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.

Walters, Clarence

Clarence Walters
Sept. 14, 1886-Dec. 21, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, December 21, 1944, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

FALL INJURIES FATAL TO MAN, 58

Clarence Walters, 58, of 1125 Huron street, died at 12:42 a.m. today in St. Joseph hospital, South Bend, from injuries suffered when he fell from a scaffold in the Bendix Aircraft Corp. plant at South Bend, Wednesday.

Walters, who was standing on the platform to repair a machine, at the time of the accident, suffered a skull fracture and two broken arms. He was rushed to the hospital where he underwent an operation at 5 p.m. but failed to regain consciousness.

Resident Here 40 Years

Born in Ore, Ind., Sept. 14, 1886, Walters came to Niles 40 years . . .[illegible].. Walters was a member of the Eagles lodge and an associate member of the American Legion.

Surviving are the widow: his father, Daniel E. Walters, Mishawaka; a son, Aviation Cadet Marvin E. Walters, Waco, Tex.; a daughter, Mrs. Dale Burdick, 1655 Howard street, Niles; three brothers, Wilford and Clyde Walters, Mishawaka, and J.E. Walters, Niles, and a sister, Mrs. Glenn Hitz, Gould City.

A son, Capt. Harry L. Walters, army fighter pilot, was killed Oct. 23, 1943 over Choiseul island in the southwest Pacific.

 

Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 22, 1944, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Hold Funeral Sunday for Victim of Fall

Funeral services for Clarence Walters, 58, of 1525 Huron street, who died early Thursday morning in a South Bend hospital after falling from a scaffold in the Bendix Aircraft corporation plant Wednesday morning, will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Pifer funeral home. The Rev. G.A. Steeby, pastor of the First Evangelical church, will officiate at the rites and at burial in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Webster, Roy W.

Roy W. Webster
Feb. 14, 1903-July 23, 1944

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 24, 1944, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Roy Webster, 41, Dies in Kalamazoo; Funeral Wednesday

Roy W. Webster, 41, of 607 Woodruff street, died Sunday in a Kalamazoo hospital. He was born in Dowagiac Feb. 14, 1903.

Webster is survived by his mother, Mrs. James Webster; two brothers, Milo and Herman Webster and a sister, Mrs. Carl Vogelsang, all of Niles.

Friends may call at the Price and Kiger funeral home Tuesday and Wednesday where services will be conducted at 2 Wednesday by the Rev. H.L. Nicholson. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

 

 

Willman, James E.

James E. Willman
June 4, 1885-June 5, 1944

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

James Willman, 59, Ex-Niles Resident, Dies in Washington

James E. Willman, 59, former resident of Niles and father of Miss Violette Willman and Mrs. Robert Schmidt of Niles, died Monday in Longview, Wash. after an illness of two weeks.

He was born in Saginaw June 4, 1885, and lived in Niles for 12 years before leaving here for Longview, Wash., two years ago. He had been employed at the Michigan Central railroad roundhouse while a resident here.

Surviving besides the two daughters in Niles are five other children. Mrs. James Anderjeski, Standish, Mich.; Miss Doris Willman and Miss Bernadine Willman, Saginaw, Miss Ethel Willman and Russell Willman, Bay City, and a brother, George Willman, Longview, Wash.

The body will be brought to the Price and Kiger funeral home for services. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, June 10, 1944, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

FUNERAL TUESDAY

Funeral services for James E. Willman, 59, former resident of Niles and father of Mrs. Robert Schmidt and Miss Violette Willman of Niles, will be conducted in the Price and Kiger funeral chapel Tuesday afternoon at 2. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. He died Monday in Longview, Wash.

 

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.