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.

Anderson, Pfc. Gordon E.

Gordon E. Anderson
1932-July 27, 1950

Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 7, 1952; age 2, col. 2, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

Rites for Pfc. Gordon E. Anderson, killed in Korea on July 27, 1950, will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. L. George Beacock, Methodist pastor, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

The body arrived last weekend in San Francisco, and will arrive here at 10:41 a.m. Saturday. A military escort from the depot to the funeral home and full military rites are planned.

Anderson was the son of Mrs. Homer Pierce, 1327 Maple street.  All members of Mothers of Marines are requested to meet at 1:45 p.m. Monday to attend the rites at the funeral home.

 

Astley, Louise

Mrs. Louise Astley
July 27, 1881-Sept.  28, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Monday, September 29, 1952; page 2, col. 2, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

Mrs. Louise Astley, 71, of 1432 Cedar street, a resident here for 34 years, died suddenly Sunday morning at Buffalo, N.Y., where she had been visiting a brother.

The body is being returned here for funeral services Wednesday at the Kiger Funeral Home. Complete funeral arrangements will be announced later.

Mrs. Astley was born in Canada on July 27, 1881, and married William Astley, a railroad employee, who died in 1935.

Survivors include: two daughters, Mrs. Fay Wozniak of Niles, and Mrs. Fred Blanker of Morganville, J.J.; two sons, Robert Astley of Springfield, Ill., and Vern of Port Credit, Ontario, Can.; two brothers, Henry Pohlman of Buffalo, N.Y., and Herman Pohlman of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Can.; a sister, Mrs. Emil Kroll of New York City; and eight grandchildren.

 

Brevier, Mary M.

Mary M. Brevier
Dec. 24, 1913-July 6, 1977

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 7, 1977, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES—Mrs. Mary M. Brevier, 63, of 748 Oak St., died at 9:20 p.m. Wednesday at the Paul Stephan Nursing Home following an extended illness.

A member of the Wesley United Methodist church, she was born Dec. 24, 1913, in Bourbon, Ind. And had lived here since 1936 coming from Etna Green, Ind.

On Aug. 7, 1932 in Nappanee, Ind., she married Frederic E. Brevier, who survives.

Also surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Frederick (Alice) Nichols of Akron, Ohio; a brother, Harold Baker of Etna Green; and three grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at Silverbrook Cemetery with the Rev. John W. Fisher, associate pastor of the Wesley United Methodist Church officiating.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Halbritter Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Athritis[sic] Foundation.

 

Bush, Leon Alvin

Leon Alvin Bush
June 20, 1900-July 24, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Friday, July 25, 1952; page 2, col. 6, microfilm, Niles District Library

Leon Alvin Bush, 53, died at his home, 122 ½ North Front street, at 12:15 p.m. Thursday.

Funeral services will be held in the Pifer funeral home Monday at 2 p.m., with the Rev. John Carlton, of the Trinity Episcopal church, officiating.  Burial will be in Oak Wood cemetery at Allegan.

Bush was born in Bloomingdale on June 20, 1900.  He was employed as a dispatcher for the Harlan Cab company at the time of his death.

Survivors include: his widow, Hazel; one stepdaughter, Mrs. Claude Thompson, of the city, nine children, Mrs. Max Storey, Mrs. Clyde Gleason, Mrs. Marjorie Wissler, Bernath Bush, Bernard Bush, Donald and Bonnie June Bush, all of Niles, Mrs. James Babcock of Bertrand, and Mrs. Ray Tweedy, of Shelbyville, Ind.; ten grandchildren; and three sisters, Mrs. Ella Brainard, of Allegan, and Mrs. Alpha Huntly, of Huntington, Ind.

 

Reinterred at Silverbrook in 1972.

 

 

Callahan, Margaret

Margaret Callahan
Jan. 1, 1903-May 23, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 24, 1945, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Callahan Dies Wednesday

Mrs. Margaret Callahan, 42, of 1446 Sheridan avenue, died at 6 p.m. Wednesday in her home after four months of illness.

She was born in Dubuque, Ia , on Jan. 1, 1903, and came to Niles from LaPorte, Ind. 20 years ago.

Surviving are her husband, Clem; a daughter, Thelma Callahan, in training at Cook county hospital, Chicago; a son, Richard Callahan, at home and a grandchild.

Another son, S. Sgt. William J. Callahan, was killed in action in Belgium on  Jan. 16, 1945. Mrs. Callahan was a member of Mothers of World War II.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral home where the Rev. L. George Beacock will officiate at services at 2 p.m. Saturday.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star, Friday, May 25, 1945, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Conduct Rites Saturday for Mrs. Callahan, 42

Funeral services for Mrs. Margaret Callahan, 442, of 1448 Sheridan avenue, will be conducted at 2 pm. Saturday in the Pifer funeral home by the Rev. L. George Beacock.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mrs. Callahan died Wednesday afternoon in her home.

Survivors are her husband, Clem; a daughter, Thelma Callahan, Chicago; a son, Richard Callahan, at home; a grandchild; two brothers, Clarence Oswald, Niles, and Donald Oswald, with the Army in Germany, and three sisters, Mrs. Howard Adams, Mrs. George Hirsch and Mrs. Theo Ewert, all of Dubuque, Ia.

 

Cain, Robert Conrad

Robert Conrad Cain
Dec. 28, 1924-Aug. 6, 1952

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, August 6, 1952, page 2, col. 5, microfilm, Niles District Library from K. Alton

Robert Cain, formerly of Niles, died this morning in Marshall, where he had resided for the past five years. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Cain of Marshall. 

Among survivors are his uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Cain, of Niles. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery, following services at Marshall. Details are incomplete.

 

Also,

Marshall Evening Chronicle, Wednesday August 6, 1952; page 1, col. 7, Newspaperarchives.com from K. Alton

Robert C. Cain Dies Today

Robert Conrad Cain, 27, of 218 Dayton Street, South Bend, Ind., died at 5:15 a.m. today at the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Lynn N. Cain, 210 North Kalamazoo Avenue, Marshall. He had been in failing health the past six months.

Mr. Cain was born December 28, 1924, in South Bend, the son of Lynn N. and Margaret Cain. He attended public school in Niles, Mich., graduating from high school in 1942. For two years he attended the Houghton School of Mines and served in the naval air corps in World War II for one year. After his discharge, he came to Marshall where he worked in various factories, and last year was employed as draftsman at the U.S. rubber plant in Mishawaka, Ind.

Surviving are his wife, Mary Alice, and daughter, Lynda Jo; his parents, two brothers, Jack L. Cain of Lyon Lake and Bill Cain of Marshall, and his maternal grandmother, Mrs. Margaret Rieder of South Bend.

Friends may call at the Keiser Funeral Home where rosary services will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, the Rev. Fr. P.S. McGuiness officiating.  Funeral and burial arrangements will be announced later.

 

Christman, Henry

Henry Christman
Oct. 14, 1865-May 22, 1945

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 22, 1945, page 2 col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Christman, Age 79, Dies Today

Henry Christman, 79, of 109 South State street, died at 12:15 this morning in his home where he had been ill for five months.

He was born in Bavaria, Germany on Oct. 14, 1865, and come to Niles from North Dakota in 1919.

Surviving are his widow, Helena; eight children, Edward and Roy Christman, at home; Mrs. William Zerr, Mrs. Irvin Roebeck, Mrs. Calvin Jones and Mrs. Chester Curtis, Niles; Mrs. Gordon Willis, Hammond, Ind., and M. Sgt. Fred Christman, Fort Warren, Wy., and nine grandchildren.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday.  The Rev. G.A. Steeby and Capt. Garnett Townsend will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.