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.

Vandenberg, Helen

Helen Vandenberg
May 31, 1899-June 19, 1964


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, June 20, 1964, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library


Mrs. Helen Vandenberg, 65, of 915 Ferry St., died unexpectedly at 2:30 p.m. Friday in her home.

Mrs, Vandenberg was born  May 31, 1899, in Ashland, Wis. She came to Niles from West Branch 45 years ago.

Survivors include her husband, Floyd; four sons, Howard, El Caion, Calif., Harold, Sanford, and Donald and Raymond, both of Niles; two daughters, Mrs. Ralph Vandygriff and Mrs. Earl Simpkins, both of Niles; two brothers, Ralph and Ray Perkins, both of La Porte, Ind.; a sister, Mrs. Alfred Nelson, West Branch; 20 Grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 4 p.m. Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev. Lysle Schmirt, pastor of the United Missionary Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

Walter, Nellie

Nellie Walter
Oct. 6, 1884-June 5, 1964

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, June 6, 1964, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Miss Nellie Walter, 79, of 906 Oak St., died at 3:45 p.m. Friday in Pawating Hospital, where she had been a patient a day.

Miss Walter was born here Oct. 6, 1884, and was a lifetime resident of the community.

Surviving are a sister-in-law, Lillian Walter, Niles, and a nephew, Boyden Walter, Fresno, Valif.[sic].

She was a member of the Rebekah Lodge.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home. Dr. Maurice McKean, pastor of the First Methodist Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

 

Weaver, Henry

Henry Weaver
March 2, 1852-Nov. 13, 1902


Niles Republican, Thursday, November 20, 1902, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library


THE HAND OF DEATH

REMOVED THREE PROMINENT NILES CITIZENS TODAY

George Deuth[sic] Died Suddenly

Henry Weaver and H.D. Gallup Passed Away


From Thursday's Sun

. . .

Henry Weaver, for many years a resident of Niles, died this morning at 4:30 o'clock at his home in west Niles, near the Buchanan bridge. Mr. Weaver was 50 years old and leaves a wife and two daughters. For a number of years he was employed at the Michigan Wood Pulp Co., but two years ago was incapacitated for labor on account of injuries received in an accident.  The deceased was a member of the German Workingmen's Benevolent Association. The funeral services of Mr. Weaver will be held Sunday afternoon at 1:30 o'clock at the hours and will be conducted by Rev. F. Rahn. Interment in Silver Brook cemetery

Starkson, Sue Ann (Rhodes)

Sue Ann (Rhodes) Starkson, 47
Aug. 19, 1965-Jan. 14, 2013

Niles Daily Star, Published 12:05pm Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Sue Ann Starkson, age 47, of North Mankato, Minn., and formerly of Niles, Mich., died unexpectedly, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013 at her home.

Starkson

Sue was born August 19, 1965 Niles, Mich.  She was the daughter of Garland and Kate Rhodes.  She graduated from Fulkerson Park Christian School in 1983. She was united in marriage to Lloyd E. Starkson on April 20, 2012 in Rochester, Minn.  Sue was a stay at home mom for her two daughters until they started school.  She then worked at jobs including, Tyler Credit Union in Niles, Lakeland Hospital, and Edwardsburg Public Schools.  She was a member of Portage Road General Baptist Church.  Sue loved her family, her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, her kids, NASCAR, hummingbirds, and was a great cook.

Sue is survived by her husband, Lloyd of North Mankato, Minn.; two daughters, Katie (Keven) Searfoss and Kimberly (Taylor) Hammonds all of Niles, Mich.; step-granddaughter, Hailey Searfoss; parents, Garland and Kate Rhodes of Niles, Mich.; two brothers, Lonnie (Donna) Rhodes of Niles, Mich., Greg Rhodes of Mishawaka, Ind.; mother-in-law, Arlene Starkson of Rochester, Minn.; step-children, Nicole and Charles Starkson, Danielle and Ben Giestfeld; aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, brothers and sisters-in-law, and extended family.

Sue was preceded in death by her grandparents, Burton & Orlie Rhodes and George & Vivian Wyburn.

A Funeral Service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 19, 2013 at Portage Road General Baptist Church in Niles, with Pastor Robert Wood officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.  Visitation will be held from 12-2 p.m., Saturday at the church.  Hoven Funeral Home, Inc. of Buchanan is assisting the family.

Griffith, Larry L.

Larry L. Griffith, 74
Oct. 25, 1938-Jan. 16, 2013

Niles Daily Star, Published 4:17pm Thursday, January 17, 2013

Larry L. Griffith, 74, of Fifth Street in Niles, Mich., died at 5:50 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2013 at Cass County Medical Care Facility following an extended illness.

He was born on Oct. 25, 1938 in Niles to Murrel A. and Ruth Kathryn (Asmus) Griffith. He graduated from Niles High School in 1956, and then entered the United States Air Force.  He worked for Englewood Electrical Supply in South Bend, Ind. He was a licensed amateur radio operator and was proud of his involvement in CERT (Community Emergency Response Team). He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Niles, where he had been a Deacon. He was also very involved with the Senior Center in Niles.

Surviving family includes his brother Robert Louis (& Elaine) Griffith of Niles; niece Christine (& Dennis) Kuemin, nephew Timothy Griffith, both of Niles; and his grand-nephews Brian (& Melody) Kuemin of Cassopolis, Tony (& Brandy) Kuemin of Niles, and Duane (& Marlena) Kuemin of Mishawaka, Ind.

The funeral service for Larry Griffith will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 21, 2013 at the First Presbyterian Church in Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of the church officiating. Committal will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. on Sunday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.  Contributions in memory of Larry may be made to the American Cancer Society.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Porsoska, John Robert

John Robert Porsoska, 87

Niles Daily Star, Published 6:03pm Tuesday, January 22, 2013

 

John Robert Porsoska, 87, of Niles, passed away Jan. 7, 2013 of natural causes.  Hoven Funeral Home, Inc. of Buchanan is handling arrangements for the family.

Phillips, Lodner C.

Lodner C. Phillips, 78
March 19, 1934-Jan. 23, 2013

Niles Daily Star, Published 12:59pm Thursday, January 24, 2013

Lodner C. Phillips, 78, of Niles, Mich., died at 2:34 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Ind., of injuries suffered in a fall on Jan. 14.

Phillips

He was born on March 19, 1934 in Niles to Laudner C. and Dorothy Marie (Anderson) Phillips, and was graduated from Niles High School in 1951.  He was employed at the former Thornton Electric in Niles for many years, and retired from the Michigan Farm Bureau Insurance agency in Cassopolis.

Lodner was a member of the First Baptist Church in Niles.  He enjoyed the outdoors, especially working in his yard, fishing, and hunting.  He loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them.  He had a great love of military history, was a fan of the History Channel on television, and was always interested in learning more.

On Aug. 30, 1952 he married the former Juanita Schrader at a beautiful ceremony in her parents’ yard.  They celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of their wedding last year.

Surviving family includes his wife, Juanita Phillips, and their children, Vickie (& Mick) Kidwell of Niles and Patrick (& Jody) Phillips of Edwardsburg, Mich.; grandchildren, Michael W. (& Kellie) Kidwell, Adam (& Hannah) Kidwell, Kyle Kidwell, Ryan P. (& Karen) Phillips, Julianne Phillips, and Alexandra Phillips; great-grandchildren, Raegan Joanne Kidwell and Cameron Michael Kidwell.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and by a sister, Patricia Kemp.

The funeral service for Lodner Phillips will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 28, 2013 at the First Baptist Church in Niles with the Rev. Jim Wing of the church officiating.  Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday from 2 until 5 p.m. at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.  Contributions in memory of Lodner may be made to the First Baptist Church, 1446 East Main Street, Niles, Michigan  49120.

www.halbritterfunerals.com