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.

Forler, Dora J. (Spansail)

Dora J. Forler
Nov. 29, 1870-May 22, 1963


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 22, 1963, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library


Mrs. Dora J. Forler, 92, of 1518 Oak St., died at 9:15 a.m. today in her home after an illness of two and one-half years.

A native of Illinois, she was born at Genoa on Nov. 29, 1870.  On Jan. 10, 1894, she married George A. Forler in Chicago.  He died in 1947.

Mrs. Forler moved here from Chicago in 1896.

Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. Paul Blackmond, Dowagiac; Miss Gladys and Miss Elizabeth Forler, both at home, and Mrs. William Bartholomew, Waynesburg, Pa.; a brother, Fred Spansail, Niles; four grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

Private funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Pifer Funeral Home here with Mrs. Gerald Brand, Christian Science reader, officiating. Burial in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home beginning Thursday evening.

 

Geideman, Emma

Emma Geideman
June 17, 1875-May 18, 1963


Niles Daily Star, Monday, May 20, 1963, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library


Mrs. Emma Geideman, 87, 509 Pokagon St., died Saturday at 5:40 p.m. at Pawating Hospital where she had been a patient for 24 days.  She had been ill for two months.

Mrs. Geideman was born in Michigan City June 17, 1875 and came here from Michigan City about 51 years ago.

Her husband Charles died about 20 years ago.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m Tuesday at the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev. Theodore Laesch, pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church will officiate.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

 

Graham, Thomas J.

Thomas J. Graham
April 5, 1875-April 20, 1963


Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 22, 1963, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library


Funeral services for Thomas J. Graham, 88, of 55 Desaix St., will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Pifer Funeral Home.  The Rev. Gordon D. Everett, pastor of the First Evangelical Church, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

He died at 8:15 p.m. Saturday in Pawating Hospital after being ill one year.

Mr. Graham was born April 5, 1875, in Niles, and lived his life-time here.

Survivors include his widow, Blanche; a son, Joe, Niles; a daughter, Mrs. Fred Born, Lansing; two grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

 

Greer, Ruthie Lee (Hughes)

Ruthie Lee Greer
Jan. 3, 1929-May 7, 1963


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 7, 1963, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Ruthie L. Greer, 34, of 2276 Mulder Drive, died at 2:30 a.m. today in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, where she had been a patient five  days. She had been ill three weeks.

Mrs. Greer was born Jan. 3, 1929, in Philipp, Miss., and came to Niles from that city three years ago.

Survivors include her husband, Johnnie Lee; three daughters, Miss Eva Jane Greer, Philipp, and the Misses Doris and Ruth Geer[sic], Niles; three sons, Eura, Cornelius and Jerome, all of  Niles; her father, James Hughes, Philippp; a sister, Mrs. Clara Manuel, Philipp; and two brothers, William Odell Hughes, Detroit, and Cornelious Hughes, Louisville, Ky.

She was a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in her church. The Rev. F.S. Smith, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbroook Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the Kiger Funeral Home after 7 p.m. Wednesday.

 

Keyes, Robert Paul

Robert Paul Keyes
March 7, 1899-May 17, 1963


Niles Daily Star, Friday, May 17, 1963, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library


Robert Paul Keyes, 64, of 404 N. 4th St., died at 2 a.m.  today in Pawating Hospital. In ill health for more than a year, he was admitted to the hospital, Saturday.

He was born March 7, 1899, in New Florence, Pa. He moved from Gary to Niles in 1937.

Surviving are his mother, Mrs. Bertha Keyes, Monterey Park, Calif.; his widow, Myrtle; a daughter, Mrs. Charles L. Zaring, Columbia, Mo.; a son, Stewart, Flint; and two grandsons.

A World War I veteran, he was a member of the VFW Post 209, Jefferson  City, Mo.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. John Carlton, pastor of the Trinity Episcopal church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home, Saturday afternoon.

 

Muntz, Herman

Herman Muntz
Dec. 25, 1879-Jan. 12, 1923

Niles Daily Star-Sun, Friday, January 12, 1923, page 5, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library


Herman Muntz Dies In Detroit Today


Mr. and Mrs. August Muntz, South Third street, received word this afternoon of the death of their son, Herman, in Detroit, after about six weeks of illness  with an infection of the throat. The body will be brought to Niles. Mr. Muntz was about 43 years old.

Niles Daily Star-Sun, Saturday, January 13, 1923, page 8, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library


Funeral Services for H. Muntz Monday

 

The body of Herman Muntz will be brought to Niles tomorrow from Detroit and will be taken to the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. August Muntz, 805 South Third street, where the funeral services will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock under the auspices of the Odd Fellow lodge.  Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.

Mr. Muntz was born in Germany on December 25, 1879. He came to Niles about 39 years ago and had been a resident of this city until seven years ago when he went to Detroit to work.

A few weeks ago he developed a serious attack of  tonsilitis, but after submitting to an operation about six weeks ago, was apparently recovering, until yesterday when he died shortly before noon. He is survived by his parents and by the following brothers and sisters: Mrs. Bertha Webb, of Kenosha, Wis., who arrived in Niles today; Gus Muntz, Frank Muntz, Mrs. Charles Mouchour and William Muntz, all of Niles.

The body will be brought to Niles by Gus Muntz, a brother of the deceased.

Mr. Muntz had been employed by the Michigan Stamping company in Detroit.

Fraternally the deceased was identified with Berrien county lodge, I.O.O.F.

 

Murray, Blanche C. (Cushman)

Blanche C. Murray
July 27, 1871-Dec. 1, 1942


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, December 3, 1942, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Blanche C. Murray, Niles Ex-Resident to Be Buried Here

Committal rites for Mrs. Blanche C. Murray, 71, Chicago, a former Niles resident, will be conducted early Friday afternoon in Silverbrook cemetery. The Rev. Guy W. Simon, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, will officiate.

Mrs. Murray, daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Cushman, Niles, left here about 30 years ago to live in Chicago. The body will arrive at the Pifer funeral home at 12:23 Friday afternoon and will be taken directly to the cemetery.