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.

Keltz, Madeline A. (Baird)

Madeline A. Keltz
Oct. 15, 1916-April 8, 2001

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 10, 2001, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Madeline A. Keltz, 84, 17 N. 7th St., died unexpectedly, but of natural causes at 9:45 p.m. Sunday at Lakeland Medical Center, Niles.  Born Oct. 15, 1916 in Cadillac to Homer Baird and Julietta Mapes, Keltz has lived in Niles since moving here from Cadillac in 1934.

She married Howard R. Keltz July 29, 1937 in Niles.  He died Jan. 29, 2000.

Keltz is survived by sons Jerry of Ashville, North Carolina and Paul of Niles, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. She is also survived by sisters Gloria Jackson, Shirley Rudlaff, Leola Sheldon and Mary Jo Deitrich, by brothers H.J. Baird of Niles and Rev. John Barid[sic] of St. Joseph, and by companion Clyde Noble.

Keltz was preceded in death by her sister Violet Cronin and Norman Baird.

Keltz retired from the former Niles store of J.C. Penney Company, Inc. She and her husband were former long-time residents of the 1500 block of Broadway.

She enjoyed collectable plates, and gathering with others who collected plates.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Halbritter Funeral Home.  Services are at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home, with Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman of the First Presbyterian Church presiding. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Kempe, Marie (Ehrich)

Marie Kempe
Dec. 26, 1881-April 9, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 9, 1935, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Marie Kempe Dies at Hospital

Mrs. Marie Kempe, 910 Regent street, died at 12:15 this afternoon in Pawating hospital after a brief illness.

Mrs. Kempe was born in Niles, Dec. 26, 1881, and had been a lifeling resident here. Her husband, Fred Kempe, died about 15 years ago.  Mrs. Kempe had been making her home with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ehrich, who survive her.

Funeral arrangements will be announced later.

Kettles, Vera R.

Vera R. Kettles
Dec. 26, 1889-Jan. 15, 1955

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, January 15, 1955, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Vera R. Kettles, 65, of 2109 Miller, died at 7:20 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital. She had been ill since last February.

Mrs. Kettles was born Dec. 26, 1889, in Buchanan and came to Niles from Michigan City, Ind., in 1919. She was a life member of the Sylvia Chapter of the Order of Eastern Star in Buchanan.

Surviving are: her husband, David; three daughters, Mrs. Richard Huckins, of St. Joseph, and Mrs. Cornelius Schuyler, and Mrs. Russell Allen, both of Niles, and a son, Fred Kettles, of Capistrano, Calif.

Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home here with the Rev. Chester M. Wetzel, assistant pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

Lauderdale, Charles Sr.

Charles Lauderdale Sr.
March 6, 1886-June June 18, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 21, 1934, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Charles Lauderdale Sr., 68, of rural route two, died at the home of his son, James, at 6558 Drexel avenue, Chicago, at 11:45 p.m. Friday. He had been recuperating in his son's home since his illness nine months ago.

He is survived by his wife, Mary; three sons, Andrew, Charles Jr., and James, all of Chicago; five daughters, Mrs. Beatrice Kelley, of Benton Harbor, Mrs. Earmers Lee Berry and Mrs. Katherine Mayo, of Niles, and Mrs. Mazie Pargo and Mrs. Roberta Robinson, of Chicago; 33 grandchildren; one brother, John Lauderdale, of Benton Harbor, and two sisters, Mrs. Julie Myers, of Missouri, and Mrs. Martha Tillmon, of Detroit.

He was born on March 6, 1886, in Jacksonville,  Ark., and came here from Missouri four years ago. He was a construction laborer. He was a member of Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church.

The body will be brought to Niles on Tuesday.  Friends may call after & p.m. Tuesday at the Pifer Funeral Home and until noon  Wednesday. Services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Olive Missionary Baptist Church.  The Rev. E.J.. Jones will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Marks, Robert C.

Robert C. Marks
Sept. 19, 1904-Jan. 6, 1955

Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 7, 1955, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Robert C. Marks, 50, of 536 Broadway, Niles Public School teacher since 1929 and form high school golf coach, died at 5:15 p.m. Thursday. He suffered a heart attach at home and died enroute to Pawating Hospital.

Marks was born Sept. 19, 1904, in Harmony, Ind., and came to Niles in 1929 from Butler, Ind. When he first joined the teaching staff at Niles High School, he . . .[illegible]. .history and was assistant football coach.  Later he was named head of the history department. He also taught social science, and was high school boys counsellor and counsellor for  ninth grade students.

In addition to teaching, Marks was director of the summer recreation program in Niles for one season, was associated four years with the National Standard Company and was employed a short time at the Richter Insurance Agency here. He was a member of the Niles Library board and a former member of the Niles Board of Education.  He was also a member of the First Presbyterian Church and the Niles Elks Lodge.

He graduated from DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind., in 1926 with a batchelor[sic] of arts degree,and received his masters degree form the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in 1932.

A year before he came to Niles, he was married (Jan. 7, 1938) to Raye Greatbatch in Indianapolis. Inc.

Surviving are: his wife; two children, Sue and Richard, both at home; two brothers, Ralph W. Marks, of Chicago, and John M. Marks, of  Albany, N.Y., and a sister, Mrs. Edna Danhouer, of Chicago.

Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday in the First Presbyterian Church with the pastor, the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home.

 

Marshall, Mildred Knott (Hartzog)

Mildred Knott Marshall
Oct. 31, 1913-April 9, 2001

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 11, 2001, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Mildred, Knott Marshall, 87, of the Shawnee Manor Nursing Home of Lima, Ohio, died at 6:02 p.m. Monday in the nursing home.  She was born Oct. 31, 1913, in Adrian, Mich., to Paul R. and  Acta Leslie Marshall.

Marshall married Cmd. William T. Marshall on January 10, 1980.

He died in July 1995.

She was also preceded by her first husband Kenneth E. Knott who died in 1975, and by brother Donald Hartzog and sister Dorothy Sellers.

Marshall is survived by sons Theodore Knott of Lima, Ohio, and Richard Knott of Niles.  She is also survived by her sister Lucille Schaffer of Annapolis, Md., seven grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

Marshall was a homemaker and a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church.

There will be a private family memorial service with no visitation.  Cremation will take place with burial in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Maxwell, Farries W.

Farries W. Maxwell
Jan. 17, 1945-Oct. 13, 1975

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, October 14, 1975, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES—Farries W. Maxwell, 30, of 1605 Huron St., died at 8:20 Monday at Pawating Hospital.

A member of the U.S. Navy, he was a student at Lake Michigan college. He was born Jan. 17, 1945 in Memphis, Tenn.

He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Farries W. Maxwell of Niles; a brother, Lance Cpl. Ronnie D. Maxwell of Camp Pendleton, Calif.; and three sisters, Miss Annie Ruth Maxwell of South Bend, Miss Ella Mae Maxwell of Niles, and Miss Beth Maxwell of Detroit.

Funeral services are incomplete at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home.

 

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, October 15, 1975, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Farries W. Maxwell, 30, of 1605 Huron St., died at 8:20 p.m. Monday at Pawating Hospital.

A member of the U.S. Navy and a Lake Michigan college student,  he was born Jan. 17, 1945 in Memphis, Tenn. and had lived most of his lifetime in the area.

He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Farries W. Maxwell of Niles; his grandfather, Herman DeShazer of Niles; a son, Andre Farries Maxwell of Niles; a brother, Lance Cpl. Ronnie D. Maxwell of Camp Pendleton, Calif.; and three sisters, Miss Ella Mae Maxwell of Niles, Miss Annie Ruth Maxwell of South Bend,, and Miss Mary Beth Maxwell of Detroit.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. W.L. Daniel of Mt. Calvary Baptist Church officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home after noon Sunday.