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.

Pownall, Gertrude

Mrs. Gertrude Pownall
Nov. 6, 1906-Aug. 23, 1950


    Mrs. Gertrude Pownall, 43, of 1274 South Fourteenth Street, died at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday in the Berrien county hospital, Berrien Center, after an illness of 12 hours.
    Beorn Nov. 6, 1906, in Burkett, Ind., Mrs. Pownall moved to Niles 40 years ago. She married Garrett Pownall, who survives and was a member of the South Niles Community church.
    Other survivors are her father Sherley Thomas, and two brothers John and Floyd Thomas, both of Niles.
    Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home, where the Rev. Charles Jones will conduct funeral services at 2 pm. Friday. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, August 24,1950, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Williams, Phyllis Ann

Phyllis Williams, 6
Jan. 10, 1944-Aug. 22, 1950


    Phyllis Ann Williams died this morning at University hospital, Ann Arbor. She had been a patient there since Aug. 11, with cancer of the brain.  She was born Jan. 10, 1944, in Niles.
    She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Filbert Williams, 1342 Silverbrook avenue, who survive, as do her grandmothers, Mrs. Mary Williams and Mrs. Hattie Westerfield, of Niles; her brothers and sisters, David and Charles and Donna May and Norma Ruth Williams; a foster brother, Harold Williams, and two half-brothers, Milford and Lavern Williams.
    Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home starting tomorrow. Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday by the Rev. Harry Barnett at the Pentacostal church 1220 North Eleventh street.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 22,1950, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Stoops, Gennela

Gennela Stoops
Aug. 20, 1950


DAUGHTER IS STILL-BORN

    Gennela Stoops, still-born daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Stoops, 1510 Clarendon avenue, was born at 10:31 a.m. Sunday at Pawating hospital.
    Surviving are the grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Stoops and Mr. and Mrs. Lester Kuhl, all of Niles.
    Services were conducted at 2 p.m. today by the Rev. M.D. Elston, of the Church of God, and Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

 Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 21,1950, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

NB: Cemetery record and grave marker (photo #19833) spell name Genella.

Sherman, Daniel

Sherman Infant
Aug. 15, 1950


SERVICES FOR SON

    The still-born son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Sherman, of rural route six, died at 2:30 p.m Tuesday at Pawating hospital. Committal services were held at 11 a.m. today.
    Also surviving are his maternal and paternal grandfathers, Arthur Sonnenleiter and William Sherman, both of Niles.
    The Rev. G.A. Steeby officiated at the grave-side at Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, August 16,1950, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

NB: Obit does not include name of child; however, cemetery records state name to be Daniel.

Reum, Rose

Rose Reum, 73
Jan. 19, 1877-Aug. 15, 1950


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 15,1950, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library


    Mrs. Rose Reum, 73, of 602 Cass street, died in her home at 11 a.m. today after an illness of several years.  The attending physician said death was caused by a heart attack or a blood clot on the lung, but probably by a blood clot.
    Mrs. Reum was found early Monday morning in her home, overcome by gas from open jets.
    Born Jan. 19, 1877, in Bertrand, Mrs. Reum was a lifelong resident of this area.  Her husband, John, died Aug. 3, 1936.
    Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Paul Malone and Mrs. Derbert Godman, and three sons, Carl, Leo and John, all of Niles.
    Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home, where funeral services will be conducted. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Arrangements for the services have not been completed.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, August 16,1950, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

REUM RITES SET

    The Rev. L. George Beacock will conduct funeral services at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Kiger funeral home for Mrs. Rose Reum, 73, of 602 Cass street, who died Tuesday in her home.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.




Livingston, Eldie

Eldie Livingston
April 10, 1891-January 9, 1956


    Eldie Livingston, 64, of 419 North Ninth Street, died at 6:55 p.m. Monday in Pawating Hospital.  He had been ill  since Aug. 11.
    Livingston, a veteran of World War I, was born April 10, 1891, in Manchester, Tenn., and came here from Manchester in 1911.  He was employed at National-Standard Company here as a fireman in the boiler room.
    His only survivor is his wife, Autie.
    Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Pifer Funeral Home here with Richard Bonner of the Church of Christ, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, January 10, 1956, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Machalleck, Joseph

Joseph Machalleck
Oct. 25, 1888-January 14, 1956


    Joseph Machalleck, 67, of 105 North 15th Street, retired New York Central railroad engineer, died at 6:45 p.m. Saturday in the Sunnybrook Nursing Home at Roseland, Ind., following an illness of about seven months.
    Machalleck was born Oct. 25, 1888, in Cassville, Wis., and moved to Niles in 1921 from Michigan City, Ind.  He was a member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Engineers.
    Survivors are his wife, Ella; two sons, John and Robert Machalleck, both of Niles; six grandchildren; a brother, George Machalleck, of Michigan City, and Mrs. Barbara Everett, of Niles.
    Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Pifer Funeral Home here with the Rev. Theodore Laesch, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 16, 1956, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library