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.

Johnson, James Edward

James Edward Johnson
July 18, 1929-Nov. 9, 1976

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 10, 1976, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--James Edward Johnson Sr., 47, of 1035 Bame Ave., died at 2:50 p.m. Tuesday at Pawating hospital after an illness of three days.

An assembly line worker at the Wheel Horse Products, Ind., South Bend, he was born July 18, 1929 in Red Bay, Ala.  He had lived here for 26 years, coming from Alabama.

On Oct. 16, 1950 in Osceola, Ark., he married Edna M. Frazier, who survives.

Also survivng are a son, James E. Johnson Jr. at home, three daughters, Miss Martha Johnson of Newark, Ohio, and Tina and Edna L., both at home; six brothers, Conrad of Cherokee, Ala., Herbert of Steele, Mo., Emmett of Huron, Calif., Johnnie of Cooter, Mo., and Robert and LeRoy, both of Holland, Mo., and three sisters, Mrs. Emma Williams of E. Moline, Ill., Mrs. Lola McBoone of Cooter, Mo., and Mrs. Bertha Connell of Florida.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. Ralph O. Pletcher of the Coulters Chapel Church of God officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 p.m. today in the Pifer Chapel.

 

Jones, James Dean

James Dean Jones
Oct. 11, 1944-Feb. 9, 1945


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 10, 1945, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Three-Months-Old Child Dies Friday

 

James Dean Jones, three-month-old son of Pvt. and Mrs. Robert Jones, rural route two, died at 9:05 a.m. Friday in Pawating hospital.

The infant was born in Pawating hospital Oct. 11, 1944. The father is stationed in Florida.

Surviving are two sisters, Joyce and Sharon Jones; two brothers, Robert and Richard Jones, and a half-brother, William Moore.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday in the Pifer funeral home. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

 

 

Jurgensen, William

William Jurgensen
Feb. 22, 1888-Jan. 28, 1945


Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 29, 1945, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

WM. JURGENSEN, 56, SUCCUMBS SUNDAY

 

William Jurgensen, 56, 0f 315 Day street, died suddenly at 9 p.m. Sunday in his home. Death was attributed to a heart attack.

He was born in Otis, Ind. on Feb. 22, 1888, and came to Niles from Michigan City 22 years ago. He was a member of the Engineers society of the New York Central railway where he had been employed since 1909.

He was married to Charlotte Hillman in LaPorte, Ind. in 1909.

Surviving are the widow; a son, Lt. Robert Jurgensen, in the Army air corps in India; two daughters, Mrs. [illegible], Niles and Mrs. Thomas Clark, Shelbyville, Ind.; two brothers, Herman Jurgensen, Michigan City, and George Jurgensen, Missoula,Mont., and two sisters, Mrs. Clara Priest, Michigan City, and Mrs. Avina Tetzloff, La Porte, Ind.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home. Services will be conducted there Thursday at 2 p.m. by the Rev. Theo Eisen, followed by burial in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Steele, Mary Ellen

Mary Ellen Steele
1918-May 29, 1982

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 1, 1982, pg 2, col 5-6.

Mary Ellen Steele, 63, 1625 Sheffield, died Saturday at Pawating Hospital after a brief illness.

She was a retired teacher, having taught in the Niles Community Schools system for 35 years.  She was graduated from Hillsdale College and from the University of Michigan, the latter from which she received a masters degree.  She was a member of the National Education Assoc., the Michigan Educational  Assoc., American Association of University Women, National Retired Teachers Assoc., and Michigan Retired Teachers Assoc.

A South Bend native, she had lived here since 1950.

 

VanSkiver, Carl C.

Carl C. VanSkiver
July 17, 1877-Jan. 27, 1945


Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 29, 1945, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library


SERVICES TUESDAY FOR NYC EMPLOYE

 

Carl C. VanSkiver, 57, of 1505 Clarendon avenue, died at 8:30 p.m. Saturday in his home following a cerebral hemorrhage.

He was born in Walton, Ind., July 17, 1877, and came to Niles from Logansport, Ind., 23 years ago. He was married Jan. 12, 1907 in Marion, Ind., to Alma Rush.

VanSkiver was air brake inspector on the New York Central railway at Kalamazoo.

Surviving are the widow, three children, Mrs. Lyle Bachman, Mrs. Duane Larson and mrs. Gerald Abair, all of Niles; three grandchildren, and two sister, Mrs> Charles Wendling and Mrs. Maude DeHaven, Logansport.

Friends may call at the family home where funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. The Christian Science service will be read by Charles Kitterer. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Walters, Daniel E.

Daniel E. Walters
June 8, 1864-Feb. 3, 1945


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 6, 1945, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

RITES SET FOR SPANISH WAR VET

 

Funeral services for Daniel E. Walters, 80, a Spanish-American was veteran, will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Pifer funeral home by the Rev. G.A. Steeby. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Walters, the father of the late Clarence Walters who died Dec. 21, and of Joseph E. Walters, Niles, died Saturday night in Veterans hospital, Marion, Ind.  He had been in poor health for three years.

He was born in Stubens county, O., on June 8, 1864.  Other survivors are a daughter, Mrs. Glenn Hitz, Gould City, two sons, Clyde and Wilfred Walters, Mishawaka; nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren, and a brother, Rutherford Walters, Ora, Ind.


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, February 8, 1945, page 2, col 2, microfilm Niles District Library


WALTERS BURIED

American-Spanish war veterans were in charge of committal services in Silverbrook cemetery Wednesday for Daniel E. Walters, 80, father of the late Clarence Walters and Joseph Walters, Niles.  Walters died Saturday in Marion, Ind. Funeral services were conducted in the Pifer funeral home with American Legionnaires as pallbearers. Mrs. Glenn Hitz, Gould City, a daughter, came to Niles for the funeral.

White, Florence

Florence White
Jan. 16, 1867-Feb. 27, 1945


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, February 28, 1945, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Miss White, 78, Expires Tuesday

 

Culminating more than four months of serious illness, Miss Florence White, 78, died at her home at 928 Hickory street Tuesday afternoon at 4:15.

Born Jan. 16, 1867, in Howard township, Cass county, she had lived all her life in Niles and vicinity. For many years, she has made her home with her brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Garrett.

She was a member of the Methodist Church and the Berean Sunday School class.

In addition to her sister, Mrs. Garrett, the deceased is survived by two brothers, William O. White, rural route one,and Charles E. White, Niles.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral home where services will be conducted at 2 Friday by the Rev. L. George Beacock with burial in Silverbrook cemetery.