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.

Wright, Maggie

Maggie Wright
1893*-July 27, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Friday, July 28, 1944, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Maggie Wright, 68, Dies Thursday After Five Month's Illness

Mrs. Maggie Wright, 68, of Pucker Street, Route 3, died at 4 Thursday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Minnie Seawood, after an illness of five months.

Mrs. Wright was born in Forest, Ark., and moved here from Missouri six months ago.

Surviving are her husband, James; two sons, Otto Ellison, Chicago, and Willie Weston, Corondiet, Ill.; a daughter, Mrs. Seawood; a step-daughter, Mrs. Alberta Wright, St. Louis, Mo.; two grandchildren, and two brothers, Will Jasper, St. Louis, Mo., and John Weston, Yarbo, Mo.

The body is at the Pifer funeral home.

 

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 29, 1944, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

WRIGHT RITES

Services for Mrs. Maggie Wright, 68, of Pucker street, Route 3, will be conducted Monday at 2 at the Pifer funeral home by the Rev. Emory G. Davis, pastor of the Franklin A.M.E. church. Burial will be in Silverbrook.  Mrs. Wright, who died Thursday, was a member of the Eastern Star in Missouri.

 

*Cemetery record has dob as 1893; which would have made dod approximately 51 years not 68 as stated in obit.  We do not have verification as to the correct date.

 

Zimmerman, Anna Genevieve

Anna Genevieve Zimmerman
Dec. 9, 1876-June 7, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, June 7, 1944, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Zimmerman Dies Suddenly of Heart Attack

Mrs. Anna Genevieve Zimmerman, 67 resident of Niles for almost half a century, died suddenly in her home at 819 Grant street this morning at 8:15. She had not been ill previously and death was believed to have been caused by a heart attack.

She was born in Germany, Dec. 9, 1876. She was married to Edward Zimmerman in Niles Feb. 1, 1898, and has lived here since then.

Surviving are the husband; a daughter, Mrs. Thomas Parent, Lockland, Ohio, four grandchildren, and three sisters, Mrs. Sophie Hoga, Mrs. Lillie Rindfusz, and Miss Flora Sikorski, all of Detroit.

Friends may call after Thursday afternoon at the Price and Kiger funeral home, where services will be conducted Friday morning at 10:30 by the Rev. H.L. Nicholson, rector of Trinity Episcopal church. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, June 8, 1944, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

FUNERAL SATURDAY

Funeral services for Mrs. Anna Genevieve Zimmerman, 67, who died in her home at 819 Grant street Wednesday morning, will be conducted Saturday morning at 10:30 instead of Friday as previously arranged in the Price and Kiger funeral home by the Rev. H.L. Nicholson, rector of Trinity Episcopal church.

 

Niles Daily Star, Friday, June 9, 1944, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

FUNERAL SATURDAY

Services for Mrs. Anna Genevieve Zimmerman, 67, of 819 Grant street, who died Wednesday will be conducted in the Price and Kiger funeral chapel Saturday morning at 10:30 by the Rev. H.L. Nicholson.  Pallbearers will be Edward and August Hoga, Walter and Floyd Williams, Walter Janery and Stuart White.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

 

 

Zimmerman, Edward

Edward Zimmerman
Jan. 4, 1872-Aug. 22, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 22, 1944, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

ZIMMERMAN, LOST DAY IN MYSTERY, SUCCUMBS IN HOME

Edward Zimmerman, 72, of 819 Grant street, who disappeared form his home last Tuesday and returned Wednesday with a story that he had been beaten and robbed, which he later denied, died at 12:30 this morning in his home.

The attending physician said death was the result of a heart condition and could not be directly attributed to cuts and bruises about his head and face.

Zimmerman left home Tuesday and returned the next morning suffering from a brain concussion, bruises and severe shock after spending the night in a gully beside the Michigan Central railroad tracks north of Grant street. The money he had been carrying later was found torn near some grapevines.

In 25 Year Club

Zimmerman was employed by The Kawneer Company until he was injured there in March. He was a member of the 25 Year club there.

He was born in Niles Jan. 4, 1872. He wife, Anna, died June 7.

Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Thomas Parent, Lockland, O., and a sister, Mrs. Edward Jacobs, Elkhart, Ind., who has been keeping house for Zimmerman.

Friends may call at the Price and Kiger funeral chapel where services will be conducted Thursday at 2:30 by the Rev. Theo Eisen. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, August 23, 1944, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

ZIMMERMAN RITES

Services for Edward Zimmerman, 72, of 819 Grant street, will be conducted Thursday at 2:30 with the Rev. Theo Eisen officiating.  Pallbearers will be Rudolph Miller, Fred Eaglesfield, Malcolm Collins, Sr., C.P. Johnson, Lute Schneider, and I.R. Bartlett. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Ballard, Harry

Harry Ballard
May 15, 1868-July 23, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 24, 1944, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

HARRY BALLARD, 76, NATIVE OF NILES, DIES IN HOSPITAL

Harry Ballard, 76, of the Ballard homestead on Route 4, died Sunday morning at Pawating hospital after an illness of more than a week. The Ballad homestead has been well-known throughout this section of the state for its orchards and herds of livestock for nearly 100 years.

Ballard was born in the Ballard homstead[sic] May 15, 1868, the son of Milton M. and Ellen J. Ballard, and has lived there all his life. He was married Oct. 24, 1897 to May Thomas, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. N. D. Thomas, Decatur. She died in 1940.

Survivors are a son, Donald T. Ballard, and a brother, Ralph Ballard, both of the homestead.

Friends may call at the Price and Kiger funeral home where services will be conducted Tuesday at 2 by the Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Belknap, Simeon

Simeon Belknap
April 13, 1872-Aug. 3, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Friday, August 4, 1944, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

SIMEON BELKNAP, EX-RAILMAN, DIES

Simeon Belknap, 72, of 122 North Eighth Street, for 28 years an employe of the Michigan Central railroad, died at 9:30 Thursday night in Pawating hospital.  For many years he served as ticket clerk at the depot before his retirement in 1941.

A member of the Niles “Old-Timers” association, Belknap owned and operated a jewelry store at Main and Front streets where the Bear Cat store now is located. He was a watch and clock maker. The Belknap block was named after the establishment. His father, Dr. Simeon Belknap, was a physician in Niles for many years.

Native of Vermont

Belknap was born April 13, 1872 in South Royalton, Vt., and came to Niles from Vermont at the age of three. The was married to Caroline Knott in 1902.

Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Frederic Richter, Niles; three sons, Simeon K. Belknap, Niles; Allen P. Belknap, Chicago, and Donald W. Belknap, St. Paul, Minn.,and six grandchildren.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted Saturday at 2:30 by the Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Bolinger, Amos O.

Amos Bolinger
Feb. 6, 1859-June 13, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 13, 1944, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

AMOS BOLINGER TAKEN BY DEATH

Amos O. Bolinger, 85, retired carpenter and for 20 years a resident of Niles, died in his home at 322 South St. Joseph avenue at 2:30 this morning after an illness of several years.

He was born in Rome city, Ind., Feb. 6, 1859, and came to Niles from Berrien Springs 30 years ago.

Surviving are his wife, Mary; two daughters, Mrs. Laura Hahn, Niles, and Mrs. Rose Myers, Sacramento,Calif.; two sons, Fred Bolinger, Nils and Robert G. Bolinger, Rochester, Mich.; a sister, Mrs. Cora Copeland, Larwill, Ind.; a brother, Eli Bolinger, Columbia, Ind.; 17 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Friends may call at the Price and Kiger funeral chapel, where services will be conducted Thursday afternoon at 2 by the Rev. O.H. Gerstenkorn, pastor of the First Baptist church. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Bolinger was a member of the Baptist church in Berrien Springs.

Burke, Edgar F.

Edgar F. Burke
June 27, 1877-May 9, 1938

Niles Daily Star, Monday, May 9, 1938, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Edgar F. Burke, 60, Lifelong Resident of Berrien Co. Dead

Edgar F. Burke, 60, lifelong resident of Berrien county, died at 1 o'clock this morning in his farm home seven miles north of Niles on Rural route two, Berrien Springs. He had been in ill health for several weeks.

The body was brought to the Price and Kiger funeral home where services will be held at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, with Charles Kitterer, Christian Science reader, officiating. Burial will be in  Silverbrook cemetery.

Born in Berrien township, Mr. Burke had engaged in farming until ill health forced his retirement.

Surviving are his wife, Olive, and one son, John G. Burke, Chicago; two brothers, Dr. Lewis Burke, Grand Rapids, and Frank Burke, Berrien Springs; also four sisters, Mrs. E.M. Reading, Miss Ruth I Burke, Mrs. Robert Ludwig and Mrs. William A. Stevens, Michigan City, Ind.

 

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 10, 1938, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

BURKE SERVICES

Charles Kitterer, Christian Science reader, will conduct services at 2:30 o'clock Wednesday afternoon in the Price and Kiger funeral home for Edgar F. Burke, 60. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. A lifelong resident of Berrien county, Mr. Burke died early Monday morning at his farm home, seven miles north of Niles. He had been in Ill health for several weeks.

 

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 11, 1938, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

SERVE AS PALLBEARERS

Robert F. and Irving S. Burke, Thomas Farrell, Warren Reynolds, Ralph Smith and Wallace Cole served as pallbearers at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon for the funeral services of Edgar F. Burke, 60. Rites were conducted by Charles Kitterer, Christian Science reader, in the Price and Kiger funeral home. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.