years ago.

Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. Walter Zimmer, Mrs. Ray Lowe and Mrs. Fred Hahn, all of Niles, and Mrs. Thomas Spry, of South Bend; a son, William, of Vancouver, Wash.; a half-brother, Dan Snyder, of Wilmar, Calif.; seven grandchildren and one greatgrandson.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home where services will be conducted at 2 Thursday by the Rev. Theo Eisen, pastor of the St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church, of which the deceased was a member.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, June 21, 1945, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Around the Town:  WINGET RITES TODAY

Funeral services were conducted at 2 this afternoon in the Pifer funeral home for David Winget, 83, who died early Tuesday morning.  Pallbearers were Arthur and Owen Ulitz, Walter Zimer[sic], Fred Hahn, Thormas[sic] Spry, and Ray Lowe and burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.