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.

Garner, Jack Erwin 1930

Jack Erwin Garner
Dec. 2, 1930-Dec. 2, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, December 2, 1930, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: FUNERAL GARNER BABY

Funeral services for Jack Erwin Garner, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Garner, of 503 South Third street, born this morning, will be held at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the Rutherford chapel. Rev. Guy W. Simon will conduct the service.

Guenthner, George H. 1864-1922

George H. Guenthner
Dec. 15, 1864-Aug. 3, 1922

Niles Daily Star-Sun (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, August 3, 1922, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

G.H. GENTHNER RECIEVES FATAL INJURIES

George H. Genthner[sic], Silver Brook avenue, died at Clark hospital in Buchanan at 12:30 o'clock this morning, from injuries received in a runaway accident on Fourth Street about 6 o'clock last evening. Mr. Geuthner [sic] had started home from the Pike hotel, driving a horse hitched to a light wagon, when the horse became unmanageable, and ran away. Mr. Geuthner [sic] was thrown out near Dr. Van Noppen's sanitarium, striking the pavement with great force. He was carried into the sanitarium in an unconscious condition, and after being temporarily cared for, was taken to Clark hospital. He died without regaining consciousness except for a few minutes. Death was caused by a fractured skull. A slight swelling back of one ear was the only external evidence of injury.

The body was brought to the Newell undertaking rooms and this afternoon was taken to the home in Silver Brook avenue where the funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon. Rev. P.G. Safffan will officiate. Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.

Mr. Geunther[sic[ was born in Lyons county, New York, Dec. 15, 1864. He came to Michigan when he was nine years of age and entered the home of Robert Sloan at Decatur, where he grew to young manhood. From Decatur he went to Benton Harbor and engaged in the fishing business for several years, and then moved to a farm north of Niles. He came to Niles about ten years ago, and two years ago he moved to Silver Brook avenue where he engaged in fruit farming. Twenty-four years ago he was married to Amy Corton who survives him. A daughter, Mrs. John P. McAuliffe of West Niles, a brother who resides in Buffalo, and a brother who resides in Dowagiac, and a sister also survive.

The deceased was a member of the Niles camp, M.W.A.

 

Niles Daily Star-Sun (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, August 5, 1922, page 8, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for H.H. Geuthner[sic] were held this afternoon at his late home in Silver Brook avenue. Rev. P.G. Saffran conducted the services. Burial took place in Silver Brook cemetery.

Long, Andrew 1880-1922

Andrew W. Long
Aug. 25, 1880-July 26, 1922*

Niles Daily Star-Sun (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, July 27, 1922, page 8, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Andrew W. Long, 42 years old, died yesterday afternoon at 3:45 o'clock at his home, 805 Sycamore street, from a stroke of paralysis suffered two days before, his death coming as a shock to his friends. He is survived by his wife. The body may be viewed at the home on Friday. The funeral services will be held at the Second Baptist church on Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Burial will take place in Silver Brook Cemetery.

 

*DOB/DOD from Michigan Death Certificates@Ancestry.com

Stabler, Ida Florence (Davis) 1873-1930

Ida Florence Stabler
May 23, 1873-Oct. 12, 1930*

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, October 15, 1930, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: FUNERAL SERVICES FOR MRS. STABLER

Funeral services were held this afternoon in the Troost & Augustine chapel for Mrs. Ida Florence Stabler, wife of Arthur Stabler, who died in Nevada, Iowa, where she had an operation. Mr. and Mrs. Stabler resided on what was formerly the F.J. Plym farm north of Niles, now owned by D.E. Stultz of Chicago. Mrs. Stabler was born in Illinois in 1873. The funeral services were conducted by an elder from Emmanuel Missionary college. Burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery.

 

*DOB/DOD and Maiden Name from Iowa Death Certificates@Ancestry.com

Valentine, Vernon L. 1917-1993

Vernon L. Valentine
Aug. 24, 1917-Feb. 18, 1993

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Friday, February 19, 1993, page 2, col. 4-5, microfilm Niles District Library

Vernon L.
Valentine
1917-1993
retired plate handler
at Simplicity Pattern

Funeral services [for] Vernon Lowell Valentine, 75, 1121 N. Seventh St., Niles are scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home with Pastor W.W. Green, of Westminster Presbyterian Church, officiating.

Military rites will be conducted by LaRue Messenger Post 26 of the American Legion.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Valentine died at 2:45 p.m. Thursday [at] St. Joseph Medical Center in South Bend after a long illness.

Born Aug. 24, 1917, in Niles, he was a plate maker.

He served in the U.S. Army in World War II. He was a member of the BPO Elks Lodge 1322, the LaRue Messenger Post 26 of the American Legion and was a life member of the VFW Post 2098 in South Bend.

Survivors include a brother, Maurice Valentine of Niles.

Friends may call from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Vetterly, Leland E. Sr. 1900-1993

Leland E. Vetterly, Sr.
April 5, 1900-Feb. 24, 1993

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, February 27, 1993, page 2, col. 7-8, correcting obit from February 26, page 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Leland E.
Vetterly Sr.
1900-1993
Retired Railroad
conductor

Funeral services for Leland E. Vetterly Sr., 92, 604 Wayne St., Niles, are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. today at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. Ralph Pletcher, retired minister of Coulter's Chapel Church of God, officiating.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Vetterly died Wednesday at home following a long illness.

Born April 5, 1900, in Furnessville, Ind., he lived in Niles since 1921, coming from Michigan City.

In 1918, he marred the late Estella Trampski, who preceded him in Death in 1958. On March 12, 1977, in Niles, he married the former Arietta Carpenter, who preceded him in death.

He was a Railroad conductor, retiring in 1965 after working on the railroad for 50 years.

He as a member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and the Niles Eagles Lodge.

Survivors include two daughters, Ruth McConnell of Niles and Jacqueline Marsh of Buchanan; a son, Leland E. Vetterly Jr. of Niles; five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Two sisters preceded him in death.

Friends may call after today until the service at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Fort St. Joseph Museum.

 

Summers, Emma L. (Robbins) 1933-2021

Emma L. Summers
Dec. 24, 1933-Sept. 14, 2021

Niles Daily Star, Published 3:24 pm Wednesday, September 15, 2021

Emma Summers, 87, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021, at her home. Arrangements are pending & entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles. BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Published online at Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services website:

Obituary of Emma L Summers

Emma L. Summers, 87, of Niles passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 14, 2021, at her residence, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on Christmas Eve of 1933, in Niles to the late Charlie F. and Mary E. (Fitzgerald) Robbins. Emma graduated from Niles High School, class of 1952. On October 14, 1956, she wed George W. Summers at a ceremony in Niles. She worked as a service clerk for the City of Niles Utilities, retiring after more than thirty years of service. She was a member of Hope Community Church in Niles. Emma found great enjoyment at working puzzles, and playing games both in paperback as well as electronically. She often spent time watching classic television, and the Game Show Network. She was an avid reader of Christian Fiction and was the kind of woman who lived her faith. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, George, and a sister, Donna Belle DeForest. Emma is survived by her daughter, Rev. Sheryl (James) Blake of Niles; a son, Barry Summers of Niles; grandchildren; Andrea Blake of Mishawaka and Ariana (Jacob) Grabill of Mishawaka; her family by love, Scott and Kristi Craig and their children, Lauryn, Oliviah, Lucie and Scotty James. She will also be missed by other relatives and countless friends. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, September 19, 2021. at 3:00 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home in Niles with Pastor Nathanael Lyon officiating. A time of visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday. An interment will be held on Monday, September 20, 2021, at 9:00 a.m. at Silverbrook Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in Emma’s memory to Hope Community Church, Lake Street, Niles, Michigan 49120. Memories of Emma may be shared with her family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com. The family of Emma Summers is being cared for by Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Niles.