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.

Burgess, Elmer Edward

Elmer Burgess
Feb. 2, 1909-May 31, 1990


Niles Daily Star, Friday, June 1, 1990, page 2, col. 4-5, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Elmer Edward Burgess, 81, of 147 Briar Crest Apartments, Niles, are at 10:30 a.m. Monday  at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Daniel Stoneham of the Church of God.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Burgess died at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Pawating Hospital.

Burgess was born Feb. 2, 1909 in Truman, Ark., and had moved to Niles in 1953 from Dowagiac. He retired from Kawneer in 1971, where he worked as a Mill Work Machinest[sic]. He was a United States Army veteran of World War II.

On Jan. 25, 1941, in Truman, he married Bommer Lee Parker, who survives him. A son, James Edward Burgess, preceded him in death in 1967.

Also surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Jimmie Lou Hale of Chicago, Ill., and Martha Ann Reth of St. Joseph; four sons, Joe Burgess of Michigan City, Ind., Larry Burgess of Mountain Home, Ark., Gary Burgess and Terry Burgess, both of Niles; a brother, Alfred Burgess of Truman; 22 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Friends may call after 4 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

 

Friedrich, Barbara E.

Barbara E. Friedrich
Sept. 12, 1922-June 2, 1990


Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 4, 1990, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Barbara E. Friedrich, 67, of 710 Chicago Road, Niles, are Wednesday at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Niles by the Rev. Clayton D. Fairo, pastor of the church.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Mrs. Friedrich died Saturday at 1:47 p.m. at Pawating Hospital in Niles, following an extended illness.

She was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Niles and was a deacon in the church. She was also a volunteer at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Ind., and Fernwood Ind.[sic] of Niles.

Mrs. Friedrich was born on Sept. 12, 1922, in Worcester, Mass. and had lived in Niles since 1985, moving here from Cincinnati.

On Aug. 31 1985, in Niles, she married Thomas R. Friedrich, who preceded her in death on June 15, 1988.

Survivors include two daughters, Emily Gardner of Niles and Janet Schnieder of Cincinnati; four step-sons, David J. Friedrich of Raymond, Maine, Robert T. Friedrich of Gorham, Maine, Steven P. Friedrich of Boston and Michael J. Friedrich of Kalamazoo; one stepdaughter, Patricia E. Friedrich of Niles; six grandchildren; and one brother, Robert Ellis of Chicago.

Friends may call Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Michigan Chapter, 200-H Waters Bldg., Grand Rapids, MI 49503, or Fernwood Inc.

 

Gobble, Irene M.

Irene M. Gobble
Nov. 20, 1910-June 5, 1990


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, June 6, 1990, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Irene M. Gobble, 79, of 584 N. Clark St., Niles, are at 2 p.m. Friday at the Halbritter Funeral Home by Pastor Rodger L. Peck of the First Missionary Church.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Ms. Gobble died at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Silverbrook Manor in Niles following an extended illness.

Ms. Gobble was born Nov. 20, 1910, in Ellisville, Ark., and had lived in Niles since 1940, coming from Arkansas. She was preceded in death by two brothers.

Survivors include two sisters, Margaret Bailey and Geneva Sigfrids, both of Niles; and seveal nieces and nephews.

Friends may call from 1 to 2 pm. Friday at the funeral home.

 

Miller, Theodore

Theodore Miller
June 12, 1924-June 5, 1990


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, June 7, 1990, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Theodore Miller, 65, of 2913 Adams Road, Niles, are at 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Mount Calvary Baptist church in Niles by the Rev. W.L. Daniel, pastor of Mount Calvary Baptist Church.

Burial will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery.

Miller was dead on arrival at Pawating Hospital Tuesday afternoon after an tree fell on him while cutting firewood.

Miller was born June 12, 1924 in Hermitage, Ark., and had lived in the area since 1955, coming from Arkansas.

He retired in 1982 from Clark Equipment Company where he was employed as a machinest[sic]. He was affiliated with the Mount Calvary Baptist Church.

On Nov. 14, 1952, in South Bend, Ind., he married Mary B. McCorkle, who survives him.

Also surviving are his mother, Luella Miller of Niles; five daughters, Lynnette Lottie and Carol Jean King, both of South Bend, Ind., Penny Miller of Fresno, Calif., Linda Harold of Colombus[sic], Ohio, and Vicki White, Oakland, Calif.; a son, Danny Quinn of South Bend; a sister, Julia Osborn of Niles; and a grandchild.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.

 

McKamey, Wayne E.

Wayne E. McKamey
April 30, 1922-June 6, 1990


Niles Daily Star, Friday, June 8, 1990, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Wayne E. McKamey, 68, of 1126 Fort St., Niles, died at 6:55 a.m. Wednesday at the Veteran's Administration Medical center in Ann Arbor, following an extended illness.

A private committal servcie will be held at a later date.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

McKamey was born April 30, 1922 in Cloverdale, Ind., and had lived in Niles since 1934, coming from Greencastle, Ind. He was employed as a supervisor of a tool and die shop.

McKamey was a veteran of World War II, having served in the United States Army. He was a member of the American Legion Post 26, the Niles Disabled American Veterans, Wolverine State 33, the Niles Fraternal Order of Police and the Niles Lodge 95.

On April 26, 1975, he married Theresa McCartney, who survives him.

Also surviving are a daughter, Sandra Powell of Richmond, Ind.; a son, Timothy Wayne McKamey of South Bend, Ind.; a step-son, Delbert "Mike" Werner of South Bend; a sister, Barbara Fleming of Lincoln, Neb.; a brother, David Stone of Statesville N.C.; and seven grandchildren.

Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home of Niles. Memorial contributions may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service.

 

Bloyd, Forrest E.

Forrest E. Bloyd
March 29, 1917-June 15, 1990


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, June 16, 1990, page 2, col. 1-1, microfilm Niles District Library

Services for Forrest E. Bloyd, 73, of 1734 Howard St., in Niles, are 3 p.m. Monday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles by the Rev. Robert E. Jackson of the First Church of God.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Bloyd died at 7:39 p.m. at Pawating Hospital in Niles after an extended illness.

He was a member of the First Church of God and a 22-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, retiring as captain.

Bloyd was born March 29, 1917 in Toulon, Ind. and had lived in Niles since coming from Brownstown, Ind., in 1987.

On March 28, 1942, he married Evelyn W. Bedell in Holyoke, Mass., who survives him.

Survivors include daughters, Karen Tilbury of Niles; Bobbye Foster of New Delhi, India; son James Bloyd of North Bend, Wash.; brothers, Roger Bloyd of Anderson, Ind.; James Bloyd of Bedford, Ind.; 11 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren.

Friends may call one hour prior to funeral service at Halbriter[sic] Funeral HOme.

Memorials may be given to the First Church of God.

 

Dorn, Edith Ruth

Edith Ruth Dorn
Feb. 7, 1912-April 3, 1912


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, April 4, 1912, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for the infant child of Mr. and Mrs. John Dorn were held at the  home, 1015 Lake street, this morning at 10 o'clock. Rev. R.A. Wright officiating. Interment at Silver Brook cemetery.

Note: Additional information from Michigan Death record.