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.

Simpkins, Dayton

Dayton Simpkins
Nov. 28, 1886-April 29, 1946


Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 29, 1946, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library


Dayton Simpkins Dies in Hospital

 

Dayton Simpkins, 59, of 25 1/2 East Main street, died today at 3:45 a.m. in Pawating hospital after an illness of two years.

He was born Nov. 28, 1886, in Brownwood, Mo., and had lived in Niles for five years. He was a coopererage[sic] maker.

Survivors include his wife, Mrs. Mary Linda Simpkins; two sons, Dayton Simpkins, Jr., Los Agneles, Cal.; and Olvin Simpkins, Niles; one brother, Henry Simpkins, Dudley, Mo.; and one sister, Mrs. William Hinds, Kennett, Mo.

Funeral will take place from the Kiger funeral home with the Rev. A.J. Martin officiating. Date of the funeral will be announced later. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery, and friends may call at the funeral home.

 

Troost, Hulda (Dubois)

Hulda Troost
Sept. 12, 1870-June 29, 1946

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 1, 1946, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Hulda Troost, 75, Dies Saturday in Grand Rapids

 

Mrs. Peter Troost, 75, formerly of 526 Hickory street, died Saturday at 10:09 p.m., in Clark Memorial home, Grand Rapids. She had been ill since March 25.

The former Miss Hulda Dubois, she was married to Peter Troost in Fremont, Mich., in 1893. They came to Niles in 1902 from Portland, Me.

Niece Lives Here

Until his death in 1922, Mr. Troost was a partner with his brother Joseph Troost, in Troost Brothers furniture store in Niles.

Mrs. Troost, who was for many years a resident of Niles, was the sister-in-law of Joseph Troost, 209 South Third street, and the aunt of Mrs. Malcolm Hull, 123 North Eighth street.

Survivors include four sons, Loren and Edward Troost, St. Joseph; Dr. Franklin Troost, Holt, Mich.,and George Troost, Detroit, and eight grandchildren.

Active in Church

She was a member of the First Methodist church for many years in which she was an ardent worker and also was a member of the Order of Eastern Star.

The funeral will be held Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. in the First Methodist church, with the Rev. J. Kenneth [illegible], Holland, former pastor of the church, officiating. Burial will be in the mausoleum at Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home until Wednesday noon.

 

Valleau, Thomas

Thomas Valleau
March 24, 1873-March 4, 1946

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 5, 1946, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Valleau Funeral to Be Conducted on Wednesday

 

Thomas Valleau, 72, Jerome street, died Monday at 11:30 a.m. in his home after an illness of one year.

He was born in VanBuren county, March 24, 1873, and moved to Niles several years ago.

Only survivor is his widow, Mrs. Amy Valleau.

Funeral will take place Wednesday at 2 p.m. from the Kiger funeral home with the Rev. William Putnam officiating.  Burial wll be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Winquist, Jack

Jack Winquist
March 2, 1946


Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 4, 1946, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Services Today for Infant Jack Winquist

 

Funeral of Jack Winquist, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. August Winquist, 1617 Michigan street, who died Saturday at 11:30 p.m. in Pawating hospital, was held today at 2 p.m. in the Pifer funeral home with the Rev. L. George Beacock officiating. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Survivors include his parents; five brothers and sisters, Paul, John H.,. Mary Lou, Robert and Shilrley Winquist, all at home, and one grandparent, Mrs. Edda Iselman, South Bend.

 

Bisby, Claude D.

Claude D. Bisby
May 23, 1881-July 24, 1948


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 24, 1948, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library


Claude D. Bisby, 67, of 10 River street, died at 2 a.m. today at his home. He had been ill one year.

Born in Allegan county on May 23, 1881, he came to Niles 37 years ago from Chicago. He was in the laundry business here until his retirement a few years ago.

Surviving are his wife, Frieda, two children, Mrs. Louie Morse and Joseph Bisby, both of Niles, and seven grandchildren.  A brother, the Rev. Harry M. Bisby, of Ukiah, Cal., also survives.

Friends will be received at the Kiger funeral home where services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday.  The Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor of the First Methodist church, will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Manchow, Kristy Lynne

Kristy Lynne Manchow
June 17, 1959-Aug. 26, 1995


Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 28, 1995, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library


Kristy Lynne Manchow
1959-1995
Nurse practioner

Funeral services for Kristy Lynne Manchow, 36, of 119 N. Lincoln St., Niles, will be Tuesday at 10:30 a.m at First Baptist church in Niles.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Ms. Manchow died at 3:15 p.m. Saturday at St. Joseph Medical Center in South Bend, Ind.

She was born June 17, 1959, in Niles

Ms. Manchow was a nurse practitioner at St. Joseph Medical Center in South Bend for 10 years.

She was a member of First Baptist Church, Niles, and Order of Easter[sic] Star in Niles.

Survivors include her mother, Gleda Manchow of Niles, Her father, Fred Manchow of Sun City Center, Fla.; a brother, Vince Manchow of Elkhart, Ind.; and paternal grandmother, Mildred Manchow of Niles.

Friends may call today from 4-8 p.m. at the Pifer-Smtih Funeral Home in Niles.

Memorials may be made to the Neo-Natal Department of St. Joseph Medical Center in South Bend.

 

McKay, Orson

Orson McKay
March 6, 1851-Oct. 22, 1932


Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 24, 1932, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

ORSON MC KAY, 80, IS DEAD IN CHICAGO HOME

Former Niles Hotel Keeper To Be Buried Here Tuesday


Orson McKay, 80, a former resident of Niles, and an uncle of S.M. Montague and Alfred Johnson, of Niles, died on Friday evening in his home, 6451 Ellis Ave., Chicago, after about a year of illness.
The body will be brought to Niles tomorrow morning on the Michigan Central train due at 11:10 and will be taken directly to Silverbrook cemetery for burial in the family lot.  Masonic services will be conducted at the grave and the Rev. Harry L. Nicholson, rector of Trinity Episcopal church, will be the officiating minister.
Mr. McKay was many years ago proprietor of the hotel known as the Bond house and located at Second and Sycamore streets until it was destroyed by fire. He was married in Niles to Mamie Johnson, a member of a pioneer Niles family, who survives him. Mr. and Mrs. Mc Kay left Niles 45  years ago to make their home in Chicago. He was for many years in the employe of the Santa Fe Railroad company.
This evening Masonic funeral services for Mr. McKay will be held in the Masonic temple in Chicago.
Mrs. McKay, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Bonslett and Mrs. Charles A. Johnson will accompany the body to Niles, Mrs. Bonslett is a niece of Mrs. McKay, formerly having been Edna Kimmell of Niles.

DOB from Illinois Deaths at FamilySearch.org