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.

Allen, Leora

Leora Allen
Jan. 20, 1963-July15, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 16, 1963, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Leora Allen, five-month old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Allen, 2915 US-31 North, died at 8 p.m. Monday in Pawating Hospital, where she had been a patient one day. She had been ill four days.

She was born Jan. 20, 1963, in Berrien Center.

Other survivors include a sister, Sandra, and three brothers, Charlie Mack, Albie and Kenneth Lee, all at home; and grandmothers, Mrs. Leora Hockett, Union City, Tenn., and Mrs. Effie Tyree, Detroit.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Kiger Funeral Home. The Rev. Theodis Hadley, pastor of the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

 

Antisdel, David J.

David J. Antisdel
Oct. 16, 1881-Aug. 13, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 16, 1963, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

David J. Antisdel, 81, of 712 Ferry St., died at 7:40 a.m. Monday in the Berrien County Hospital, Berrien Center. He had been ill four days.

Mr. Antisdel was born Oct. 16, 1881, in Buchanan. He came to Niles from there 40 years ago.

Survivors include four sons, Lewis, LaPorte, Ind., earl and Edward, both of Niles, and Robert, Dowagiac; three daughters, Mrs. Marie Fuller, Buchanan, Grace Antisdel, Decatur, and Donna Antisdel, Napanee, Ind; a brother, Floyd, Buchanan; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted in the Pifer Funeral Home. William Taylor of the Jehovah's witnesses will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the funeral home after 7 p.m. tonight.

Arrick, Dale Lynn

Dale Lynn Arrick
1951-Sept. 25, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 25, 1963, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Dale Lynn Arrick, 12 year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Arrick, 1331 Howard St., died at her home at 6 a.m. today. Other survivors include a sister, Janice, at home; her paternal grandfather, Hervey Arrick; Rockford, Ill., and her maternal grandfather, John Dickson, Niles.

Private funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev. Richard Fraser, pastor of St. John's United Church of Christ, will officiate.

Burial in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Atkinson, Jon Wesley

Jon Wesley Atkinson
Nov. 22, 1944-Nov. 29, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, November 30, 1963, page 1, col. 8, continued page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES YOUTH KILLED IN CRASH

Two Companions Hurt Seriously

EAU CLAIRE—A Niles youth was killed and two companions were injured when their auto crashed into a tree and flipped over near here, Friday afternoon.

Jon Wesley Atkinson, 19, of 2280 Warren Road, Niles, was pronounced dead on arrival at Mercy Hospital, Benton Harbor. He had suffered severe arm, leg, body and internal injuries.

Listed in “guarded condition” this morning at the hospital were Donald Yonker Jr., 18, of 540 Lake St., Niles and John Middleton, 18, of 1047 Almaugus Drive, Niles.

YONKER, the driver of the auto, suffered a fractured skull and internal injuries. Middleton suffered severe head cuts, a fractured right ankle and minor cuts and bruises.

Berrien County sheriff's deputies said the car was headed west on Cushing Road, near Brush Lake road, east of here, about 4:10 p.m. Friday when the mishap occurred.

The auto went out of control on a slight hill, over a six-foot embankment and smashed int o the tree. The three youths were thrown from the car as it flipped over on its top, the deputies reported.

Deputies said a manslaughter investigation is continuing. Atkinson's death raises this year's county toll to 42, one less than at this time last year.

* * *

ATKINSON was born Nov. 22. 1944, in Alma. He came to Niles from Ft. Worth, Tex., in 1958. He was a student at Western Michigan University.

Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Everett Atkinson; grandparents Mrs. Esther Grosenburg, Rogers City, and Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Atkinson, Frederic; a brother, William, Barron Lake; and three sisters, Mrs. Clarence Hamilton, Phoenix, Ariz., Miss Yvonne Cummins, Chicago, and Mrs. Richard Davis, Orlando, Fla.

Funeral Services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev. Maurice McKean, pastor of the First Methodist Church will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

 

 

Barnes, Maria

Maria Barnes
April 16, 1867-Dec. 9, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 10, 1963, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Maria (Minnie) Barnes, 96, of 1614 Oak St., died at 1:30 p.m. Monday in her home. She had been ill three weeks.

Mrs. Barnes was born April 16, 1867, in Ypsilanti. She came to Niles from that city in 1934. Her husband, Charles, is deceased.

She was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday in the Kiger Funeral Home. The Rev. John Carlton, pastor of her church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

Bower, Samuel

Samuel Bower
Nov. 2, 1864- Sept. 26, 1943

Niles Daily Star, Monday, September 27, 1943, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

SAMUEL BOWER, 79, STRICKEN SUNDAY

Samuel Bower, 79, of 330 North Fourth street, died at 10 Sunday morning in the Berrien county hospital at Berrien Center after a year's illness.

Born in Whitley county , Indiana, Bower came to Niles 25 years ago and engaged in the antique furniture business. He retired several years ago after the death of his wife.

Surviving are a sister, Mrs. Frank Ganz, Bourbon, Ind.; a brother, Elmer Bower, Columbia City, Ind., and a sister-in-law, Mrs. Margaret Hively, Niles.

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

 

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, September 28, 1943, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

PALLBEARERS

S.M. Simpson, Ellsworth Lauritsen, Elmer Ruetz, Goerge Kneeshaw, Charles Adams, and Rollie Wynn served as pallbearers this afternoon for Samuel Bower, who died Sunday morning. Services were conducted by the Rev. Theodore Laesch in the Price and Kiger funeral home.

Note: DOB from Michigan Death record.

 

Boxley, Michael Elisha

Michael Elisha Boxley
May 7, 1954-July 13, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 13, 1963, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

MICHAEL ELISHA Boxley, 9, of 20 ½ E. Main St., was pronounced dead on arrival at 6 a.m. today at Pawating Hospital.

His mother, Mrs. Eric Doty, told Niles police he probably suffered one of his bronchial asthma attacks. The boy had been ill for three years, according to a report by the Kiger Funeral home.

Police were called to the Doty home at 5:40 a.m. By his mother. She said he had collapsed. Dr. John R. Bruni pronounced the youth dead on arrival at the hospital.

He was born May 7, 1954, in Berrien Springs. Surviving in addition to his parents are four sisters, Zeri, Zelda, Nann and Kim, all at home; and his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs Elisha Davis, Niles.

Funeral services will be held at the Mt. Calvary Baptist Church . .[illegible].. .Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.