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.

Malsch, Frederick August

Frederick August Malsch
May 4, 1862-August 31, 1925

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 31, 1925, page 4, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

August Malsch, 64, Passes Away at His Farm Home

    . . . well known farmer residing three miles north of the city, near Station 12, and a faithful worker in the St. Paul's Lutheran church, of this city for the past five years, passed away at his home at 8 o'clock this morning, following about a week's illness, with complications.
    Mr. Malsch is survived by his wife, by one daughter, Mrs. Augusta Knauf, and two sons, Carl and Rudolph, both at home.
    Funeral services will be held at  1:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the home and at 2:30 o'clock at St. Paul's Lutheran church on N. Seventh street.  Rev. O.E. Sohn will officiate.  Burial will take place at Silverbrook cemetery.

The Niles Daily Star, September 8, 1925, page 5, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

OBITUARY
Frederick August Malsch

    A devoted father and husband, a loyal member and faithful worker in his church, a modest and unassuming neighbor, and a friend of all with whom he came into contact--these are the outstanding characteristics of Frederick August Malsch, who peacefully deserted this life on the morning of Aug. 31 at the age of 64 years.
    Born in Germany May 4, 1862, a son of Frederick Ernst and Christine Malsch, he come to this country at the age of 29.  After a brief sojourn in Niles, he lived for a time at Rockford, Ill., but soon returned here and purchased a farm three miles northwest of this city where he had lived since Oct. 7, 1896, he was joined in marriage to Anna Bachmann, with whom he led a happy wedded life.  He leaves, besides his widow, three children, Mrs. E. Knauff and two sons, Carl and Rudolf. A brother, Caspar, and two sisters, Marie and Caroline, are still living in Germany.  His parents and two sisters preceded him into death.
    The funeral service was conducted Sept. 2 at St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran church, of which he was a charter member.  Rev. O.E. Sohn officiated.  After a brief reading service at his home, his body was escorted to the church by six of his neighbors as pallbearers, while six members of the church accompanied his remains to Silverbrook cemetery.  There he now rests from his labors until the dawning of the great resurrection morn.  Among out-of-town friends were Otto Reum, Mr. and Mrs. C. Schrumpt of Galien, and Mr. and Mrs. Fred Bachmann and daughter of Dowagiac.
    The death, though sudden, was not unexpected.  He had been ailing for some time.  The final illness lasted scarcely a week. Death was pronounced due to cancer of the bladder.

Zimmerman, Alfred

Alfred Zimmerman
November 28, 1885-September 30, 1937


Alfred Zimmerman, Niles Ex-Resident, Buried Here Today

    Services for Alfred Zimmerman, 51, former resident of Niles who moved 30 years ago to Iowa City, Ia., were conducted at 10 o'clock this morning in the Price and Kiger chapel. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.  The Rev. Theo Eisen of St. John's Evangelical church, officiated.
    Mr. Zimmerman, who was born Nov. 28, 1885 in Niles, died Thursday after a five-year illness with a heart ailment. He was a son of the late Richard and Fanny Zimmerman.
    Survivors are the widow, the former Marie Cohee, whom he married Sept. 28, 1930; two sons, George and Elmer, and three brothers, Walter, Philadelphia,, Wilbur, Cleveland, and Elmer, Watertown, Wis., formerly manager of a Niles market.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 4, 1937, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library)

Miller, Nora H.

Nora H. Miller
March 23, 1884-March 13, 1963

    Mrs. Nora H. Miller, 78, of 1424 Oak St., died at 5:30 a.m. today in her home.  She had been ill 12 years.
    Mrs. Miller was born March 23, 1884 in Bravo. She came to Niles from Fennvillle in 1923.
    Survivors include her husband, Albert; three daughters, Mrs. Agnes Townsley, and Miss Estelle Miller, both of Niles, and Mrs. Pauline Marchall, Battle creek[sic]; four grandchildren and 10 greatgrandchildren.
    Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Pifer Funeral Home.  The Rev. Richard Fraser, pastor of St. John' s United Church of Christ, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.
    Friends will be received at the funeral home beginning Thursday evening.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 13, 1963, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library)

Johnson, Snowdy Jr.

Snowdy Johnson, Jr.
Feb 18, 1913-March 12, 1963


Snowdy Johnson Jr., 50, of 1646 Taft St., died at 2 p.m .Tuesday in St. Joseph Hospital, South Bend, where he had been a patient one day. He had been ill two weeks.
Mr. Johnson, a tractor driver at Simplicity Pattern Co., was born Feb. 18, 1943[sic], in Memphis, Tenn., He came to Niles From Tennessee 17 years ago.
Survivors include his widow, Ruby; four daughters, Mrs. Barbara Jones, Niles, and Peggy, Dorothy, and Jalaine, all at home; four sons, Tyrone, Jerome, Jerry and Terry, all at home; and a sister, Mrs. Cora Lee Jordan, Niles.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Pifer Funeral Home.  The Rev. Theodis Hadley, pastor of Mt. Calvary Baptist church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.
Friends will be received at the funeral home beginning Thursday evening.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 13, 1963, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library)

Everett, Barbara

Barbara Everett
November 29, 1890-March 16, 1985


    Barbara Everett, 94, of 211 Broadway, Niles, died at 6 a.m. [illegible] a brief illness.
    Born Nov. 29, 1890 in Cassville, Wis., she had lived in the area since 1920 coming from Michigan City, Ind.  She married Clyde Everett in 1908 at Michigan City.  He preceded her in death in 1920.
    Surviving are a son, Virgil A. Everett of Pontiac, four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
    Services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, at the Halbritter Funeral Home. The Reverend John Steffey of St. Mary's Catholic Church will officiate.  Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, at the funeral home.  A rosary will be held at 7 p.m.  Burial will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery.

(Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 18, 1985, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library)

Bayles, Dorothy

Dorothy Bayles
May 14, 1904-March 4, 1942


    DOROTHY BAYLES, IN POOR HEALTH, COMMITS SUICIDE

    Despondency over prolonged ill health was blamed today for the suicide of Mrs. Dorothy Bayles, 37, whose body was found at 6:30 Wednesday night in the gas-filled kitchen of her apartment at 1112 Regent street.
    The young woman, wife of Alden Bayles and a resident of Niles only four months, apparently had opened the cooking stove about 4 o'clock to end an illness of more than a year.
    Her body was discovered by Mrs. John Conkright, who lives just below the second floor apartment in the Conkright home into which the Bayles couple moved Saturday.
    Husband at Work
    In search of carpenter tools mislaid during redecorating work in the apartment last week, Mrs. Conkright had started up the rear stairway to the second floor when she smelled the fumes.  Soon after the body was found slumped near the stove, openings under the doors stuffed with towels, Mr. Bayles returned home from South Bend, where he is employed.
    Efforts of a doctor and Niles firemen to revive the victim with an inhalator were futile. Coroner William N. Pifer reported today that an inquest will be unnecessary.
    Mrs. Bayles, born May 14, 1904, was married in South Bend Aug 8, 1923.  Although Mr. Bayles had been a resident of Niles a number of years., the couple came here to live just four months ago from South Bend.
    Funeral Saturday
    Surviving with the husband are the father, William Morehouse, Valparaiso, Ind.; two sisters, Mrs. Pearle Beishton, Corpus Christi, Tex., and Mrs. Harry Wilson, Kouts, Ind., and three brothers, Abe Morehouse, Corpus Christi; William Morehouse, Jr., LaPorte, Ind., and Earl Morehouse, Rolling Prairie, Ind.
    Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home where the service will be conducted Saturday afternoon at 2.  A.J. Martin, pastor of the Church of God, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Thursday, March 5, 1942, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library)

Bayles, Evelyn Margaret

Evelyn Margaret Bayles
April 22, 1920-March 17, 1985


    Evelyn Margaret Bayles, 65, of 1724 Ferry St., Niles, died at 2 a.m. March 17, at Waterman Medical Center in Eustes, Fl. after a sudden illness.
    Born April 22, 1920, in Benton Harbor, she was a lifetime resident of the area and was a bookeepter[sic] with the Kool-O-Matic Corp., Niles.  She married John Francis Russell Bayles Aug. 18, 1940 in Benton Harbor, He preceded her in death July 8, 1962.
    Surviving are her father, Samuel Geik of Benton Harbor; three daughters, Patti Swikoski of Kalamazoo; Terri lynn Bayles of South Bend, Ind.; and Julli Gwen Bayles of Niles.  Also surviving are two brothers, Elmer Geik of Stevensville; and Alfred Geik of Dowagiac; two sisters, Marian Steinke of Florida and Eleanor Jewell of Stevensville as well as four grandchildren.
    A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church where she was a member. The Reverend James B. Blair will officiate.  No visitation may be held.  Memorials may be made to the Heart and Lung Association.  Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.  Arrangements are handled by the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home in Niles.

(Source:  Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 18, 1985, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library)