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.

Sallee, Gerald R. Sr. 1935-1995

Gerald R. Sallee Sr.
Nov. 24, 1935-May 13, 1995

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Wednesday, May 15, 1996, page 2, col. 1-3

Gerald R. “Gary” Sallee Sr.
1335-1996
lifetime Niles resident

Funeral services for Gerald R. “Gary” Sallee Sr., 60, of 2758 Paul, Niles, will be 11 a.m. Friday, May 17 at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Lt. Vernon Van Sandt Jr. of the Salvation Army-Marquette officiating.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mr. Sallee died at 6:05 p.m. Monday, May 14 at his home, following an extended illness.

He was born Nov. 24, 1935 in Niles, and was a lifetime resident of the city.

He was first married on July 26, 1957 at Niles to the former Lula Belle Kiste, who preceded him in death Dec. 24, 1972. He was then married to the former Jeana B. Friesen: she survives.

Mr. Sallee was the owner/operator of D & G Excavating of Niles.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by three daughters, Mary Lou Roper of South Bend and Tonia Kay Echevarria and Cheryl Ann Sallee of Niles; four sons, Ronald LeRoy, Danny Joe, Terry Lee, and Garrett Edward Friesen Sallee, all of Niles; nine brothers, Jack Sallee of Fort Wayne, Eugene Sallee of Niceville, Fla., Robert “Bill”, Taylor “Babe” and Cecil Sallee of Niles; Vernon, Rex and Richard “Dick” Van Sandt of Niles and James Snyder of Niles; 10 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.

A son, Gerald Raymond Sallee Jr. and a grandson, David Echevarria II, preceded him in death.

Friends may call from 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.

Schick, Jack C. 1919-1992

Jack C. Schick
Oct. 28, 1919-June 14, 1992

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Tuesday, June 16, 1992, page 2, col. 2

Funeral services for Jack C. Schick, 72, of 318 Stroll Lane, Sun City Center, Fla., will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday at the First Presbyterian Church, Niles, by the Rev. Clayton D. Fairo.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mr. Schick died at 2:05 a.m. Sunday at South Bay Hospital, Sun City, Fla., following an extended illness.

He was born Oct. 29, 1919, in South Bend, Ind., and has resided in Sun City Center, Fla., since 1987, coming from Niles.

Mr. Schick was the retired owner of Schick Insurance Agency.

He was a 60 year member and former elder for the First Presbyterian Church, Niles; and affiliated member of Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church, Sun City Center, Fla.

Mr. Schick was appointed by Florida Gov. Martinez to the Alafia River Basin Board.

He was president, Sun City Center Republican Club; a member of the Retired Officers Association, Sun City Center,; member of the Sun City Center Men's Club; 1990 campaign chairman, Florida State Rep. Chris Corr; Sun City Center Security Patrol; past president Niles Lions Club; past president Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce; life member Niles Elks and Saint Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4, F. & A.M.

Mr. Schick was a retired lieutenant colonel and pilot in the United States Air Force and veteran of World War II.

On Oct. 5, 1940, in Niles, he married Betty L. (Weber) Schick, who survives.

Other survivors include a son, Thomas C. Schick of Palm Springs, Calif.; a daughter, Mrs. Gary (Jane) Frucci of Edwardsburg; five grandchildren; and a brother, William C. Schick of Sun City Center, Fla.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Virginia Fuller.

Friends may call from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Friday at the Chapel of the First Presbyterian Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Fernwood or the Foundation of the First Presbyterian Church.

Arrangements in Niles were made at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Sisk, Wilbur 1926-1990

Wilbur Sisk
May 21, 1926-Dec. 21, 1990

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Saturday, December 22, 1990, page 2, col. 1

Funeral services for Wilbur Sisk, 64, of 520 N. Clark St., Niles, will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home by the Rev. Morton Hempel of Church of Christ-Full Gospel.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mr. Sisk died at 3:30 a.m. Friday at Memorial Hospital, South Bend, Ind. following an illness since August.

He was born May 21, 1926 in Sullivan, Ind. and had been a resident of this area most of his life. On Sept. 24, 1949, in South Bend, Ind., he married Catherine “Cay” Dee, who survives.

Mr. and Mrs. Sisk were known in Niles for the beautiful Christmas displays they put up at their home each year.

Mr. Sisk was a World War II US Navy veteran. He was an inspector at Tyler Refrigeration Co., Niles, and a member of the American Legion LaRue messenger Post 326.

Other survivors include five brothers, Eugene Sisk, Walter Sisk and James Sisk, all of Niles, Paul Sisk of Dowagiac and Gary Sisk of Buchanan.

Visitation will be Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Oncology Floor, Memorial Hospital.

Selge, Marvin Leroy Sr. 1925-1996

Marvin Leroy Selge Sr.
Dec. 5, 1925-April 8, 1996

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Tuesday, April 9, 1996

Marvin Selge dies

Founded Selge Construction Co.

NILES—The founder of Selge Construction last a battle with cancer Monday.

Funeral services for Marvin Leroy Selge Sr., 70, 1117 Oakdale, Niles, are Thursday at 1:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Niles, by the Rev. Dr. Ron Wakeman.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Mr. Selge died at 9:30 a.m. Monday at his home.

He was born Dec. 5, 1925, in South Bend, Ind. He married the former Phyllis Ann Domer on May 26, 1943 in Angola, Ind. She survives.

Mr. Selge was an Army veteran of World War II. He fought in Luxemburg[sic] and Germany, and took part in the Battle of the Bulge. He received three European theater of operation Battle Stars, three citations and the Bronze Star.

Mr. Selge enrolled in flight school under the G.I. Bill in 1947, and successfully obtained his commercial pilot's license. He founded Selge Construction in 1959, and retired from the company in 1994.

He was one of the founders, and a past president, of the Four Flags Flying Club. He also had a special interest in Youth Athletics, contributing to the construction of many are sports facilities, including the building and construction of the Brandywine High School baseball filed in 1972.

He was a 32nd-degree Master Mason, and a member of the St. Joseph Valley Masonic Lodge No. 4, F.&A.M.

Selge also belonged to the Niles Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks No. 1322 of Niles, and the Orchard Hills Country club, where he served as a board member for six years.

In addition to his wife, survivors include two daughters, Judy A. Elms of Valparaiso, Ind. and Gayle Godsey of Buchanan; two sons, Gary L. Selge and Marvin L. Selge Jr., both of Niles; a sister Gertrude Hoffman of South Bend; two brothers, Charles Selge of Lakeland, Fla., and Paul Selge of Terre Haute, Ind.; and seven grandchildren.

Friends may call from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, Niles. Memorial contributions may be made to the Foundation of the First Presbyterian Church or the American Cancer Society.

 

Skopec, Charles J. 1917-1977

Charles J. Skopec
May 29, 1917-Dec. 8, 1977

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Friday, December 9, 1977, page 1

City Councilman Skopec dies at 60

Niles—City flags are flying at half mast today in respect to First Ward Alderman Charles J. Skopec, 60 of 311 Pokagon St., who died at 9 p.m. Thursday.

Niles police were called to Skopec's home at 8:33 p.m. Thursday when the city councilman apparently collapsed on his sidewalk after shoveling snow.

Police administered cardio-pulmonary resuscitation to Skopec, who was taken to Pawating Hospital in a Southwest Michigan Community Ambulance Service vehicle. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

Mayor Robert Woodbridge ordered the flags to be put at half mast through Monday. The mayor also said that a decision would be made later about filling's[sic] Skopec's seat on the city council.

According to City Clerk Donna Fout, the mayor may appoint a replacement with the approval of the council, or a special election to fill the council vacancy may be held. There is some deliberation being taken on the procedure since Skopec was to begin a new term in January.

Mayor Woodbridge also announced this morning that Monday's meeting of the city council will be postponed until Monday, Dec. 19, and City Hall will be closed from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday.

Mr. Skopec was a member of St. John's United Church of Christ, the Fraternal Order of Police and was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served in World War II.

Skopec was a retired 31-year veteran of the Niles Police Department, attaining the rank of captain. Following his retirement from the police, he was a security officer for the First Federal Savings and Loan Assn. of Niles.

In November, Skopec was elected to his third term on the city council. A Republican, he was chairman of the council finance committee, probably the most powerful segment of the council.

He was born May 29, 1917 in Polar, Wis., and had lived here since 1925, coming from Chicago. On May 19, 1937 in Roseland, Ind., he married Alta W. Prenkert, who survives.

Also surviving are a son, Martin E., of Buchanan; a daughter, Mrs. Alvin (Kay) Minick, of Fort Wayne, Ind.; three brothers, Frank of Chicago, Rudolph of Bridgman and Theodore of Niles; four sisters, Miss Agnes Skopec of Hartsdale, N.Y., Mrs. Glenn Jones of Russellville, Ark., Mrs. Ralph Peterson and Mrs. Donald Clubine, both of Niles; and one grandson.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the St. John's United Church of Christ with the Rev. Robert L. Livingston officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after noon Sunday at the Halbritter Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the St. John's United Church of Christ Memorial Fund or the Niles Community Library.

Slocum, Glenn R. 1940-1995

Glenn R. Slocum
May 5, 1940-July 25, 1995

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Wednesday, July 26, 1995, page 2, col. 2

Glenn R. Slocum
1940-1995
Four Flags Hotel manager

Funeral services for Glenn R. Slocum, 55 of 404 E. Main St., Niles, will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home in Niles.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Mr. Slocum died at 5:33 p.m. at Pawating Hospital, Niles.

He was born May 5 1940, in Buchanan.

On May 23, 1961, in Niles, he married the former Gladys Harrington, who survives.

Mr. Slocum was Four Flags Hotel manager, and operator of Four Flags Cab Co., Niles, for 11 years.

In addition to his wife, survivors include a daughter, Tracy Renee Raney of Berrien Springs; a son, Scott Edward Slocum of Dallas, Texas; a stepdaughter, Pamela Gwin of Montezuma, Ind.; three stepsons, Danny Vaughn and Michael Jasper, both of Niles, and Lawrence Jasper of Waukegon, Ill.; 11 grandchildren; two sisters, Delores Smith of Galien and Shirley Ruiz of Niles; and three brothers, Richard Slocum and South Carolina, Gerald Slocum of Buchanan, and Clifford Slocum of Niles. A stepson, Reggie Jasper, died in 1993.

Friends may all today from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

 

Smith, Irene (Van DeVoorde) Clevering 1900-2002

Irene Clevering Smith
Aug. 1, 1900-June 8, 2002

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Monday, June 10, 2002

Irene Clevering Smith, 91, of 1333 Wells, Niles, and formerly of 36 S. Fifth st., Niles, died Saturday, June 8 at 11:10 p.m. at Riveridge Manor in Niles, following an extended illness.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will gather privately at the cemetery. The Rev. William T. Melody of Notre Dame, Ind. Will be officiating.

There will be no visitation or services. Arrangements are by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Smith was born on Aug. 1, 1910 in South Bend, Ind. to Camiel Van DeVoorde and Emma Matthews. She was a life-long area resident. On Aug. 3, 1929, she married L. Dwayne Clevering in South Bend, Ind. He preceded her in death on July 24, 1977. On Nov. 22, 1977, she married George F. Smith in Niles. He preceded her in death on Jan. 22, 1989. She was the owner/operator of Clevering Florist and Antique shop in Niles. She was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church. Survivors include: one step-daughter, Lois Simpson of Niles; on step-son, George m. Smith of Torrington, Wyo.; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren/ and three great-great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.