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.

Repine, Wilbur R.

editor Obituaries

Wilbur R. Repine
July 18, 1901-Dec. 20, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 21, 1954, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Wilbur R. Repine, 53, of South Bend, formerly of Niles, was pronounced dead on arrival at Memorial Hospital, South Bend, at 3 p.m. Monday. He had suffered a heart attack on a downtown street.

Repine, who was traffic manager for the Mastic Alphalt Corporation in South Bend, was born July 18, 1901, in Benton Harbor and had lived in the Niles area most of his life. He was a member of the Knights of Pythias in South Bend.

Surviving are: his mother, Mrs. A.M. Repine, Niles; a brother, Ernest, of Niles, and a sister, Mrs. Cora Closson, of Kalamazoo.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the Pifer Funeral Home here with the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, pastor of the First  Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, where the Knights of Pythias will conduct graveside rites.  Friends may call at the funeral home beginning Wednesday morning.

 

Reschke, August

editor Obituaries

August Reschke
abt. 1869-Jan. 10, 1953

Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 12, 1953, page 2, col. 6-7, microfilm Niles District Library

August Reschke, 84, of 1133 North Front street, died suddenly  at 7:45 p.m. Saturday at the Berrien County hospital at Berrien Center. He was born in Warsaw, Poland, and came to this country when he was 18 years old.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home. Committal services will be conducted by Lt. Arthur Homer of the Salavaton [sic] Army at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

Robbins, Gordon A.

editor Obituaries

Gordon A. Robbins
Nov. 25, 1917-Nov. 24, 1987

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 25, 1987, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Gordon A. Robbins, 69, 1951 Lewis Drive, Niles, died Tuesday at 3:17 p.m. at Pawating Hospital following an extended illness.

A World War II veteran of the U.S. Army, he was a member of the Niles American Legion Post 26 and Teamster's Local 364. A retired employee of Nelson Transfer Trucking, he was born Nov. 25, 1917 in Luther.

Following his Army service, he moved to Niles in 1945. He was married June 8, 1944 to Mary R. Sossamon in Wichita Falls, Texas. She died Jan. 31, 1975.

Survivors include two brothers, Donald of Luther and James of Chelsea; and a sister, Margaret M. Hunerjager of Niles.

Services are 11 a.m. Saturday at Halbrittter Funeral Home in Niles with Rev. Louis J. Schweppe of St. John's United Church of Christ officiating. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

 

Roberts, John

editor Obituaries

John Roberts
Jan. 17, 1881-Nov. 23, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 24, 1954, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

John Roberts, 73, of 1914 Lawton street, died at home at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday after a six-year illness.

A retired farmer, he was born in Newburg Township, Cass County, Jan. 17, 1881. He came to Niles from Vandalia six years ago.

Survivors are his widow, Mrs. Zesta Roberts; a son, Fred Roberts, and a daughter, Mrs. Arthur Peebles, both of Niles; three grandchildren and a brother, William Roberts of Niles.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home where the Rev. L.George Beacock will conduct services at 2 p.m. Friday. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

Sears, Leo B.

editor Obituaries

Leo B. Sears
Nov. 29, 1913-Nov. 16, 1997

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 17, 1997, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

No funeral services or visitation will be held for Leo B. Sears, 83, 312 Harger Ave., Niles. Silverbrook Cemetery will be the place of burial. Arrangements are by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Mr. Sears died Sunday at 11:10 a.m., at his home following an extended illness.

He was born Nov. 29, 1913, in Dowagiac, and was a lifetime area resident.

On April 30, 1942, in Covington,Ky., he married the former Gladys E. Moore, who preceded him in death March 12, 1990.

Survivors include a sister-in-law, Bobbette Jones of Niles. A sister, Helen Wicks preceded him in death Aug. 3, 1997

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home or Berrien County Cancer Service.

 

Seawood, Minnie F.

editor Obituaries

Minnie F. Seawood
March 15, 1900-Dec. 2, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, December 2, 1954, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Minnie F. Seawood, 54, of 1918 Pucker street, died at 2 a.m. today at Pawating Hospital after a two-month illness. She had been in the hospital two days.

Born March 15, 1900 at Forrest City, Ark., she came here from Crothersville, Mo., 20 years ago. She was a member of the Calvary Baptist Church.

Survivors are her husband, John E. Seawood; a daughter, Mrs. Mary Anderson of Crothersville, and two brothers, Otto Ellison, Chicago, and Willie Seston, East Carondlet, Ill.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home where services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

Shackelford, Marilyn B.

editor Obituaries

Marilyn B. Shackelford
Sept. 13, 1920-Oct. 3, 1977

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, October 4, 1977, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Marilynn B. Shackelford, 57, of 2115 Spansail Dr., died at 9:45 a.m. Monday in Pawating Hospital following an illness of two days.

A registered nurse at Pawating, she was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church and Veterans of World War II, the U.S. Army Nurse Corps.

Mrs. Shackelford lived in the Niles area all her life. She was born on Sept. 13, 1920, in Niles and on Aug. 2, 1942, married Thomas B. Shackelford Sr. in Frederick, Okla. He died on Dec. 16, 1976.

Survivors include her mother, Mrs. Dola Brodie of Niles; three sons, Thomas B. Jr., of Elkhrt[sic], Gordon and Thaddeus of Niles; three daughters, Mrs. Marilynn Weybright of Missoula, Mont., Miss Virginia Shackelford of Niles and Mrs. Susan Dickerson of Niles; two sisters, Mrs. Gerard Blais of Schaghticoke, N.Y., and Mrs. Fred Opfer of Decatur; and five grandchildren.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home, the Rev. Donald L. Harris of Westminster Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call after 7 p.m .Tuesday at the Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Pawating Hospital Memorial Fund.

 

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