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.

Koontz, Augusta

Mrs. Augusta Koontz
1861-Dec. 16, 1950

Niles Daily Star; Saturday, December 16, 1950; page 2, column 5, microfilm, Niles District Library

Mrs. Augusta Koontz, a former Niles resident, died at 3 a.m. today in the home of her daughter at Omaha, Neb. She was the mother of Mrs. Henry Korman, of Niles.

 

Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Kaiser, Henry d 1950

Henry Kaiser
Jan. 11, 1892-June 14,1950

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, June 14, 1950; page 2 column 4, microfilm, Niles District Library

Henry Kaiser, 58, of 702 North Thirteenth street, died suddenly in his home at 12:35 a.m. today.

Born here Jan. 11, 1892, Kaiser spent his lifetime in Niles. On Feb. 10, 1915, he married Lena Below in St. Joseph. He was employed at the National Standard company, and was a member of the Moose lodge.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are a son, Myron Kaiser, of Niles; a daughter, Mrs. Robert VanAukens, Muskegon, two half-brothers, Frank and George Goldfuss, of Niles, and two-half-sisters, Mrs. Orville Williams and Mrs. Irene Jerue, both of Niles.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home, where the Rev. Harold Hohman will conduct funeral services at 1 p.m. Friday. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery,

Pugh, Howard J.

Howard J. Pugh
Dec. 23, 1889-April 21, 1950

Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 21, 1950; page 2, column 4, microfilm, Niles District Library

Howard J. Pugh, 61, of 120 Huron street, died at 6 a.m. today in Pawating hospital. He had been in poor health for five weeks.

Pugh was born Dec. 23, 1889 in Boone, Ia., and came to Niles 40 years ago from Jones, Mich. He has been employed as a carpenter by the French paper mill for the past 29 years. He was a member of the First Methodist church here and the St. Joseph Valley Free and Accepted Masons.

Surviving are his wife, Ida, his mother, Mrs. Stella Lyon Pugh, of Centerville, and two sons, Howard Jr. of Atlanta, Ga., and Jack, of Niles.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home where services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday by the Rev. l. George Beacock, pastor of the First Methodist church. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Parker, Harry O.

Harry O. Parker
May 10, 1875-March 7, 1950

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 8, 1950; page 2, column 4, microfilm, Niles District Library 

Harry O. Parker, 74, former vice president of the French Paper company, and a well-known civic and religious leader here, died at 3 p.m. yesterday at his home at 410 Cedar street after an illness of four months.

Parker had been a resident of Niles for 50 years, coming here to join the French Paper company from Three Rivers, his birthplace. He retired as vice president of the company in 1944. In 1899, he married Minette Simonds in Three Rivers.

He was a member of the First Church of Christ Scientist, of Niles, and of the (illegible text) of Christ Scientist, in Boston. A member of the Niles Rotary club, Parker was a past president of the Niles Elks lodge, a director of the First National bank, a past master of the Niles Masonic lodge, and a past worthy patron of the Eastern Star.

Surviving are his wife; a brother (illegible text) and two sisters, Mrs. Naomi Moyer, of Kalamazoo, and Mrs. Roxana Stevens, of Indianapolis.

Services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday at the Kiger funeral home with Reader John H. Mitchell officiating. Burial will be in the mausoleum in Silverbrook cemetery. The body is on view at home.

Note: DOB from Michigan Deaths 1921-1952

Wilson, Samuel E.

Samuel E. Wilson
Oct. 4, 1879-March 23, 1950

Niles Daily Star, Friday, March 24, 1950; page 2, column 4, microfilm, Niles District Library

Samuel E. Wilson, of Dayton, died in Pawating hospital Thursday at 8:45 p.m., after an illness of six months.

Surviving are his widow, Alice, and one daughter, Mrs. Roy Weaver, of Osceola, Ind.; step-children, Mrs. Dennis Townsend, of Dayton. Harold Rook, of Buffalo, N. Y., Mrs. Glen (illegible ) of Battle Creek, and Charles (illegible text) of South Bend; 18 grand-children and 40 great-grandchildren.

Wilson was born in Cleveland on (illegible text), and lived in Dayton for the past two years after moving there from Niles. He was a (illegible text) Michigan Central Railroad employee, a member of the (illegible text).

Friends may call at the (illegible text) funeral home, where services will be held at (illegible text) p.m. Monday. The pastor will be announced later. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Note: DOB from Michigan Deaths 1921-1952

 

McClure, Elmer H.

Elmer H. McClure
July 9, 1898-March 17, 1950

Niles Daily Star, Friday , March 17, 1950; page 2 column 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Elmer H. McClure, rural route five, died this morning at 12:10 a.m. in Pawating hospital after an illness of three weeks.

Surviving are his widow, Mary, a son (illegible text), daughter, all of Niles, and two brothers. Earl McClure, of Missoula, Mont., and Edward McClure, of Chicago.

He was born in Kansas on July 9, 1898, and came here from Albion 28 years ago. He worked for South Bend, and was a member of the Studebaker corporation and of the St. Joseph Valley Masonic lodge.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home where services will be conducted by the Masonic lodge at 2 p.m. Monday. The Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, pastor of the First Presbyterian church will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Eckler, Flora Belle

Mrs. Flora Eckler
April 10, 1866-Feb. 5, 1950

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 6, 1950; page 2, column 5, microfilm, Niles District Library

Mrs. Flora Belle Eckler, 83, of rural route four, died at 2 p.m. Sunday in her home after an illness of several years.

She was born April 10, 1866, in Berrien County, and spent her entire life in the county. Her husband, John F. Eckler, died in 1937.

Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Nellie Frucci, two sons, John Eckler and Paul Swiskey, and a brother, William C. Day, all of Niles. Also surviving are four grandchildren.

The Rev. T. M. Greenhoe will conduct funeral services at the Kiger Funeral home at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call at the Kiger Home.