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.

Exner, Gerald C.

Gerald C. Exner
June 16, 1916-Nov. 16, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 18, 1963, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Gerald C. Exner, 47, of 921 Ferry St., will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev. Richard Fraser, pastor of St. John's United Church of Christ (Evangelical and Reformed), will officiate. Military committal rites conducted by the American Legion will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

He died suddenly in his home at 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Mr. Exner was born June 16, 1916, in Niles, and lived his lifetime here. He was employed as an accountant with the National-Standard Company.

Survivors include his widow, Anne; his mother, Mrs. Margaret Exner, Niles; two daughters, Carol Elizabeth and Joanne Marie, both at home; and two sisters, Mrs. Walter Mott, Benton Harbor, and Mrs. Alex Zalai, Niles.

He was a veteran of World War II. His memberships included St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4, Free and Accepted masons, the Niles Elks, American Legion Post No. 26, the Auxiliary Police, the 40 et 8, and the presidency of the St. John's Church.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

All American Legion Auxiliary members are requested to meet outside the Pifer Funeral Home at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday to attend funeral services.

Falkner, Kathleen

Kathleen Falkner
1898-June 30, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 1, 1963, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Kathleen Faulkner, 65, of 3003 S. 11th St., died at 2 a.m. Sunday at Pawating Hospital. She had been in the hospital for 10 days and had been ill for three years.

Surviving are her husband, Thomas; a daughter, Audrey Faulkner, Niles; foru sons, William, Niles; Robert, Bangor; and Gordon and Stanley, both of Toronto; a sister, Mrs. Jean Whitlock, Niles; a brother, James McEwainey, Dorset, England; and eight grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at the Fist Presbyterian Church at 2 p.m. Wednesday. The Rev. John MacLachlan, pastor, will officiate. Burial in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home.

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

The correct spelling of Mrs. Kathleen Falkner's name is Falkner, not Faulkner, as reported earlier. Mrs. Falkner, 3003 S. 11th St., died Sunday at Pawating Hospital.

Fedore, Matilda M.

Matilda M. Fedore
Sept. 24, 1882-July 1, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 2, 1963, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Matilda M. Fedore, 80, of 916 Sycamore St., died at 12:30 p.m. Monday at her home. She had been ill for two years.

Mrs. Fedore, a long-time resident, was born Sept. 24, 1882, in Bremen, Germany. She came to the Niles area at an early age.

Her husband, William Fedore Sr., died in 1939.

Surviving are three sons, George, Percy and William Jr., all of Niles; two daughters, Mrs. Fred Meyer, Niles, and Mrs. George Potts, Three Oaks; 10 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at the Pifer Funeral Home at 4 p.m. Wednesday. The Rev. John MacLachlan, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home.

Gallagher, John A.

John Gallagher
Aug. 31, 1888-Aug. 6, 1943

Niles Daily Star, Friday, August 6, 1943, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

JOHN GALLAGER DIES SUDDENLY

John A. Gallagher, 55, a conductor for the Michigan Central railroad, died suddenly at 8:20 this morning in his home 1431 Regent street. Although he had suffered from heart trouble two years, and had been confined to bed at intervals during the last two months, his death, after he had breakfasted this morning, came unexpectedly.

A native of Warren, Texas, where he was born Aug. 31, 1888, Mr. Gallagher came to Niles 22 years ago, the year of his marriage march 24, 1921, to the former . .[illegible] … survives.

He was a member of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen and of the American Legion.

Funeral Date Unset

Surviving with his widow are his mother Mrs. Sarah Gallagher; three children: Mrs. Marilyn Catt, Santa Barbara, Calif.; Corp. James B. Gallagher, Framingham, Mass., and William R. Gallagher, at home.

He also leaves two sisters, Mrs. John Zarbock, Dowagiac, and Mrs. Ann Frederickson, Chicago, and a brother Barney Gallagher, Chicago.

Friends may call in the Rutherford funeral home where the rites will be conducted at a date to be set later. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, August 7, 1943, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

GALLAGHER RITES

Funeral services for John A. Gallagher, 1431 Regent street, who died Friday, will be conducted Monday afternoon at 2:30 in the Rutherford funeral home. The Rev. Guy W. Simon, pastor of the First Presbyterian church , will officiate, with burial in Silverbrook cemetery. Members of the LaRue Messinger post, American Legion will officiate at committal rites at the grave.

 

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 9, 1943, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

COME FOR FUNERAL

Mrs. Marilyn Catt, Santa Barbara, Calif., and Corp. James B. Gallagher, Framingham, Mass., arrived in Niles Sunday night to attend funeral services today for their father, John A. Gallagher, 1431 Regent street. The services was conducted at 2:30 in the Rutherford funeral home with burial in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

 

Hall, Sallie

Sallie Hall
Jan. 20, 1897-Sept. 20, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, September 21, 1963, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Sallie Hall, 84, of Carberry Road, died at 3 p.m. Friday in the Cass County Medical Care Facility, Cassopolis, where she had been a patient two years.

Mrs. Hall was born Jan. 20, 1897 in Monroe County, Ga. She came here from Macon, Ga., 17 years ago.

Surviving are a daughter, Lizzie Washington, Niles; two sons, Luther Hall, Macon, and McKinley Hall, New York, N.Y.; a stepson, W.M. Ford, Detroit; 21 grandchildren; 28 great grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren..

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday in the church of God in Christ. The Rev. John Harrington, pastor, will officiate. Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the Pifer Funeral Home Sunday.

Hansen, Christ Sr.

Christ Hansen Sr.
April 25, 1903-Nov. 16, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 18, 1963, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Nilesite Killed in New York

Christ Hansen Sr. Succumbs Saturday

A NILES MAN died Saturday in Manhasset, N.Y., of injuries received in a traffic mishap in that city Friday.

Christ Hansen Sr., 60, of 617 Woodruff St., died at 4 pm. Saturday at North Shore Hospital. Death was attributed to a skull fracture.

Hansen was injured when he fell from a car carrier to the pavement. He was jarred from the carrier when an auto ran up its ramp about 7:15 a.m. Friday.

* * *

HANSEN, a driver for Burnett Trucking co., South Bend, was unloading autos from the carrier when the mishap occurred. He had hauled the cars from Lansing to Manhasset.

The carrier was parked in the street with the ramps down and Hansen was working on top of the carrier. An auto, its motorist blinded by the sun, went up the ramp, knocking Hansen to the pavement when the auto hit the cars on the carrier.

* * *

MR. HANSEN was born April 25, 1903 in Denmark. He came to Niles from Iowa in 1943.

Survivors include his widow, Anna; four daughters, Mrs. Dale Ray, Dowagiac, Mrs. Joe Carr and Mrs. Norman Nichols of Niles, and Mrs. James Bliss, Ann Arbor; and six sons, Christ Jr. , Berrien Springs; Jerry, Gene, Pat and Lonnie, all of Niles, and Donald, of Buchanan.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev. Theodore Laesch, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the funeral home beginning Tuesday.

Hansen, William M.

William M. Hansen
Sept. 4, 1895-Dec. 17, 1963

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 17, 1963, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

William M. Hansen, 68, of 165 Silverbrook Ave. died at 3:10 a.m. Today in Pawating Hospital where he had been a patient since Friday.

Mr. Hansen was born Sept. 4, 1895, in Chicago. He came to Niles in 1917, where he has been active in Masonic work.

Mr. Hansen is survived by his widow, Doris, three daughters, Mrs. Earle Allred, Berrien Springs; Mrs. Glen Habenicht, Battle creek; and Mrs. Frank Burke Jr., Benton Harbor; and eight grandsons.

He worked at the Voice of Music Corp., Benton Harbor, and retired three years ago. He was a member of the American Legion Post 26; Veterans of World War I; St. Joseph Valley Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons; past high priest of St. Joseph Valley Chapter 2, Royal Arch masons; Niles Council 19, Royal and Select Mason; past commander of Niles Commandry 12, Knights Templer; DeWitt Consistory of Grand Rapids; Niles Shrine club, and the Viking Club, Mishawaka.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev. John P. MacLachlan, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home.