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.

Landeck, Alan G. 1946-2022

Alan Landeck
July 16, 1946-Aug. 18, 2022

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:36 am Wednesday, August 31, 2022

Alan G. Landeck, 76 of Niles, passed away on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022, in Spectrum Lakeland Hospital.

Alan was born on July 16, 1946, in Niles to August and Agnes Landeck.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister Dorothy Kraft and brother, George Landeck.

Alan is survived by his wife, Jan, children; Scott Samolczyk of Niles and Tracie (Royce) Kuriata of Dowagiac, his granddaughter, Kyra Kuriata of Dowagiac and his sister, Virginia Hubber of Atlanta.

Alan honorably served in the Army during the Vietnam War where he was stationed in Vietnam and Germany before returning stateside.

For many years Alan was a mechanic and did construction work including building his own home. When he wasn’t working, Alan enjoyed fishing and maintaining his yard and home he built. He also enjoyed spend many hours with family and friends.

Alan will be honored with a private Honor Guard Memorial.

 

VanNoppen, Daniel A. Zwightman 1851-1930

Daniel A. Zwightman VanNoppen
Sept. 23, 1851-Nov. 6, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Friday, November 7, 1930, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

DR. VAN NOPPEN, PHYSICIAN HERE FOR 30 YEARS IS DEAD
Passes Away After Ten Weeks of Affliction After Paralysis

Dr. Daniel Adrian Zwightman Van Noppen, 79, a physician in Niles for nearly 30 years, died on Thursday afternoon at 3:40 in the Van Noppen sanitarium in Fourth street, where he had maintained living and office quarters for 25 years. Ten weeks ago Dr. Van Noppen was first afflicted with a slight stroke of . . .illegible. . .. For one week of the ten, he had been a patient in Pawating hospital but except for that time he has been in his home under the care of Mrs. Van Noppen who was a trained nurse in the Chicago sanitarium before her marriage.

Dr. Van Noppen was born in Holland on Sept. 23, 1851. He receive his education for the practice of medicine in University of Brussels and in Paris and Germany. As a youth he served in the navy of his native country was stationed for some time in India. He came to the United states and to Chicago in 1893, the year of the world's fair. Upon deciding to practice in Michigan he was required to supplement his education with additional courses to conform to the state laws of Michigan. He was married to Minnie M. Fick, who survive[sic] him in Libertyville, Ill., in 1900. In 1901, they moved to Niles and lived for five years in the house at Fourth and Sycamore streets known as the Platt house and which was later replaced to make room for the home of F.J. Plym, which is now part of the Daily Star building. Purchasing the Elizah Murray property on Fourth street, Dr. Van Noppen opened it as a sanitarium and for many years it served as Niles' only hospital.

The two sons born to Dr. and Mrs. Van Noppen survive with their mother. They are Leon Van Noppen, of Chicago, and Dan Van Noppen, of Dowagiac. Three grandchildren also survive.

Dr. Van Noppen was a member of the Berrien County medical association. When in Holland he was a member of the Masonic fraternity.

The funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 1:30 in the Rutherford chapel. The Rev. G.W. Webbink, pastor of St. John's Evangelical church will officiate. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery. The pallbearers will be chosen from among the medical fraternity of Niles.

Friends who wish to view the body may call at the Rutherford Funeral home this evening and tomorrow.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, November 8, 1930, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: FUNERAL DR. VAN NOPPEN

Funeral services for Dr. A.R. Zwightman Van Noppen were held this afternoon. The Rev. W.G. Webbink, pastor of St. John's church, officiated. Burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery. The following Niles physicians acted as pallbearers: john Ames, Clarence Gillette, B.D. Giddings, R.S. Waterson, H.C. Kling and L.M. Rutz. Burial will be made in Silver Brook Cemetery.

Trimble, Mahala 1862-1930

Mahala Trimble
Sept. 18, 1862-Oct. 24, 1930

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, October 25, 1930, page 4, col . 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: SISTER MRS. WEAVER DIES

Mrs. Mahala Trimble, age 63, sister of Mrs. Jesse Weaver of Niles, died at the Trimble home in Buchanan yesterday afternoon. Death followed a stroke of apoplexy suffered Wednesday. Mrs. Trimble had been ill for several months. Surviving besides Mrs. Weaver, are the son at whose home she died; three brothers, William and James Stiles, of Greenville, O., and Andrew Stiles of Niles. Four sisters, Mrs. Isaac Weaver of Berrien Springs, and Mrs. Ella Most and Mrs. Isaac Brown , both of Greenville, O. Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2 o'clock in the son's home at Buchanan with burial in Silverbrook cemetery here.

Thompson, Arthur 1874-1960

Arthur Thompson
Dec. 3, 1874-Aug. 22, 1960

Niles Daily Star(Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, August 23, 1960, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library.

Arthur Thompson, 85, 421 S. 15th St., former superintendent of Silverbrook Cemetery, died at 6 p.m. Monday in his home following a two-week illness.

Mr. Thompson, a member of the Masonic and Elks' Lodges, was born Dec. 3, 1874, in Niles Township and had lived his entire life in this community and for the past 40 years in the home where he died. He had worked for the city for 33 years, retiring on Dec. 31, 1947, after serving 30 years as the cemetery superintendent. Prior to working for the city, he had farmed for many years.

Surviving are: his widow, Lena; two daughters, Mrs. Floyd Leet and Mrs. Lucille Deibler, both Niles; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren, and a sister Mrs. Bertha Kizer, South Bend.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in Westminster Presbyterian Church, Oak Manor, with the pastor, the Rev. Kenneth G. Carey, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the Kiger and Halbritter Funeral Home.

 

Eisner, Elizabeth L. 1875-1961

Elizabeth L. Eisner Rice
July 5, 1875-Feb. 6, 1961

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, February 6, 1961, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. ELIZABETH L. RICE

Mrs. Elizabeth L. Rice, 85, 2594 Lakeshore Drive, died at 3:10 a.m. Today in Pawating Hospital where she had been a patient since Jan 14. She had been in failing health for one and a half years.

Mrs. Rice was born July 5, 1875, in London, England, and had lived here since she was three months old. She was a member of First Presbyterian Church and the Whatsoever Class of the Church.

Surviving are: her husband, William C. Rice; a son, William P. Eisner, Niles; three step-children, Mrs. Walter Wood, Mrs. K.B. Schmidt and Roy Rice, all Niles; one grandson, Robert Eisner, Fremont;' one granddaughter, Elaine Eisner, and a brother, Herbert Pears, Niles.

Private funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. John P. MacLachlan, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

The casket is to remain closed, and it has been requested that flowers be omitted.

 

Palmer, Mary Catherine (Webb) 1868-1930

Mary C. Palmer
April 8, 1868-Nov. 2, 1930

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, November 3, 1930, page 1, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. W.G. PALMER, 62, DIES AT LAKE HOME
Passes Away After a Short Illness with a Heart Affliction

Mrs. Mary Palmer, 62, wife of W.G. Palmer, died at their home five miles northeast of Niles, at Barron lake, on Sunday afternoon at 3:30 after about a week of illness with heart disease. She had been a resident of this section practically her entire life having been brought to Michigan by her parents when she she was six months of age. She was born in Kent county, near Milford, New Jersey on April 3, 1868. Her maiden name was Mary Webb. The family home was for many years in the bend of the river section. She was married to Mr. Palmer 42 years ago and had since lived at Barron lake.

Of the three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Palmer two survive with the husband. They are Floyd Palmer of Niles and Mrs. Edward Knauss of Philadelphia who arrived in Niles on Saturday night. Two daughters of Mrs. Mita Means, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Palmer were taken at Mrs. Means' death 14 years ago by their grandparents where one, Mary, still resides and the other is Mrs. Gladys Griffin of of Denver, Colo., who is expected in Niles tomorrow morning. Other surviving relatives are one brother, William Webb of Berrien Springs and two step-sister, Mrs. Anna Mendenhall of Dowagiac and Mrs. Mina Holleger of Edwardsburg, and two grandchildren, Clair and Charles Palmer of Niles.

The Funeral services will be held on Wednesday morning at 1 o'clock in the Methodist church in Niles. The pastor, the Rev. W.W. Slee will officiate. Burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

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

Niles News in Brief: FUNERAL MRS. PALMER

Funeral services for Mrs. W.G. Palmer will be held tomorrow morning at 11 o'clock in the Methodist church with the Rev. W.W. Slee, officiating. Mrs. Palmer died on Sunday afternoon at her home at Barron lake. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery.

 

Rodriguez, Lorimer Jr., 1970-1993

Lorimer Rodriguez Jr.
Nov. 29, 1970-Dec. 30, 1993

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, January 2, 1993, page 2 col. 2

Funeral services for Lorimer Rodriguez Jr., 22, 514 Hickory St., Niles, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday at Hoven Funeral Home with the Rev. Morton J. Hempel, of the Church of God Full Gospel, officiating.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Rodriguez died at his parents' home at 514 Hickory at 2 a.m. Wednesday.

Born Nov. 29, 1970, in Buchanan, Rodriguez was a lifetime area resident.

He was a warehouse clerk. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Niles.

He is survived by his parents, Lorimer and Eladia Rodriguez of Niles; two daughters, Chelsea of Niles and Lindzea Walters of Niles; a brother Louis Rodriguez of South Bend and three sisters, Iris Rodriguez of Niles, Doris Rodriguez of Niles and Mary Rodriguez of Niles.

Friends may call from Noon Monday until the time of the service.