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.

Lyttle, Roy C.

Roy C. Lyttle
June 20, 1882-July 5, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 7, 1952; page 2, col 5, microfilm, Niles District Library (From K. Alton)

Buchanan. July 7 – Roy C. Lyttle, 70, of rural route one, died Saturday in Pawating hospital, Niles, after a three-year illness.

He was born June 20, 1882, in Ferrysburg, and came here 24years ago from Chicago. His wife, Alice, died in 1941.   Lyttle was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran church of Niles.

Surviving are a son, Richard, of Buchanan; two daughters, Mrs. Fred Young, of Berrien Center, and Mrs. James Gill, of Chicago; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home, Niles, until services at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Niles Lutheran church, with the Rev. Theo Laesch officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery at Niles.

 

Pfifer, Donna Katherine

Donna Katherine Pfifer
June 26, 1952-June 26, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, June 26, 1952; page 2, col. 5, microfilm, Niles District Library (From K. Alton)

A girl was stillborn to Mr. and Mrs. William Pfifer, of 829 North Twelfth street, at 5 a.m. today in Pawating hospital.

Committal services were held this afternoon at Silverbrook cemetery with the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe officiating.  Arrangements were made through the Kiger funeral home.

A brother, William Pfifer, Jr. also survives.

 

Rogge, William Carl

William Carl Rogge
Nov. 2, 1864-Jan. 24, 1936

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, January 25, 1936, page 1, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

CARL ROGGE DIES OF HEART DISEASE

Retired Railroad Worker Had Resided here 51 Years; Funeral Monday

William Carl Rogge, who had lived in Niles for 51 years and was a retired employe of the Michigan Central railroad died Friday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock in Pawating hospital.  Mr. Rogge had been ill for the last two years of a heart ailment. His condition became serious Dec. 20. H was 71 years old, and his late residence was at 401 Day street.

He leaves three children, George C. Rogge, Gary, Ind.; Mrs. Milo Loomis, Niles and Mrs. Albert Wright, Hammond, Ind., also seven grandchildren. Three brothers and a sister live in Wisconsin, Otto and Ernest, in Appleton, Edward in Marionette, and Mrs. Louis Ahrens, in Clintonville.

Mr. Rogge was born in Germany, Nov. 2, 1864. He came to the United States when he was six years old and to Niles when he was 20. He worked for the Michigan Central railroad as car repairer until his retirement. He held a membership in the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen until his death.

He was married in Niles to Miss Ernestina Reum, who died Oct. 1, 1926. Later he was married to Mrs. Adeline Baker, who died a year ago.

The body was taken to the Rutherford-Phillips mortuary, where funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 2;30 o'clock, the Rev. Theo Eisen officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 27, 1936, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News In Brief:  ROGGE RITES TODAY

Funeral services were conducted this afternon[sic] at 2:30 o'clock in the Rutherford-Phillips mortuary for William Carl Rogge, retired Michigan Central employe, who died Friday night. Pallbearers were O.M. Worvey, Edward Wesselhoft, George Knott, George Asmus, Charles Hahn and Charles Alm.

Sage, Josephine Eva

Josephine Eva Sage
1896-April 15, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, April 17, 1952; page 2, col. 5 microfilm, Niles District Library (from K. Alton)

Funeral services for Mrs. Josephine Sage, 56, of Topeka, Kas., who died Tuesday in a South Bend nursing home, will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Connelly funeral home here.  The Rev. Linnus Ceru, pastor of St. Ann’s Catholic church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery in Niles.  Mrs. Sage is survived by her mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Trattles, of Jones, and a brother, George Trattles, of South Bend.

 

Schrumpf, Francis

Mrs. Francis Schrumpf
April 10, 1877-July 20, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 21, 1952; page 2. col. 5 and cont. col. 6, microfilm, Niles District Library (from K. Alton)

Mrs. Francis Schrumpf, 75, of 1120 Lake street, lifelong resident of Niles, died at 7 p.m. Sunday at her home following an illness of one week.

Mrs. Schrumpf was born in Niles April 10, 1877, and had spent her entire life here.  Her husband, George, died in December, 1942.  She was a member of St. John’s Evangelical and Reformed church and an honorary member of Women’s guild of the church.

She is survived by two children, Mrs. William F. Bremer, and Lawrence Schrumpf, both of Niles; a sister Mrs. Lena Rose, also of Niles, and two grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday from St. John’s Evangelical and Reformed church with the pastor, the Rev. Herbert Meussling, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home.

 

Schulz, Julius L.

Julius L. Schulz
Nov. 15, 1847-Jan. 6, 1936

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, January 7, 1936, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Julius Schultz, Who Helped Build M.C. Station, Is Dead

Member of Michigan Central Pioneers' Association Dies at Age of 88; Came From Germany 70 Years Ago

Julius L. Schultz, 88, who came to Niles from Germany 70 years ago, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Henrietta Trockenbrod, 925 Fifth street, at 8:15 Monday night.

Mr. Schultz was a stone mason. He joined the construction department of the Michigan Central soon after arriving here and helped to build the Michigan Central station here. He was employed by the Michigan Central throughout his active years and retired about 25 years ago.

He was a member of one of the most distinctive organizations of the company employees, the Michigan Central Pioneers; association.

Mr. Schultz was born in Germany Nov. 15, 1847. Two daughters survive, Mrs. Trockenbrod and Mrs. Gordon Ullery, both of Niles.

Funeral services will be held Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock in the home of Mrs. Trockenbrod, the Rev. Theo Eisen officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Note:  Cemetery record, Michigan Death record and gravemarker spell name “Schulz”.

 

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, January 8, 1936, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News In Brief:  PALLBEARERS CHOSEN

Henry Schrumpf, George Bates, Charles Geideman, Rudolph Geideman, Henry Geideman and George Geideman will act as pallbearers at the funeral services for Julius Schultz, aged former employe of the Michigan Central, Thursday.  Mr. Schultz died Monday night at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Henrietta Trockenbrod, 925 North Fifth street. Services will be held in the Price and Kiger funeral home at 2:30 o'clock.  The Rev. Theo Eisen, Pastor of St. John's Evangelical church, of which Mr. Schultz was a member, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

 

Shaner, Alta (Crandall)

Mrs. Alta Shaner
1876-July 18, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 19, 1952; page2, col. 6, microfilm, Niles District Library (from K. Alton)

Cassopolis, July 19 – Mrs. Alta Crandall Shaner, 75, of Cassopolis, died at 8:45 p.m. Friday at her home.  Friends may call at the Connelly funeral home after 7 p.m. today. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Leone Akins, of Marcellus, Mrs. Wilbur Harkins, of Penn township; three sons, Melvin, of (illegible), of Hillsdale, and William, of Fort Wayne, Ind., and one sister, Mrs. Belle Bahr, of Marion, Ind.