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.

Miller, Katherine Elizabeth

Vickie Caison Obituaries

Katherine Elizabeth Miller
April 3, 1932-April 20, 2001

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 23, 2001, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Katherine Elizabeth Miller, 69, of 2721 Horton Court, Niles, are today at 1:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Niels, by the Rev. Scott A. Goodman, pastor.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Miller died Friday at 4:15 a.m. At Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph, following an extended illness.

She was born April 3, 1932, in Niels, and was a lifetime resident.

On Dec. 23, 1950, in Niels, she was married to Roy W. Miller, who survives.

Mrs. Miller had been an accounting secretary for six years with Scarpone and Co. and had been previously employed for 18 years with Coopers and Lybrand, both certified accounting firms. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Niles for many years and was the church pianist.

In addition to her love for music, Mrs. Miller cherished her family and friends.

Survivors, in addition to her husband, include two daughters, Sandra Kay Dickson, Normal. Ill. And Barbara Ann Curry of Pittsburgh, Penn.; a son, Thomas H. Miller of Niles; two grandchildren, Ryan J. Curry and Logan W. curry; and a sister, Beatrice Gillette of Buchanan.

Visitation was held Sunday at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church Foundation.

 

Also: Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

 

Katherine Elizabeth Miller, 69, of Horton Court, Niles, Mich., died at 4:15 a.m. Friday, April 20, 2001 in Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph, Mich., following an extended illness.

She was born on April 3, 1932, in Niles to George Henry and Edna Leora (Shriver) Wanko and was a lifetime area resident.

Mrs. Miller had been an accounting secretary for six years with Scarpone & Company and had been previously employed for 18 years with Coopers & Lybrand, both Certified Public Accounting firms.

She was a member of First Baptist Church in Niles and for many years was the church pianist.

In addition to her love for music, Mrs. Miller cherished her family and friends.

On Dec. 23, 1950, in Niles, she married Roy W. Miller who survives. She is also survived by their children, Sandra Kay (Gary) Dickson of Normal, Ill., Thomas H. Miller of Niles, and Barbara Ann (Joe) Curry of Pittsburgh, Pa.; grandchildren, Ryan J. and Logan W. Curry; and her sister, Beatrice (Joel) Gillette of Buchanan, Mich.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday April 23, at First Baptist Church with The Reverend Scott A. Goodman, officiating. Interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Contributions in memory of Katherine Elizabeth Miller may be made to the First Baptist Church Foundation Fund.

 

 

Miller, Gladys Laura (Luth)

Vickie Caison Obituaries

Gladys L. Miller
April 29, 1902-March 7, 2006

Gladys Laura (Luth) Miller, 103, of Wright Road, Niles, passed away peacefully at Silverbrook Manor in Niles on Tuesday, March 7, 2006.

Gladys was born on April 29, 1902, in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, to the late Herman C. and Laura A. (Burt) Luth.

On September 18, 1920, she married Edward H. Miller at a ceremony in Niles, MI.

A homemaker most of her life, Gladys enjoyed traveling, including places such as Europe twice, Africa, Spain and all over the U.S. She also loved desserts of all kinds and enjoyed cooking for her family. Those who knew her best knew of her wonderful taste in fashion.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Niles and the Niles Eastern Star.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and by a daughter, Jeanne Leach.

Gladys is survived by a son, Edward (Delores) Miller of Niles, seven grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and 14 great-great-grandchildren.

In keeping with Gladys' wishes, cremation has taken place and a committal service will be at a later time at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Contributions may be made in Gladys' memory to a charity of one's choice.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Niles (formerly Pifer~Smith Funeral Home).

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Miller, Francis W.

Vickie Caison Obituaries

Francis W. Miller
Aug. 12, 1914-Dec. 21, 1980

Francis W. Miller, 66, of 1100 Sycamore, Niles, died at 12:50 a.m. Sunday (Dec. 21, 1980), in Pawating Hospital following an extended illness. Born August 12, 1914 in Niles. He was a lifetime resident.

Survivors include three brothers, Richard W., Paul F. and Frank J., all of Niles; three sisters, Mrs. Evelyn Almond of Jackson, Mrs. May Bachman of Berrien Springs and Mrs. Helen McKibbins of Niles. Private funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Halbritter funeral Home, Niles. The Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. There will be no visitation. The family suggests that memorials may be made to the Niles Community Library.  

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Miller, Clara A. (Neiswender)

Vickie Caison Obituaries

Clara A. Miller
Feb. 12, 1895-April 20, 1970

Clara A. Miller (Neiswender), 75, of 316 S. State St., died at 1:05 a.m. today (April 20, 1970) in South Bend Memorial Hospital, after an illness of four weeks.

Born Feb. 12, 1895, in Burkett, Ind., Mrs. Miller had lived her since 1911, coming from Indiana. She married Frank J. Miller, who died in 1944.

Survivors include four sons, Francis, Paul, Frank and Richard Miller, all of Niles; three daughters, Mrs. Maurice Almond of Jackson, Mrs. Lyle Bachman of Berrien Springs and Mrs. George McKibbin of Cassopolis; a brother, Ira Neiswender of Buchanan; a sister, Mrs. Clarence Kinney of Niles; 15 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Halbritter funeral Home, with burial in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call after 1 p.m. Tuesday in the funeral home.  

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Mikula, Edward Joseph

Vickie Caison Obituaries

Edward Joseph Mikula, 84, of Albee Farm Road, Venice, Fla., formerly of South Bend, passed away April 30th, 2005, in Venice Regional Medical Center.

Edward was born August 14, 1920, in Detroit, Mich., to the late Anton and Rose (Abraham) Mikula.

After serving proudly in the United States Army during World War II, Edward married Caroline Humphrey at a ceremony in Niles on January 4, 1964.

He worked for Studebaker's for many years before going to work for the State of Indiana as a toll road supervisor. Edward loved to play golf, played semi-pro baseball in the late 30s, and crossword puzzles. He was very involved with the American Legion, an avid Cubs fan but, above all, he loved spending time with his family.

Preceding Edward were his parents, his wife, Caroline, and a brother, Stanley Mikula.

Surviving Edward are his two sons, Jon (Dianne) Boller of South Bend and David (Gina) Boller of Orlando, Fla.; his daughter, Julie (Paul) Minnear of Venice, Fla.; two sisters, Lorainne (Frank) Hadary and Gertrude Shriner, both of South Bend; 10 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be Friday, May 6, 2005, from 6 to 8 p.m. in Brown Funeral Home and Cremation Services, with the funeral services Saturday at 10:00 a.m. (Mich. time), with Father Peltz of St. Mary's Catholic Church officiating. An interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home and Cremation Services. (Formerly Pifer -- Smith Funeral Home).

Metzger, Robert

Vickie Caison Obituaries

Robert Metzger
Nov. 10, 1918-July 23, 1952

 Set Rites for airman Killed in Brazil Crash

Funeral services will be held here Saturday for Capt. Robert E. Metzger, 22, former Niles resident and Air Force veteran who was killed in an airplane crash in Brazil, July 23, 1952.

Services will be held at 3:30 p.m. at the Kiger funeral home. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery with full military rites at graveside. Metzger’s body is to arrive here tonight.

Surviving are Metzger;s parent, Benjamin Metzger, of Buchanan and Mrs. Gladys Drudy of Dowagiac; two children, Robert Jr. and Karl in Meridian, Miss.; a sister, Mrs. Carl Eliason of Niles and a brother, Keith of Chicago.

Metzger was born Nov. 10, 1918, in Galien. He lived in Niles and Dowagiac and had spent the last year in an sea rescue working South American. He was killed while on a air sea rescue training mission, when a B-17 bomber and a small training plane crashed in mid air. Six Brazilians were also killed in the crash.

After graduating from Niles high school, Metzger became one of the first World War II enlistees from this area. He served in the South Pacific, where he was forced to parachute from a plane, and later served with the Army of occupation in Germany.  

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Metzger, Lydia Elizabeth

Vickie Caison Obituaries

Lydia Elizabeth Metzger
Jan. 18, 1901-April 19, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 19, 1963, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Lydia Elizabeth Metzger, 82, of 122 N. 8th St., died at 12:50 a.m., today in her home. She had been ill three years.

Mrs. Metzger was born Jan. 18, 1901 in Richmond, Ind. She came to Niles from that city 44 years ago.

Survivors include her husband, Lawrence; two daughters, Mrs. Robert Petro, Jonesboro, Ark, and Miss Elizabeth Ann Metzger at home; a son, William Pollock, Niles; a sister, Mrs. Harold Carroll, Greenville, SC.; a brother, Frank Metzger, Richmond, and nine grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev. W. G. Rowe, pastor of the Apostolic Temple, South Bend, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the funeral home beginning Saturday.

 

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