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.

Nelson, Jon Scott

editor Obituaries

Jon Scott Nelson
Sept. 2, 1836-April 9, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Monday, April  10, 1944, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

MENINGITIS KILLS BOY; RAILMAN ILL

One five-year-old boy is dead here and a Howard township man is reported seriously ill today of spinal meningitis.

Dead is John Scott Niles, 5, South Bend, who died in Pawating hospital at 6:30 Sunday night after what was described as a few hours' illness.

Ned Watkins, a fireman for the New York Central railroad, was taken to Epworth hospital in South Bend late this morning after his two-day illness was diagnosed as spinal meningitis.

Watkins first complained of feeling ill early yesterday, shortly after finishing his 4 to midnight shift at the terminal here. His ailment was diagnosed Sunday as spinal meningitis.

Only Case

Dr. James Ames, Niles health officer said this afternoon that only the one case had been reported in Niles.

The boy, taken ill while visiting here, was born Sept. 2, 1936, in University of Baltimore hospital.

Surviving are the father, Arthur Nelson, Jr., of California, the mother, Mrs. Betty Campbell, South Bend, and the grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. C.A. Wainscott, Niles, and Mr and Mrs. Arthur Nelson, Sr., Niles.

Private rites will be conducted Wednesday afternoon at 2 in the Pifer funeral home by the Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April  11, 1944, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Nelson Boy's Death Blamed on Uremia; Funeral Ban Lifted

Plan for a private funeral for Jon Scott Nelson, 5, who died Sunday night at 6:30 in Pawating hospital after an illness of only a few hours, were abandoned today after an autopsy disclosed that the boy died of uremic poisoning rather than spinal meningitis, according to the original diagnosis.

Services which all the relatives and friends of the family may attend will be conducted Wednesday afternoon at 2 by the Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster in the Pifer funeral home.

The grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Nelson, Sr., 551 First court, left Friday for California to visit their son, Arthur Nelson, Jr., father of the boy, who lives in Ventura, Calif., and their daughter, Miss Audrey Nelson, who is stationed in Oakland, Calif., with the WAVES. The grandparents arrived in California Monday.

Righter, Harry E.

editor Obituaries

Harry E. Righter
Nov. 24, 1895-May 21, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Monday, May 22, 1944, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

HARRY RIGHTER, 48, STRICKEN SUDDENLY

Harry E. Righter, 48, as stricken with a heart attack and died suddenly in his home at 527 Ferry street Sunday night at 6:10.

He was born in St. Joseph Nov. 24, 1895, and came to Niles 16 years ago.  He was employed as linotype operator with the Niles Daily Star most of the 16 years and recently left to work for the Simplicity Pattern company.

Surviving are his wife, Katherine; three children, Amanda May, Patricia Ann, and Jack we. Righter, all at home; a brother, Glen Righter, Kalamazoo, and a sister, Mrs. Irene Tague, Crawfordsville, Ind.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted Wednesday afternoon at 2 by the Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster, pastor of the First Methodist church.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 24, 1944, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

RIGHTER FUNERAL

Funeral services for Harry E. Righter, 48, who died in his home at 527 Ferry street Sunday night at 6:15 after a heart attack, were conducted in the Pifer funeral home this afternoon at 2 by the Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster, pastor of the First Methodist church. Pallbearers were Richard Hochmuth, Peter Barr, Lloyd Stites, William Boggs, Norman Kasbaum and Roy Burlson.  Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Roebeck, Fred William

editor Obituaries

Fred William Roebeck
Oct. 15, 1871-May 3, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 4, 1944, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

FRED ROEBECK, 72, BARRON LAKE, DIES

Fred William Roebeck, 72, retired farmer, Barron lake, died Wednesday night at 6 in Pawating hospital after being ill just one day.

He was born Oct. 15, 1871, in Michigan City, Ind., and came here from Vandalia more than 50 years ago. He married Miss Hulda Reum in 1924 in South Bend.

Surviving are: the wife; five children, Louis, Merrill, Almedia Louise, Shirley Jean and Harry John Roebeck, all living at home, and five sisters, Miss Emma Roebeck, Mrs. Kathryn Olson, Mrs. William Reum and Mrs. Yust Reum, all of Niles, and Mrs. Emil Schinke, South Bend.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted  Saturday afternoon at 2:30 by the Rev. Theodore Eisen, pastor of St. John's Evangelical church.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, May 6, 1944, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

ROEBECK RITES

Funeral services for Fred William Roebeck, 72, Barron lake, who died Wednesday night, were conducted this afternoon at 2:30 in the Pifer funeral home by the Rev. Theodore Eisen, pastor of St. John's Evangelical church.  Pallbearers were Burgette Weller, Frank Reum, Fred Reum, Lute Ranft, Robert Roebeck and Kenneth Geideman. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Schleicher, Roy

editor Obituaries

Roy Schleicher
Infant, Died April 1944

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 11, 1944, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

To Bury Here

Body of the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. K.E. Schleicher, Grand Rapids, will be brought to Niles Wednesday for burial in Silverbrook cemetery.  Mr. Schleicher is a brother of Mrs. Rose Forrest, 402 Hill St.

Schnoor, John D.

editor Obituaries

John D. Schnoor
Sept. 26, 1875-May 6, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, May 6, 1944, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

JOHN SCHNOOR, 68, FLORIST, STRICKEN

John D. Schnoor, 68, of 1130 North Fifth street, for 50 years a florist here and a lifetime resident of Niles, died in Pawating hospital at 3:30 this morning after an illness of one week.

He was born in Niles Sept. 26, 1875, and started working with flowers when he was 12 years old, rigging his own small greenhouse and heating it with a lantern.

He married Miss Ilah D. Hart in 1923 at LaPorte, Ind.

Four Daughters

Surviving are the wife, four daughters—Charnies, Bonnie, and Jay Der Schnoor, at home, and Mrs. Lloyd Phillips, Fennville; a daughter by a former marriage; a granddaughter, Nancy Sharon Phillips; three sisters, Mrs. Frank Treiber, Niles, Mrs. Herman Fox, Lansing, and Mrs. Anna Garges, New Rochelle, N.Y., and a brother, Fred Schnoor, Jackson.

Friends may call at the Price and Kiger funeral chapel. Services will be conducted in the First Presbyterian church Monday afternoon at 2:30 by Dr. Guy W. Simon,  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Schnoor was a member of the First Presbyterian church and the Knights of Pythias lodge. The Knights of Pythias lodge are furnishing the pallbearers.

&

Niles Daily Star, Monday, May 8, 1944, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Schnoor Funeral Conducted Today

Funeral services for John D. Schnoor, 68, 1124 North Fifth street, for 50 years a florist here and a lifetime resident of Niles, were conducted in the First Presbyterian church this afternoon at 2:30 by Dr. Guy W. Simon.

Pallbearers were George Forler, William DePoy, Leon Washburn, Don Dennison, George White and Lawrence Elder.  Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

Schnoor died Saturday morning.

 

Selfridge, Sarah (Fowler)

editor Obituaries

Sarah Fowler Selfridge
June 5, 1856-May 16, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 16, 1944, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

SARAH SELFRIDGE, 87, STRICKEN TODAY

One of Niles' oldest residents, Mrs. Sarah Fowler Selfridge, of 706 Hickory street, died in the Berrien county hospital at 9:30 this morning after an extended illness. She was 87 years old.

Born in Vermont June 5, 1856, she was married in Niles to George A. Selfridge, who conducted a hardware store for many years in the location now occupied by Reynold's hardware, and, who died several years ago. She has no surviving relatives.

Friends may call at the Price and Kiger chapel where funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 Thursday by the Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster, pastor of the First Methodist church of which she was a member.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Steinbauer, Matilda T. (Weaver)

editor Obituaries

Matilda T. Steinbauer
Sept. 14, 1867-April 25, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 26, 1944, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. STEINBAUER, 78, DIES IN HOME.

Mrs. Matilda T. Steinbauer, 76, of 319 South Fifth street, a lifelong resident of Niles, died Tuesday afternoon at 2 in her home after an illness of for months.

She was born in Dark County, Ohio, Sept. 14, 1867, came to Niles in 1885 and had lived here since then. She was married Feb. 23, 1887, to Henry G. Steinbauer, who died in 1926.

Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Richard Morris, Niles; a son, Alger Steinbauer, who lived with his mother at home; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. James Webster, Niles, and Mrs. Edwin Jones, Berrien Springs; three brothers, Charles E. Weaver, Niles; Henry Weaver, Berrien Springs, and Jesse Weaver, Niles.

Friends may call at the Rutherford funeral home where services will be conducted Friday afternoon at 2 by the Rev. Harry L. Nicholson. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 28, 1944, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Steinbauer Funeral Conducted Today

Funeral services for Mrs. Matilda T. Steinbauer, 76, of 319 South Fifth Street, who died Tuesday afternoon, were conduected this afternoon at 2 in the Rutherford funeral home by the Rev. Harry L. Nicholson, rector of Trinity Episcopal church.

Pallbearers were three grandsons—Richard, Walter and Harold Morris; Milo Webster, Peter Rodgers and Nils Martinsen. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

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