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.

Deam, Seeley G.

Seeley G. Deam
Aug. 16, 1866-May 24, 1943


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 25, 1943, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

SEELEY G. DEAM, 76, DIES SUDDENLY

 

Seeley G. Deam, 76, life-long resident of Niles and one of the most active members of Trinity Episcopal church, died unexpectedly this morning at 1 in his home, 510 Sycamore street.

Born in Niles Aug. 16, 1866, he was married here Oct. 5, 1898, to Charlotte Summers, who survives. He also leaves a daughter, Mrs. Marjorie Senior, Williamsville, N.Y., and a grandson, Robert J. Senior, Williamsville.

Retiring as a travelling salesman after 30 years in that field, Deam served as Niles representative of an insurance company 16 years.

Rites Thursday

One of Trinity's oldest members in years of service, Deam had served in virtually every capacity in the organization.  A Sunday school teacher many years, he had long been senior warden and served as assistant financial secretary. He also was a member of Masonic groups and of the United Commercial Travelers' association.

Friends may call in the Price and Kiger funeral home until noon Thursday when the body will be taken to Trinity church to lie in state until the hour of the funeral at 2.

The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson, rector, will officiate with burial in Silverbrook cemetery.


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 27, 1943, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Final rites for Seeley G. Deam, 510 Sycamore Street, were conducted this afternoon at 2 in Trinity Episcopal church, of which he long had been a member. The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson, rector, officiated and Masonic lodge members were in charge of committal rites in Silverbrook cemetery.  Pallbearers were Fred R. Eaglesfield, Walter H. Parkin, R. Malcolm Hull, Lewis Walton, Bertrand Posthumus and Dr. John E. Ames.

Halverson, Harriet Martin (Butler)


Harriet Martin Halverson
July 22, 1887-April 18, 1943


Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 19, 1943, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

HARRIET HALVERSON DIES DURING WALK

 

Mrs. Harriett Halverson, 56, of 104 1/2 North Second street, dropped diead of a heart attack Sunday night at 11 while walking in the 100 block on North Front street with her husband, Fred Halverson, and a friend, Mrs. Minnie Harrington.

Mrs. Halverson had been ill two years, and in serious condition for the last two weeks, but was believed improving.

Born in Earl Park, Ind. July 22, 1887, she came to Niles in 1929 from Kankakee, Ill. Her first husband, Zephyre Martin, Sr., died in 1915 and her marriage to Halverson was solemnized in Kankee[sic] in 1926.

Surviving with the husband are a son, Zephyre Martin, Jr., Niles; a brother, Oscar Butler, Goodline, Ind.,and six grandchildren.

Friends may call in the Rutherford funeral home. Although other arrangements are incomplete, burial will be in Kankakee.

 

Hoese, Carol Kaye

Carol Kaye Hoese
Nov. 16, 1942-May 8, 1943


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, May 8, 1943, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library


Hoese Baby Dies; Funeral Monday

 

Carol Kaye Hoese, 5 1/2 months old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Glen W. Hoese, 1211 Wayne street, died this morning at 12:30 in Epworth hospital after an illness of two weeks.

Surviving with the parents are five brothers--Walter, Robert, Virgil, Donald and Glen Hoese, Jr., all at home, and the grandparents, Frank Hoese, Niles, and Mrs. and Mrs. Walter Nichols, Mode, Ill.

The baby was born in Niles Nov. 16, 1942.

Friends may call in the Pifer funeral home where services will be conducted Monday afternoon at 2. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 11, 1943, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Infant Hoese

Final rites for Carol Kaye Hoese, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Glen W. Hoese, 1211 Wayne street, were conducted Monday afternoon at 2 in the Pifer funeral home. The infant died Saturday morning in Epworth hospital. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Johnson, Lustella

Lustella Johnson
Sept. 1, 1889-June19, 1943


Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 21, 1943, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Lustella Johnson, Ill Six Weeks, Dies in Hospital

 

Miss Lustella Johnson, 53, 613 North Fourth Street, died Saturday night at 11:15 in Pawating hospital after an illness of six weeks.

A resident of Niles since 1934, Miss Johnson came here from Jackson where she was born Sept. 1, 1889. She was a retired registered nurse.

Her only survivors are two cousins, Mrs. David Bergstedt and Mrs. Gust Lundberg, both of Chicago.

Friends may call in the Price and Kiger chapel where services will be conducted Tuesday afternoon at 2. The Rev. Guy W. Simon, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, will officiate with burial in Silverook cemetery.

 

Kirk, Vernon

Vernon Kirk
Aug. 10, 1893-May 9, 1943



Niles Daily Star, Monday, May 10, 1943, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Vernon Kirk, Rail Inspector, Dies; Funeral Tuesday

 

Vernon Kirk, 49, Barron lake, a Michigan Central railroad car inspector the last 27 years, died at 4:30 Sunday morning in Pawating hospital after an illness of three months.

Born in Logansport,Ind., Aug. 10, 1893, he came to Niles from Logansport in 1913. Surviving is the former Lorine Kizer, to whom he was married April 9, 1914.

He also leaves his mother, Mrs. George Whitacre, Fort Recovery, Ohio; four children, June Kirk, at home; Mrs. Richard Milner, Buchanan; Norman Kirk, Dowagiac, and Maynard Kirk, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; a brother, Norman Kirk, Niles, and seven grandchildren.

He was a member of the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen of America.

Friends may call in the Pifer funeral home, where the service will be conducted Tuesday afternoon at 2. William F. Putnam will officiate with burial in Silverbrook cemetery.


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 11, 1943, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Charles Laudenslager,Michael Novak, Charles Schaber, earl Clark, Hartman Bachman and Frank Corey were pallbearers this afternoon at funeral services for Vernon Kirk, Barron lake, who died Sunday morning in Pawating hospital. Rites were conducted at 2 in the Pifer funeral home, with William F. Putnam officiating. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.


Knott, Minnie

Minnie Knott
May 20, 1870-April 25, 1943


Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 26, 1943, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

MINNIE KNOTT, 72, STRICKEN SUNDAY

 

Miss Minnie Knott, 72, of 501 Platt street, died Sunday morning at 7:30 in Pawating hospital after undergoing an operation for acute appendicitis.

Born in Niles May 20, 1870, daughter of the late Carolyn and Frederick Knott, she had lived here all her life.

Surviving is one sister, Mrs. Kathryn Duval. Another sister and two brothers preceded her in death.  They were Matilda, Charles and William Knott.

Friends may call in the Rutherford funeral home where Mrs. Durlin Wheeler will read a Christian Science service Tuesday afternoon at 2:30. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Krueger, Harvey

Harvey Krueger
Dec. 13, 1884-May 25, 1943

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 25, 1943, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

HARVEY KRUEGER, ENGINEER, DIES

 

In ill health since November, Harvey J. Krueger, 58, a resident of Niles since 1920, died this morning at 2 in his home at 1112 Regent street.

An engineer for the Michigan Central railroad, Krueger came to Niles from Michigan City, where he was born Dec. 13, 1884.

He was a member of St. Joseph Valley lodge No. 4, F. and A.M., and of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.

Surviving with his widow, Mrs. Tillie Krueger, are two sons, Lloyd H. Krueger, Niles,and Ray E. Krueger, Camp McDowell, Naperville, Ill. He also leaves a brother and two sisters, John Krueger, Grand Rapids, and Mrs. John Nichols and Miss Henrietta Krueger, both of Michigan City, and two granddaughters, Martha and Phylls Krueger, Niles.

Friends may call in the Pifer funeral home where the services will be conducted Thursday afternoon at 2.  Elder Dudley Newbold, Berrien Springs, will officiate with burial in Silverbrook cemetery.


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 27, 1943, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Krueger Pallbearers

Edward Christner, Henry Ristau, Gregory Brown, Joseph Machalleck, Floyd Barnes and William Harms served as pallbearers this afternoon at funeral services for Harvey J. Krueger, 1112 Regent Street.  Elder Dudley Newbold, Berrien Springs, officiated at the rites at 2 in the Pifer funeral home. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery. Mr. Krueger, a Michigan Central Railroad engineer, died Thursday morning after an extended illness.