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.

Edmondson, Nellie A.

Nellie A. Edmondson
Dec. 25, 1897-Oct. 4, 1975

Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 6, 1954, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES—Mrs. Nellie A. Edmondson, 77, of Pharr, Tex., formerly of Niles, died at 3 p.m. Saturday at the McAllen General Hospital, McAllen, Tex., after an extended illness.

A member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church, she was a retired . . .[illegible] . .

She was born Dec. 25, 1897 in Christ Church, New Zealand and had lived in Texas since 1971, coming from Niles, Her husband LeRoy survives.

Also surviving are a niece, Mrs. Evelyn Williams of Niles and a nephew, Col. David Parsons of Burlington, Iowa.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Irvin Nussdorfer of the Westminster Presbyterian Church officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.

Jorgenson, Donald

Donald Jorgenson
June 29, 1954-June 29, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 29, 1954, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

A son was stillborn at 8:15 a.m. today at Pawating Hospital to Mr. and Mrs. Harry Jorgensen, 2142 Lewis drive.

Surviving are his paternal grandmother, Mrs. Minnie Jorgenson, of Niles; his maternal grandparents, Mrs. Harvey Clark, of Glenn, Mich., and Arthur Emerick, of Michigan; three brothers, Harry, . . .[illegible] . . . Eleanor, Marcia, and Sandra, all at home.

Services were held at 4 p.m. today at Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. R.L. McCoy, pastor of the First Baptist Church, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Marshall, Allena N.

Allena Marshall
Oct. 30, 1899-Oct. 5, 1975

Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 6, 1954, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES—Mrs. Allena N. Marshall, 75, of 1507 N. 12th St., died at 6 a.m. Sunday at Pawating Hospital after an extended illness.

She as a member of St. John's United Church of Christ, a past treasurer of the SUNA auxiliary, a life member of the Order of Eastern Star, and a member of the Niles American Legion Auxiliary.

A retired employe of the Niles American Legion Post, she was born Oct. 30, 1899 in Niles and had lived in the area her lifetime.

Her husband Lloyd Marshall died June 11, 1930.

She is survived by a sister, Mrs. Esther Meeker of Dearborn and several nieces and nephews in the Niles area.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m  Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Harold G. Kaiser of St. John's United Church of Christ officiating.  Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are calling at the funeral home.

Murtishaw, Lucy

Lucy Murtishaw
1870-June 29, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 29, 1954, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Lucy Murtishaw, 81, 761 Cottage Grove avenue, South Bend, died at 2 a.m. Tuesday in the Westville, Ind., Hospital, after an illness of one month.

Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Francis Hubbard of South Bend; one son, William Murtishaw of Detroit; four grandchildren and one sister, Mrs. Mary Ross, Detroit.

She was born in Union, S.C, and moved to South Bend from Detroit five years ago.

Friends may call starting Wednesday at the Kiger Funeral Home, where services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

Power, Ralph W.

Ralph W. Power
Oct. 2, 1902-July 23, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 24, 1954, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Heart Attack Takes Life of Ralph Power

Ralph W. Power, 51, 0f 901 Cedar street, operator of the E.H. Power Supply Company here, collapsed from a heart attack while removing his golf shoes at Plym Park clubhouse here at about 7:45 p.m.  Friday. He was pronounced dead upon arrival at Pawating Hospital.

A native of Niles, Power was the third generation of his family to operate the supply company. He was born on Oct. 2, 1902, in Niles and lived here all his life.

Power was a 32nd degree Mason, a member of the Lions Club, Elks Lodge, the First Methodist Church and Orchard Hills Country Club.

He had received his master's degree in economics and an A.B. Degree in business administration at the University of Michigan.

Surviving are his mother, Mrs. E.H. Power, of Niles; two sisters, Mrs. Arthur Wright, of Rutland, Vt., and Mrs. Edna Royce, of Kalamazoo.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home after 7 p.m.  today until 1:30 p.m Tuesday when the body will be taken to the church.  Services will be held at the First Methodist Church at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, with the Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

 

Swartz, Harry T. Sr,

Harry T. Swartz, Sr.
Dec. 1, 1873-Dec. 19, 1950

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 19, 1950; page 2, col. 5, microfilm, Niles District Library

Harry T. Swartz, Sr., 216 Eagle (illegible text) a.m. today in (illegible text) an illness of 10 days.

Surviving are his widow, Frances, and their children, Howard, Harry, Jr., Jack, all of Niles, and Lyle, of Andrews, Ind., and 11 grandchildren.  He had no brothers or sisters.

Swartz was born Dec. 1, 1873, in Niles, and had lived here all his life.  He was a building mover.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday by the Rev. L. George Beacock, Methodist pastor. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Asmus, Charles C.

Charles C. Asmus
Feb. 4, 1876-July 7, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 8, 1954, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Charles C. Asmus, died at the home of his son, Clarence, 1527 North Twelfth street, at 11:40 p.m.  Wednesday. His wife did in January of 1953.

surviving are three sons, Alfred, DeVerne and Clarence, all of Niles; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, and two brothers, George, of Niles, and John Asmus, of Kalamazoo.

He was born on Feb. 4, 1876, in Niles, and has lived here all his life. He was a maintenance foreman for The Kawneer Company, where he had been employed for 33 years.

Asmus was a member of the 25-Year Club at The Kawneer Company, of the Brotherhood of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church and of the Maccabee Lodge.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be held at 2 p.m Saturday. The . . .[illegible] . .