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.

Badgero, Robert J.

 Robert J. Badgero

April 20, 1924 - May 31, 2001

Mr. Robert J. "Jack" Badgero, 77, of Davis Street, Niles, Mich., died after an extended illness at 3:35 a.m. Thursday, May 31, in the Cardinal Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, South Bend, Ind.

He was born April 20, 1924, in Mount Pleasant, Mich., to Robert Phillip and B. Flossie (Converse) Badgero, and was graduated from the Ovid (Michigan) High School. He had lived in Niles since 1947, coming from Owosso, Mich.

He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and was then employed for thirty years by the Ball Band Company, Mishawaka, Ind. (more recently Uniroyal), retiring in 1979. He enjoyed hunting, both locally and in the plains states. He was baptized as a Christian last year through the Church of Christ in Niles.

On July 10, 1951, in LaGrange, Ind., he was married to the former Lena Blanchard, who preceded him in death Aug. 24, 1984. He was also preceded by a sister, Arlene Hartley on Jan. 10, 1991.

Surviving family include his siblings, Bruce and Dorothy Badgero of South Bend, Colleen and Maynard Ricker of South Bend, and George and Nancy Badgero of Granger, Ind.; and by many nieces and nephews.

Services for Mr. Robert Jack Badgero will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 7, in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Brother William Myers of Willowdale Church of Christ, Elkhart, Ind., officiating. Committal will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Contributions in memory of Jack may be made to Hospice at Home or to Hospice of Saint Joseph County, Ind.

 

Badger, Robbie R.

Robbie R. Badger
March 20, 1864

On Sunday morning the 20th of March of Scarlet fever, Robbie R. youngest son of James and Elizabeth Badger, aged 5 years, 2 months and 5 days.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Badger, James

James Badger
March 2, 1888

Death of James Badger

  DIED at 11 o’clock age 70 years. Mr. Badger came to this county in 1844 form the state of New York, and returned the same year and married Miss Elizabeth Herkimer, and soon after moved her and resided on the farm where he died. He was a man of great industry and accumulated several hundred acres of the rich bur oak soil of the Indian reserve. He leaves three sons and three daughters. No man in this section of the country was more esteemed for his honesty and integrity than Mr. Badger. He was always ready to contribute to any public enterprise, and aid the distressed and needy, whenever or whoever they might be. He will be greatly missed, not only by his family, but by all in this section of the country. His funeral will take place Tuesday at 1 p.m., at his late residence.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Badger, Jacob

Jacob Badger
Dec. 9, 1919

Well known citizen dead

Jacob Badger succumbs after brief illness.

Jacob Badger, one of Niles best known and highly respected citizens, died last evening at his home, 299 North Third street after a brief illness, although he had long been in ill health. Until he was stricken by his last illness, Mrs. Badger was employed in the Michigan Central baggage service at the local station.

An obituary will be published later.

Besides the wife, among the immediate, surviving relatives are a son, Paul, who arrived from Chicago last evening just before his father’s death occurred, and a sister, Mrs. Fanny Knox, of this city. Another sister, Mrs. R . Messenger, arrived from LaPorte today.

The funeral services will be held Friday morning at 10 o’clock from he house and will be private except for relatives and immediate friends. It is requested that flowers be omitted.

Niles Daily Star-Sun, Wednesday, December 10, 1919, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library.

Badger, Georgia

Georgia A. Badger
Oct. 22, 1896

Death of Mrs. Jacob Badger.

A telegram was received here Saturday announcing the death of Mrs. Georgia A. Badger, wife of Jacob Badger of Portage Prairie. He and Mrs. Badger left here about three weeks ago to visit his brother, William, at Arlington, Nev., which place she died of bowel trouble.

Her age is about forty years, and she was well known by a large community in this city and vicinity. The remains will arrive here tomorrow noon on the day express and the funeral will take place immediately after in the Presbyterian Church.

Besides a husband, Mrs. Badger leaves a son five years old to mourn her loss.

Published in Niles Daily Star

Badger, Ella (Hall)

Ella Badger (Hall)
Aug. 7, 1927

Mrs. Ella Badger dies in Chicago

Former Niles resident passes away at home of her daughter.

Mrs. Ella Badger, widow of Jacob Badger, died this morning at 2 o’clock at the home of her daughter, Mrs. R.J. Douglass in Chicago. She had been in ill health for several years.The body will be brought to Niles tomorrow on Michigan central train due at 12:20 and will be taken directly to the Troost and Augustine Chapel where the funeral services will be held at 2:30 o’clock tomorrow afternoon. Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.  Mrs. Badger was about 65 years of age. She was twice married, her first husband having been Bert Everett.  Of the two children born of this marriage, Harry and Carrie Everett, the later now Mrs. Douglass only survive.  Her second husband, Jacob Badger was a member of a prominent pioneer family of Niles. The late Chester Badger was a brother and Mrs. Fanny Knox of Detroit, a sister of Jacob Badger. Besides her daughter, Mrs. Badger is survived by a brother, William Hall of Chicago and a sister, Mrs. Henry Jones also of Chicago. Mrs. Badger was former member of the Niles Lodge No 74, Lady Maccabees.

Published in Niles Daily Star Aug. 7, 1927.

Badger, Emma Jane (Smart)

Emma Smart Badger
1845-Aug. 19, 1936

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, August 20, 1936, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. E.S. BADGER DIES AT AGE OF 91

Was Oldest Member of Trinity Episcopal Parish; Married here in 1880.

Mrs. E. S. Badger, 91, one of the oldest residents of Niles and the oldest member of Trinity Episcopal parish, died at 5:30 o’clock Wednesday afternoon at her home 215 ½ East Main Street.

Mrs. Badger is the last member of the Jacob Smart Family, which came to Niles from Newmarket, NH in the middle of the last century. The Smart family was widely known in the early days here. Their home was located on the site of the Niles Lumber company at 314 North Front Street.

She was married in 1880 to Edward S. Badger in Niles, and the couple lived here until 1917. In that year, with their family, they started on a trip through the west and south, living in various places and spending several years in Denver. They returned to Niles in 1931.

One son, Edward s. Badger, survives, also a stepdaughter, Mrs. Francis W. Kelsey, Ann Arbor, who arrived in Niles today. Mrs. Kelsey is the widow of the former head of the department of ancient languages at the University of Michigan.

Funeral services will be at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon in the Price and Kiger Funeral Home. The Rev. Lawrence Ferguson, rector of St. James Episcopal church, South Bend, will officiate.