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.
Marcia Kling
November 2, 1942 - May 12, 2015
Earnest Fowler, Sr., of Niles
Oct. 14, 1920 — May 5, 2015
Niles Daily Star, Published 9:17am Friday, May 8, 2015
Earnest Fowler, Sr. 94, of Niles, passed away on Tuesday, May 5, 2015, at Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles.
Earnest was born on Oct. 14, 1920, to the late James and Jennie Fowler in Clarksdale, Mississippi. On Aug. 18, 1941, he married Dorothy Fowler at a ceremony in Caruthersville, Missouri. Earnest was a United States Navy veteran and was honorably discharged in 1945. Earnest started at Clark Equipment Company in 1952 and retired in 1980. In 1966 he became a member of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. Ray Naboris. Earnest enjoyed listening to B.B King and Al Green and singing and humming his music. Earnest was a great comedian and always had a great joke to tell. His greatest joy in life was to make someone laugh. A special thank you to special friends/family; David Reid (grandson, for the special care,) Joe Miller and all of his other porch friends.
He is survived by his children, Earnest (Deborah) Fowler, Ruby Smith and Leonard Fowler, 39 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Earnest is preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Fowler in 2003; children, James Fowler, Bruce Fowler, Marilyn Fowler and Emma Kelly; parents, James and Jennie; brothers, James and Hayward; sister, Ruby Fowler and two grandchildren, Duane Reid and Joyce Marie.
Funeral Services will begin at noon Monday, May 11, 2015, at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, Niles. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service from 11 a.m. to noon. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan. Online condolences may be made at www.hovenfunerals.com
James Evan Myers
1922-March 12, 2015
JAMES EVAN
MYERS, 93
Design Engineer
WINTER HAVEN - James Evan Myers, 93, of Winter Haven, passed away March 12, 2015, 5 days after a fall.
Born in Dubuque, Iowa, to Hubert E. Myers and Helen (nee Kretz) Myers, Jim moved to Florida from Niles, Michigan, after retirement from Tylers Refrigeration where he was a Design Engineer. A Sailor during WWII, Jim met the love of his life, Virginia Doris Swank, while stationed in Atlantic City, NJ. They married August 6, 1944, and moved to Niles in 1947. Virginia died shortly after their 25th wedding anniversary in 1969. Their union was blessed with two daughters: Virginia 'Ginger' (Jerry) Dalenberg, of Edwardburg, Michigan, and Leesburg, Florida, and Sherri (Lyle) Myers-Wray of Auburndale, Florida; grandchildren: Tracy Paquette, Tricia Dalenberg, Tami Dalenberg, Taner Dalenberg and Michael Wray; great-grandchildren: Eric Myers, Devin, Dru and Jalen Brown, Riley Curtis, Nate and Lindsey Dalenberg. Jaxtin Bonifacius-Myers is Jim's first great-great!
In 1970 Jim married Loretta Faye Buck Kehr (who also preceded him in death) and welcomed four step-daughters: Deborah (Zachary) Williams and Sharon Wyne, both of Muncie, IN, Marsha (Roger) DePoy and Cindy (Jerry) Claxton, both of Niles, MI; grandchildren: Holly Williamson, Amanda Williams, Amber Wyne, Ashleigh Hellis, Kevin DePoy, Jeff DePoy, Paul DePoy and Marissa Claxton and 12 more great-grandchildren.
Jim also leaves behind several nieces and nephews as well as the children of lifelong friends who will miss him terribly.
There will be a memorial service held on March 27th at 12:30 pm in the clubhouse at Cypress Gardens Mobile Home and RV Park, 1951 Lake Daisy Road, Winter Haven. Michigan services are pending, internment will be with Virginia at Silver Brook Cemetery, Niles, Michigan.
Published in Ledger from Mar. 26 to Mar. 27, 2015
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/theledger/obituary.aspx?pid=174487508#sthash.CzXMTu5r.dpuf
C. Henry Mason
May 11, 1872-Oct. 8, 1935
Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, October 8, 1935, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library
H. Mason, 65, chief engine dispatcher at the Michigan Central and a resident of Niles for 17 years was found dead in bed at the family home this morning. Death came suddenly for Mr. Mason had retired in apparently good health last night. He had been working Monday as usual.
Mr. Mason and his family came here from Bay City in 1913. He had been active in lodge and civic work and was widely known among the railway fraternity through the state.
As a member of the board of public safety, he had served Niles for three years. He was also a director of the Niles Savings and Loan company, a member of the Elks lodge and a 32d degree Mason.
Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Nellie Mason, and five children, Charles, Phyllis, Mrs. Marjorie Shouder and Meredith Harger, all of Niles, and Henry, of St. Joseph.
Funeral arrangements, which are as yet incomplete, will be announced Wednesday.
Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, October 9, 1935, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library
Niles News in Brief: MASON FUNERAL FRIDAY
Funeral services for Henry Mason, who died suddenly Tuesday at the family home . . .[illegible] . . in the Elks temple Friday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. The Elks' ritualistic service will be used both at the temple and at the burial service in Silverbrook cemetery. Business houses will close during the hour of the funeral.
Niles Daily Star, Thursday, October 10, 1935, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library
Niles business houses will be closed Friday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock and remain closed during the funeral of Henry mason at the Elks temple. The closing is a mark of deference to the civic, fraternal and business leader who died Tuesday morning at his home, 922 Sycamore street,
The body will be taken to the Elks' temple at 1 o'clock in the afternoon. The Elks lodge officers will conduct the ritualistic service. They will be lead by John Whiteleather, exalted ruler; assisted by Lester Lyon, esteemed leading knight; Daniel van Noppen, esteemed lecturing knight; Lloyd Walsh, esteemed loyal knight; Palmer B. Williams, secretary; Paul Ernst, chaplain, and Leroy Warren, esquire.
Mr. Mason's associates in business, lodge,and civic work will act as pallbearers. They are Albert R. [illegible], Palmer B. Williams, H. C. Schlundt, W. C. Morden, Walter Cooney and A. W. Turner.
Acting as honorary escort from the Elks temple to Silverbrook cemetery will be two cars of members of the board of public safety, police and fire departments. These will include Fred Babcock, Edward Wesselhoft, Payne Phelps, Lloyd C. Bates, chief of police, Malcolm Collins, fire chief, and George Francis, former chief of police.
Mr. and Mrs. Rex Leach will sing during the service and Mrs. Leach will play during the hour preceding the service.
Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.
Several members of the family from out of the city are expected for the service on Friday. They are:
Mr. and Mrs. E.A. Mason, Detroit; Mr. and Mrs. C. Mason, Chicago; A.E. Gay, Fremont, Mich.; Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Whyte, C.A. Gay and Mrs. Young, Bay City.
Niles Daily Star, Friday, October 11, 1935, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library
Niles business houses, except for the drug stores, closed Friday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock as a mark of respect to C.H. Mason, whose funeral services were held in the Elks' temple. The city hall also was closed during the hour of the services.
Representatives from the board of public safety, of which he was a member, of the police and fire departments, from the Michigan Central, where he was chief engine dispatcher, and from the Niles Federal Savings and Loan association, of which he was a director, acted as pallbearers and honorary escort.
Services at the temple were in charge of the officers of the Elks lodge, who also officiated at the burial service at Silverbrook cemetery.
Note: Dates of birth/Death from Gravemarker.
Walter Milligan
July 15,1889-Nov. 27, 1935
Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 29, 1935, page 1, col. 1, cont. page 2, col. 4 (microfilm Niles District Library)
Walter Milligan, for 18 years an executive a the Kawneer plant, died Wednesday afternoon at Pawating hospital. His death terminated an illness extending over the last three weeks and followed a relapse Tuesday nigh. Mr. Milligan was 45 years of age.
Undergoing an emergency operation for acute appendicitis in the early morning hours of November 9, Mr. Milligan was reported to be in good condition after a few hours, complications developed, however, and for two weeks this condition was considered extremely grave. He began to amend late last week, and early this week it was announced he would be taken to his Topinabee home within a few days. He sank rapidly after the relapse Tuesday night. Mrs. Milligan, who had remained at his bedside during the entire three weeks of his illness, was with him at the end.
Mr. Milligan's death occurred on his wife's birthday and on the 28th anniversary of his mother's death.
His death case a shadow over the Thanksgiving holiday, for Mr. Milligan had a wide circle of friends from all walks of life, his associates and his various fraternal groups. Although he had never taken an active part in civic activity he was widely known among the business group.
At Kawneer today expressions of deep regret were heard over the loss of a valuable executive and a friendly department head. Mr. Milligan had been associated with the Kawneer for 18 years, coming to Niles, Aug. 2, 1917. He was foreman of the machine shop for a year and a half, assistant superintendent for the same period and finally factory manager in charge of production, a post he had held for 15 years.
His fraternal affiliations included a membership in the Niles lodge of (Continued on Page Two) Elks, the Masonic blue ledge in Gallion, Ohio, and the potentiary of Grand Rapids. The family has been living in the new home at Topinabee for the last year.
Mr. Milligan was born in Coshocton, Ohio, July 15, 1889. He came to Niles from Clyde, Ohio, where he had been employed by the Elmore Automobile Works.
He leaves his wife, Martha, and one son, Thurston, a student in Niles high school, also two sisters, and one brother, Mrs. Charles Randles, Coshocton, Ohio, and Mrs. Charles Sigman, Dover, Ohio, and one brother, Charles Milligan, Coshocton, Ohio.
Private funeral services will be held in the residence in Topinabee Saturday. Afterward the body will lie in state at St. John's Evangelical church from 1:30 to 2:4 o'clock Saturday afternoon. At 3 o'clock, the Rev. Dr. G.W. Simon will officiate at the church service and at the burial service at Silverbrook cemetery.
The pallbearers will be Arthur, Charles and Alden Krause, of Berrien Springs, and Chester Krause, of Pittsburgh, and George Kneeshaw, of Niles. All but Mr. Kneeshaw are brothers-in-law of the deceased.
Herman J. Mutz
Nov. 16, 1855-Nov. 26, 1935
Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 27, 1935, page 1, col. 1, cont. page 2, col. 7 (microfilm Niles District Library)
The second fatality of the week on the Michigan Central tracks here occurred early Tuesday night when Herman J. Mutz, 210 Sycamore street, aged retired employe of the Michigan Central railroad, was found dead near the station.
Mr. Mutz's body was found at 7:45 o'clock last night about 300 feet east of the Michigan Center warehouse;. An opening in the fence at that point provides a short cut for persons who wish to avoid going over the viaduct.
He was apparently bound for a visit to some of his friends when he crossed the track in the path of No. 12, Michigan Central fast train, east bound. His body was by members of the switching crew.
Ernest A. Smith, 1110 North Sixth street, died Monday from an attack of apoplexy and exposure. He lost consciousness and fell off a switch engine last Saturday night, due to a sudden heart attack. He as found beside the tracks after lying two hours in the cold.
Mr. Mutz had worked for the Michigan Central more than 40 years when he was retired on a pension about 10 years ago. He was formerly em- (Continued on Page Two) ployed as a section foreman on the South Bend division.
Born in Germany, Nov. 16, 1855, he came to Niles in 1882 and had lived here more than 50 years. His last work with the railroad was in the track department. Later he worked at Silverbrook cemetery.
Mr. Mutz leaves three children, August Mutz,and Mrs. William Fedore, of Niles, and Rudolph Mutz, of Sturgis. Of his three other children, Mrs. Lena Schnick died in 1919; Mrs. Martha Mutz in 1901, and Mrs. Clara Foss in 1933. Thirteen grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews survive.
In 1878 he was married to Miss Louise Lehmann in Germany, who died several years ago.
The body was brought to the Rutherford-Phillips mortuary, where services will be held Friday at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. The Rev. Theo Eisen will officiate and buiral[sic] will be in Silverbrook cemetery.
Mr. Mutz's fraternal affiliations were with the Order of Maintenance of Way of the Michigan Central railroad. He was a member of St. John's Evangelical church of the the brotherhood of that church.
Meta Edna Bauer
Aug. 8, 1900-Sept. 21, 1971
News-Palladium (Benton Harbor, Michigan), Saturday, September 23, 1967; page 10, col. 3, Submitted by K. Alton
NILES - Mrs. Fred A. (Meta E.) Bauer, 67, of 2239 North Fifth street, Niles died Thursday at 2:30 p.m. in Billings hospital, Chicago, Ill., where she had been a patient for two weeks. She had been ill since January.
Mrs. Bauer was born in St. Joseph, Aug. 8, 1900. She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran church, Niles, and a member of the Lady Trainmen.
Survivors include her husband, whom she married July 29, 1918, in St. Joseph; a son, Donald L. of Caro; two grandsons’ two great-grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Amanda Ruhno of St. Joseph; and a brother, Gus Yeske of Wheat Ridge, Colo.
Funeral services will be held Monday at 2 p.m. in St. Paul’s Lutheran church, Niles. The Rev. Theodore Laesch, pastor, will officiate.
Burial will follow in Silverbrook cemetery, Niles
Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m. today.