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.

Guiles, Etta Yahne

Etta Yahne Guiles
April 19, 1901-June 7, 1991

Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 10, 1991, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library


Funeral services for Etta Yahne Guiles, 90, of 1003 Ontario Rd., Niles, were 1:30 p.m. today at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, by the Rev. John Bair, pastor of the Bethel Tabernacale[sic].

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mrs. Guiles died at 3:15 a.m. Friday at Silverbrook Manor Nursing Home.

She was born April 19, 1901, in New Jersey, and lived in this area all her life.

A punch press operator of E.T.C Electric Company, Mrs. Guiles was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church.

Her first husband, Samuel Yahne preceded her in death in 1955, and her second husband, Ralph Guiles preceded her in death.

Survivors include two daughters, Doris Anderson of Grand Rapids, and Adella M. Jagodzinski of Niles; five sons, Robert Yahne of Grand Haven, Ronald Yahne of Grand Haven, Lawrence Yahne of Kent City, Charles Yahne of Grand Haven, and Gerald Yahne of Niles; step children, Thelma Mathis of Okinawa, Ralph Guiles of Muskegon, Gerald Guiles of Denver, Colorado; daughters who preceded her, Joan Boldt, and Edith Pitcher; four sisters, Sophie Blood of Grand Rapids, Cornelius Bowma of Wyoming, Alida  Bradish of California, and Eda Brower, who preceded her in death; eighty-eight grandchildren; over one hundred great-grandchildren; and twenty-five great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation was 2 p.m. Sunday.

Memorial contributions may be made to Casket-bearers David Pitcher, Gerald Pticher, Lawrence Pitcher, Lonnie Pitcher, Ronald Yahne, Jr., and Charles Rush.

 

Harker, Louis

Louis Harker
March 31, 1854-Dec. 29, 1942

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 29, 1942, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

LOUIS HARKER, 88, TAKEN BY DEATH

 

Louis Harker, 88 of 1238 South Fifteenth street, died this morning at 10 in the Berrien county hospital after an illness of two months.

He was born March 31, 1854, in Indiana, and was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth Gangloff Harker, in 1918.  He is survived by a son, Samuel Harker, Berrien Springs, and six grandchildren--Jack Louis Harker, Helena, Ark.; Guy Millard, Camp Carson, Colo.; Samuel Richards, Robert Lee, Donald Eldon and William Russell, Niles.

Services will be conducted in the Pifer funeral home Thursday afternoon at 2. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Hess, Carl F.

Carl F. Hess
Oct. 20, 1891-Dec. 8, 1942


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 8, 1942, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Carl F. Hess, 51, Native of Niles, Dies in Dowagiac

 

DOWAGIAC, Dec. 8--Carl F. Hess, prominent business man, died this morning at 8 in his home 306 Oak street, after several months illness.

He was born in Niles Oct. 20, 1891, son of Mr.and Mrs. Adam Hess. He had lived in Dowagiac for 12 years--was in the trucking business, employed by the Round Oak company and was owner of the Economy Fuel business. He formerly was in the truck business in South Bend.

Mr. Hess served as a marine in World war I.

In October, 1920, he married Mrs. Dora Hively, who survives with a son, Lewis, in the army at Seattle, Wash.; his sisters, Mrs. Rose Casad, South Bend; Mrs. Lillian Volkhardt, Mrs. Anna Thornton, Niles; Miss Georgia Hess, Dowagiac, and a brother, Adolph Hess, Niles.

Services will be conducted in Niles.  Arrangements are inocmplete[sic].

 

Houston, Evelyn Margaret

Evelyn M. Houston
Jan. 22, 1925-Dec. 18, 1942

Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 18, 1942, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

EVELYN HOUSTON STRICKEN TODAY; FUNERAL MONDAY

 

Miss Evelyn Margaret Houston, 17, a resident of Niles nearly two years, died this morning at 7:45 in Pinecrest sanitarium, Oshtemo, after an illness of three and one-half months.

The daughter of Mrs. Laud Reed, 1207 North Ninth Street, Miss Houston was born Jan. 22, 1925 in Hulbert, Ark. She spent most of her life in Chicago where she attended grade and high schools and came to Niles Feb. 7, 1941.  She attended Niles high school one semester.

Surviving with her mother are three half-brothers, Maldwin, Carson and Jerald Reed, Niles, her grandmother, eight aunts and an uncle.

Friends may call at the Price and Kiger funeral home until 11 Monday morning when the service will be conducted in the Franklin A.M. church by the Rev. A.L. Jelks. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Johnston, Florence

Florence Johnston
Dec. 10, 1885-Dec. 29, 1942

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 29, 1942, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

FLORENCE JOHNSTON 57, TAKEN BY DEATH

 

Mrs. Florence Johnston, 57, of 209 1/2 North Second street, died this morning at 6 in Pawating hospital where she was taken for treatment Sunday night.

Surviving Mrs. Johnston, who was born Dec. 10, 1885 in New Troy, is her husband, Raphael Johnston, to whom she was married June 26, 1904, in Goshen, Ind.

She also leaves a daughter, Miss Genevieve Johnston, Canada, and a son, Claude Ford, Plymouth, Ind.

Friends may call at the Price and Kiger funeral home, where the service will be conducted Thursday afternoon at 2 by the Rev. A.C. DeVries, pastor of the First Evangelical church of which she was a member.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Kelly, Arthur C.

Arthur C. Kelly
Oct. 29, 1903-Dec. 28, 1965

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 29, 1965, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Arthur C. Kelly, 62, of 306 S. 15th St., died at 10:55 p.m. Tuesday in Pawating Hospital, where he had been a patient since Dec. 23,

Mr. Kelly, a retired employe of the Kawneer Company, was born Oct. 20, 1903, in Lockport Township. He came to Niles from Detroit in 1945. His wife, Lydia, died July 31.

Survivors include a son, Leroy . . .and two brothers, Walter L. and Oliver, both of Niles; two sisters, Mrs. Leo C. Strong and Mrs. Sidney Tonkin, also of Niles; and three grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Friday in the Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home.  The Rev. Leonard F. Putnam, pastor of the First Evangelical United Brethren Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the funeral home after 5 p.m., Thursday.

 

Klute, Howard

Howard Klute
Aug. 13, 1904-June 17, 1991


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 18, 1991, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library


Funeral services for Howard Klute, 86, of 824 W. Park Drive, Niles, will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Halbritter Funeral Home with Full Masonic Rites by St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4 F&A.M., Niles.

Burial will be at Silverbrook cemetery.

Mr. Klute died at 8 p.m. Monday at his home.

He was born Aug. 13, 1904, in Three Oaks, and lived in this area all his life.

Mr. Klute was a retired owner of Klute Electric Service & Supply.  He owned Economy Repair Shop at 1548 Hickory St. in 1930 and in 1945 he moved to business as Klute Electric Service  & Supply to 1137 S. 11th St.

Mr. Klute was formerly employed in 1923 by Michigan Central Railroad as a fireman and later as an engineer.

On Jan. 24, 1924, inNiles, he married Helen M. Ducey, who preceded him in death.

Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Lucille Kachur of Niles; a brother, Edward Klute of Niles; three grandchildren, Carol Kachur of Rocky Mountain, N.C., Michael Kachur of Niles and Richard Kachur of Blue Springs, Mo.; eight great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be 5-9 p.m. Wednesday at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4, F&A.M., the Elks Lodge of Niles or donor's choice.