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.

Aldrich, Adrian

Adrian Aldrich
June 5, 1875-June 19, 1943


Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 21, 1943, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

ADRIAN ALDRICH IS HEART VICTIM; ILL THREE WEEKS

 

Adrian Aldrich, 68, who worked 40 years for the Michigan Gas and Electric company, died Saturday night at 9:15 in his home, 1644 Maple street. He had been ill three weeks of a heart ailment.

Son of the late James and Susan Garwood Aldrich, he was born in St. Joseph June 5, 1875. Mr. Aldrich worked in the Niles gas plant until it was closed and then transferred to Three Rivers where he remained until 1939 when he was forced to retire because of ill health.

He was a member of the Dowagiac Methodist church.

Surviving is Mrs. Aldrich, the former Mrs. Leona Powers, to whom he was married March 8, 1924, in South Bend. The former Miss Effie Shattuck, to whom he was married in Niles in 1897, died in 1910.

He also leaves three children, Mrs. Glenn Morford, Niles; Mrs. Georgia Wilson, Dowagiac, and Ollie Aldrich, who is serving with the army overseas; four stepchildren, Mrs. [illegible]. .Robert Penny, both of Chicago; . .[illegible] .. Mrs. Boyd Buchanan, East Lansing; two sisters, Miss Musetta Aldrich, Niles and Mrs. Walter Simpson, Grand Rapids, four brothers, Edward and Woodrow Aldrich, Niles, and Byron and James Aldrich, Vandalia.

Friends may call in the home until 10 Tuesday morning. The service is set for Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 in the Rutherford funeral home. The Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster, Pastor of the Methodist church, will officiate with burial in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

 

Asmus, Ralph

Ralph Asmus
1896-April 10, 1943


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 10, 1943, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library


RALPH ASMUS, 47, TAKEN BY DEATH

 

Ralph Ausmus, 47, died this morning at 9:30 in this home, 315 1/2 North Second street, after a five weeks' illness of heart trouble.

He was born in Niles, had lived here all his life and was last employed by the Woods Beverage company.

Surviving are his mother, Mrs. Rose Evick; a daughter, Mrs. Vera Deditch; a brother, Carl Evick, and a sister, Mrs. Ardella Gentry, all of Niles.

Friends may call in the Pifer funeral home where services will be conducted Saturday afternoon at 2. Burial will be in Siverbrook cemetery.

 

Ausbrook, Benjamin Theodore

Benjamin Theodore Ausbrook
Nov. 22, 1897-June 9, 1943


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, June 10, 1943, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

AUSBROOK, FORMER DEPUTY, STRICKEN

 

Benjamin Theodore Ausbrook, 45, member of the Berrien county sheriff's department for four years, died at midnight Wednesday in his home at 1154 Lambert street.

Mr. Ausbrook, familiarly known as "Ted", had been ill five months and returned to Niles from Sturgis when he was forced to give up his post as chief of plant protection police for the Kirsch Manufacturing company.

He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police and of the Benton Harbor Elks lodge, No. 1459, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion and the Drum and Bugle corps, and of the Masonic lodge of Bridgeport, Ill.  A native of Clay City, Ill., he was born Nov. 22, 1897.

Rites Saturday

Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Eleanor Ausbrook; his father, Thomas L. Ausbrook, West Union, Ill.; two daughters, Mrs. Lawrence Mantke and Mrs. Robert Steele, Niles; a sister, Mrs. E.D. VanPetten, Niles, and one grandchild.

Friends may call in the Pifer funeral home until noon Saturday when the body will be taken to the Methodist church for the funeral at 2. The Rev. Howard A. Blanning, pastor of the Benton Harbor Congregational church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, June 12, 1943, page 2, col 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Ausbrook Funeral

Funeral servcies for Benjamin Theodore Ausbrook, 45, former member of the Berrien county sheriff's department, were conducted this afternoon at 2 in the Methodist church. The body lay in state from noon until the hour of service. The Rev. Hoard A. Blanning, pastor of the Benton Harbor Congregational church, officiated with burial in Silverbrook cemetery.

Boulton, Mary and Marie

Mary and Marie Bolton
May 25, 1943-May 25, 1943


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 25, 1943, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Twins Stillborn to Boultons; Rites at 2 Wednesday

 

Twin daughters, Mary and Marie, were stillborn this morning at 9:30 in Pawating hospital to Mr. and Mrs. Irving Boulton, 752 Hickory street.

Surviving, with the parents, are a brother and sister, Norman and Marlene Boulton.

Private funeral services will be conducted Wednesday afternoon at 2 in the Rutherford funeral home with the Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster, pastor of the Methodist church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Burnham, George

George Burnham
March 18, 1868-June 17, 1943


Niles Daily Star, Friday, June 18, 1943, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

GEORGE BURHAM TAKEN BY DEATH

 

George Burnham, 75, of 1116 Broadway, a resident of Niles 13 years, died at 3:15 Thursday afternoon in Pawating hospital after an extended illness.

Born in Quincy, Ill., March 18, 1868, he came to Niles from Chicago at the time of his retirement from business. He was a member of the John B. Sherman Masonic lodge of Chicago.

Surviving with his widow, Mrs. Louise Burnham, are a son, Jack Burnham, Elkhart; a daughter, Mrs. Jack Cohen, Chicago; and a sister, Mrs. Charles Ricker, Los Angeles, Calif.

Friends may call in the Pifer funeral home, where rites will be conducted Saturday afternoon at 2.

The Rev. Guy W. Simon, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, will officiate with burial in Silverbrook cemetery.


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, June 19, 1943, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Burnham Services

Funeral services for George Burnham, 1116 Broadway, were conducted this afternoon at 2 in the Pifer funeral home by the Rev. Guy W. Simon, pastor of the First Presbyterian church. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery. Mr. Burnham, a resident of Niles 13 years, died Thursday afternoon in Pawating hospital after a long illness.

Christner, Simon P.

Simon P. Christner
March 5, 1900-June 15, 1943


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 15, 1943, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

SIMON CHRISTNER COLLAPSES, DIES

 

Simon P. Christner, 43, of 1402 Oak street, died this morning at 6:15 in Pawating hospital where he was taken Monday when he collapsed after an extended illness.

A resident of this community 20 years and of Niles 6 1/2 years, Christner was inducted in the army Oct. 10, 1942, and served until Feb. 28, 1943. He since had been employed by the Clark Equipment company, Buchanan. He was born in Iowa City, Ia., March 5, 1900.

Surviving is his widow, the former Dorothy Visser, to whom he was married Oct. 31, 1925, in South Bend.

He also leaves four children, Eugene, Marlene, Joanne, and Jack Christner, all at home; and five brothers, Abner, Elam, Anan and Gideon Christner, all of Iowa City, and Jess Christner, South Bend.

The body is at the Rutherford funeral home.


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, June 17, 1943, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Christner Rites

William McQuirk, William Hardy, Glenn Daisy, Lawrence Lorensen, Burt Luth and C.S. Collins will serve as pallbearers Friday afternoon at funeral services for Simon P. Christner, 1402 Oak street. The Rev. A.C. DeVries, pastor of the First Evangelical church, will officiate at the service at 2 in the Rutherford funeral home with burial in Silverbrook cemetery. Mr. Christner died Tuesday morning in Pawating hospital after an extended illness.

Clark, John P.

John P. Clark
April 1, 1876-May 28, 1943


Niles Daily Star, Friday, May 28, 1943, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

JOHN CLARK, 67, TAKEN BY DEATH

 

John P. Clark, 67, a resident of Niles since 1882, died this morning at 4:30 in his home, 713 Sycamore street. He had been in ill health a number of years.

He was born on April 1, 1876, in Rockwood, Ont. and came to Niles from Canada with his family when six years old. His wife, the former Laura Wolf, to whom he was married in Kalamazoo in 1904, survives.

Mr. Clark also leaves his sister, Miss Agnes Clark, Niles.

Friends may call in the Price and Kiger funeral home where rites will be conducted Monday afternoon at 2. The Rev. Guy W. Simon will officiate with burial in Silverbrook cemetery.


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, May 29, 1943, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Clark Rites Monday

Funeral services for John P. Clark, 713 Sycamore street, will be conducted Monday afternoon at 2 in the Pifer funeral home by the Rev. Guy W. Simon, pastor of the First Presbyterian church.  Pallbearers will include Fred Wolf, Robert Bretschneider, Harry W. Coles, Oscar Johnson, George W. Earl and W.S. Wright. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call in the Pifer funeral home instead of the Price and Kiger funeral home as was incorrectly announced Friday.