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.

Mutz, Herman J.

editor Obituaries May 31, 2015

Herman J. Mutz
Nov. 16, 1855-Nov. 26, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 27, 1935, page 1, col. 1, cont. page 2, col. 7 (microfilm Niles District Library)

Another Victim Killed on M.C. Tracks

HERMAN MUTZ FOUND DEAD NEAR STATION; STRUCK BY FREIGHT

Employe Retired After 40 Years In Service; Victim of Track Tragedy

The second fatality of the week on the Michigan Central tracks here occurred early Tuesday night when Herman J. Mutz, 210 Sycamore street, aged retired employe of the Michigan Central railroad, was found dead near the station.

Mr. Mutz's body was found at 7:45 o'clock last night about 300 feet east of the Michigan Center warehouse;. An opening in the fence at that point provides a short cut for persons who wish to avoid going over the viaduct.

He was apparently bound for a visit to some of his friends when he crossed the track in the path of No. 12, Michigan Central fast train, east bound. His body was by members of the switching crew.

Ernest A. Smith, 1110 North Sixth street, died Monday from an attack of apoplexy and exposure. He lost consciousness and fell off a switch engine last Saturday night, due to a sudden heart attack. He as found beside the tracks after lying two hours in the cold.

Mr. Mutz had worked for the Michigan Central more than 40 years when he was retired on a pension about 10 years ago. He was formerly em- (Continued on Page Two) ployed as a section foreman on the South Bend division.

Born in Germany, Nov. 16, 1855, he came to Niles in 1882 and had lived here more than 50 years. His last work with the railroad was in the track department. Later he worked at Silverbrook cemetery.

Mr. Mutz leaves three children, August Mutz,and Mrs. William Fedore, of Niles, and Rudolph Mutz, of Sturgis. Of his three other children, Mrs. Lena Schnick died in 1919; Mrs. Martha Mutz in 1901, and Mrs. Clara Foss in 1933. Thirteen grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews survive.

In 1878 he was married to Miss Louise Lehmann in Germany, who died several years ago.

The body was brought to the Rutherford-Phillips mortuary, where services will be held Friday at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. The Rev. Theo Eisen will officiate and buiral[sic] will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mr. Mutz's fraternal affiliations were with the Order of Maintenance of Way of the Michigan Central railroad. He was a member of St. John's Evangelical church of the the brotherhood of that church.

Bauer, Meta Edna

editor Obituaries May 31, 2015

Meta Edna Bauer
Aug. 8, 1900-Sept. 21, 1971

News-Palladium (Benton Harbor, Michigan), Saturday, September 23, 1967; page 10, col. 3, Submitted by K. Alton

NILES - Mrs. Fred A. (Meta E.) Bauer, 67, of 2239 North Fifth street, Niles died Thursday at 2:30 p.m. in Billings hospital, Chicago, Ill., where she had been a patient for two weeks. She had been ill since January.

Mrs. Bauer was born in St. Joseph, Aug. 8, 1900. She was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran church, Niles, and a member of the Lady Trainmen.

Survivors include her husband, whom she married July 29, 1918, in St. Joseph; a son, Donald L. of Caro; two grandsons’ two great-grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Amanda Ruhno of St. Joseph; and a brother, Gus Yeske of Wheat Ridge, Colo.

Funeral services will be held Monday at 2 p.m. in St. Paul’s Lutheran church, Niles. The Rev. Theodore Laesch, pastor, will officiate.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook cemetery, Niles

Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m. today.

Michael, Clara Belle (Blanchard)

editor Obituaries May 31, 2015

Clara Belle Michael
Dec. 19, 1876-Sept. 26, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, September 26, 1935, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Clara Belle Michael, 58, a life-long resident of Niles, died early this morning at her home, 1336 Eagle street. She had been ill three years. Mrs. Michael was the widow of Joseph K. Michael, who died in 1932.

Mrs. Michael was born in Niles Dec. 19, 1876. She leaves a son, Harry, at home and a daughter, Mrs. Bernice Breeding, Andrews, Ind., also two grandchildren, four brothers, George, Frank, Russell and Bert Blanchard, and a sister, Mrs. Mary Batzel, all of Niles.

Funeral services will be held at the Price and Kiger funeral home Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, September 30, 1935, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: ATTEND MICHAEL RITES

Services at the Price and Kiger funeral chapel Saturday for Mrs. Clara Bell Michael, 1332 Eagle street, were attended by several relatives and friends from out of town. Among them were Mr. And Mrs. A.J. Pierce, Detroit; Mrs. Harry Smith, daughter and granddaughter, Mrs. Jennie McLeveren; all of Buchanan; Sylvester Breeding, of Andrews, Ind., and Frank Blanchard, of Cassopolis. The Rev. Hawkins, of Mishawaka, officiated and burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Pennington, Brodie Baughn

editor Obituaries May 31, 2015

Brodie Baughn Pennington
April 24, 1924-April 2, 1991

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, April 4, 1991, page 2, col. 1-4 (microfilm Niles District Library)

Funeral services for Brodie Vaughn Pennington, 66, of 680 Platt, Apr. 6, Niles, will be Friday at 7 p.m. at Church of Christ by Mr. Robert F. Morris.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mr. Pennington died Tuesday at his home following an extended illness.

He was born April 24, 1924 in Winston County, Ala., and moved to Niles in 1954.

A U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, he had nine Battle Stars. Mr. Pennington was a retired employee of French Paper Co., and a member of Church of Christ, the Golden Ager Club and American Legion Post 26.

On Dec. 14, 1948 in Lynn, Ala., he married the former Marie E. Tittle, who survives.

Other survivors include two sons, Anthony B. Pennington and Timothy E. Pennington, both of Niles; a brother, Earl R. Pennington of Biloxi, Miss.; three sisters, M.E. Haynes of Eldridge, Ala., Maymie Casey of Phoenix, Ariz., and Nellie Tucker of Northport, Ala.; and four grandchildren. A brother Bennie Pennington, preceded him in Death.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. -noon on Friday at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Reum, August E.

editor Obituaries May 31, 2015

August E. Reum
July 20, 1860-April 20, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 22, 1935, page 1, col. 6 (microfilm Niles District Library)

LIFELONG RESIDENT OF NILES STRICKEN

August E. Reum, 74, Dies Saturday After Long Illness

August E. Reum, 74, a lifelong resident of Niles and vicinity, died Saturday afternoon at his home, 724 Hickory street, after a long illness.

Mr. Reum was born in Niles July 20, 1860. For many years he lived on his farm southewast of Niles, coming to the home where he died about a year ago. He was married, Oct. 27, 1886, to Pauline Mangold, who died March 11, 11899. His second marriage was on April 17, 1906, to Mrs. Anna C. Reum, who survives.

Mr Reum leaves five children, three from this first marriage, Louis of Niles, Herman and Albert, and two from the second marriage, Frieda and Armin, also four grandchildren, the children of Herman Reum.

The body was taken to the Price and Kiger funeral home, where friends may call until the hour of the service. Funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon . . .[illegible] .. Rev. Theo Eisen will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mr. Reum was a member of St. John's Evangelical church and of the Modern Woodmen.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 23, 1935, page 2, col. 1 (microfilm Niles District Library)

Niles News in Brief: REUM SERVICES TODAY

Members of the Reum family acted as pallbearers at the funeral services for August E. Reum at the Price and Kiger funeral home at 2 o'clock this afternoon. The Rev. Theo Eisen officiated and burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Reum, William C.

editor Obituaries May 31, 2015

William C. Reum
Feb. 21, 1874-Aug. 18, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, August 18, 1954, page 2, col. 3 (microfilm Niles District Library)

William C. Reum, 80, of Reum road, died at 6:40 a.m. Today at Pawating Hospital following a five-week illness.

Reum was born in Milton Township on Feb. 21, 1874, and lived in this area all his life. He was a retired farmer.

Reum, who wife, Augusta, died in 1949, was a member of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church. He is survived by nieces and nephews.

The body will remain a the Kiger Funeral Home until services at 2 p.m. Friday at St. John's church. The Rev. Theodore Eisen will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Snyder, Lyle C.

editor Obituaries May 31, 2015

Lyle C. Snyder
Jan. 9, 1899-Sept. 6, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Friday, September 6, 1935, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Lyle C. Snyder, 36, Dies at Home Here

Lyle c. Snyder, 36, died this morning at his home, 925 North Third street, after an illness of two months. He was born Jan. 9, 1899, in Grand Rapids. He was married to Miss Virginia Gross of Niles in 1923. Mr. Snyder and two children, Geraldine and Frank, survive, also a brother, Harvey Snyder, Arizona, a sister, Mrs. Neva Wells, Muskegon, and his mother, Mrs. Eva McWatters, Muskegon.

The body was taken to the Rutherford funeral home. Arrangements for the services have not been announced.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, September 7, 1935, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: SNYDER RITES MONDAY

Funeral services for Lyle C. Snyder, 36, who died at his home, 925 North Thrid street, Friday, will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Rutherford funeral chapel. Captain George Sager, of the Salvation Army, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

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