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.

Babcock, Nellie

Nellie Babcock
June 22, 1891-Sept. 6, 1942


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, September 8, 1942, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library


NELLIE BABCOCK DIES IN HAMMOND ON HOLIDAY TRIP

 

Mrs. Nellie Babcock, 51, of 1215 Regent street, died Sunday night at 10:45 in St. Margaret's hospital, Hammond, Ind., after a heart illness of only 24 hours.

Death came during a holiday trip to Hammond prompted by the illness of her mother, Mrs. Clara Kaluf, Highlnad, Ind. She was the wife of Floyd C. Babcock, Michigan Central railroad yardmaster.

Born in Lansing, Ill. June 22, 1891, Mrs. Babcock was married in Hammond on Nov. 24, 1925. The family came to Niles from Chicago in 1933.

Funeral Wednesday

Surviving Mrs. Babcock with her husband and mother are two daughters, Mrs. George Landeck and Miss Helen Babcock, and a son, Floyd C. Babcock, Jr., all of Niles; one grandson, Larry Michael Landeck; five sisters, Mrs. Corone Thomas, Chicago, Miss Jennie Kaluf, Mrs. Cora Wagnes and Mrs. Annetta Kurts, all of Highland, Ind., and Mrs. Clara Cobb, Hammond, and one brother, Peter Kaluf, Hammond.

The body has been taken from the Rutherford funeral home to the Babcock home where friends may call. The funeral is set for Wednesday afternoon at 3 in the First Baptist church with burial in Silverbrook cemetery. The Rev. A.C. DeVries, pastor of the Fist Evangelical church, will officiate in the absence of the Rev. Floyd W. Johnston.


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 9, 1942, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library


Babcock Funeral

Nephews of Mrs. Nellie Babcock, 1215 Regent street, served as pallbearers at her funeral this afternoon at 3 in the First Baptist church. They were Glenn Wagner, James Cobb and Jack Kaluf, Highland, Ind., and Leonard Babcock, Clarence and Charles Babcock, Chesterton, Ind. The Rev. A.C. DeVries officiated in the absence of the Rev. Floyd W. Johnston, pastor of the Baptist church. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery. Mrs. Babcock, wife of Floyd C. Babcock, Michigan Central railroad trainmaster, died Sunday night in Hammond, Ind.




Bolinger, Mary Jane

Mary Jane Bolinger
Aug 18, 1866-Feb. 6, 1959


Niles Daily Star, Friday, February 7, 1959, 1942, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Mary Jane Bolinger, 92, one of Niles' oldest residents, died at 4:20 a.m. today at her home, 322 South St. Joseph Avenue, after an illness of several years.

She was born in Berrien Township Aug. 18, 1866 and had lived in the community throughout her life, residing 45 years in the west side home. She was a member of the First Baptist Church.

Mrs. Bolinger's husband, Amos, died in 1943. Survivors are: Two daughters, Mrs. Rose Meyers, Sacramento, Calif., and Mrs. Laura Hahn, LaPuente, Calif.; two sons, Robert Glen Bolinger, Rochester, Mich., and Fred Bolinger, Niles; 17 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, 13 great great grandchildren and two sisters, Mrs. Lola Perron, St. Petersburg, Fla., and Mrs. Ada Rose, Santa Monica, Calif., Friends may call at the Kiger-Halbritter Funeral Home where services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday by the Rev. Earl J. Wickstrom, pastor of the First Baptist Church. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

Bradford, Mary Ash

Mary Ash Bradford
March 3, 1895-Nov. 12, 1987


Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 13, 1987, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Mary Ash Bradford, 92, 530 Michigan St., Niles, died at 11:35 a.m. Thursday at home.

A member of Franklin AME Church, Niles, the homemaker was born March 3, 1895 in Battle Creek. She lived in Niles for more than 50 years coming from Cassopolis. She was married to Andrew Bradford who preceded her in death.

She is survived by three grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Services are 1 p.m. Monday at Franklin AME Church. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.  Friends may call from 10 a.m. to p.m. Monday at the church.

Obituary information and funeral arrangements provided by Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan.

 

Bruce, Lena P.

Lena P. Bruce
Oct. 17, 1893-March 15, 1980

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 17, 1980, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library


NILES--Mrs. Lena P. Bruce, 86, formerly of 2358 U.S. 12, died at 4 a.m. Saturday at Colorado Springs, Colo., following an extended illness.

She was born Oct. 17, 1893 in Wabash county, Ind., and had lived in Colorado since 1977.

On Oct. 26, 1921 in Edwardsburg, she married Raymond E. Bruce, who died April. 19, 1963.

Survivors include six daughters, Mrs. Bernice Demuth of Colorado Springs, Mrs. Esther Cox and Mrs. Beatrice Byrne, both of Niles, Mrs. Marjorie Bartold of Neenah, Wis., Mrs. Bertha Hannon, of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and Mrs. Betty Larsen of Atlanta, Ga.; a sister, Mrs. Louisa Frazier of Waterloo, Ind.; a sister-in-law, Ruby Hollenbeck, of Niles; 19 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. David G. Jenkins of Bertrand Bible Church officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are calling at the funeral home.

 

Burner, Dorothy A.

Dorothy Burner
Jan. 30 1915-Dec. 13, 1987


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 15, 1987, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library


Dorothy A. Burner, 72, 1409 Sioux Trail, Niles, died Sunday at 10:35 p.m. at Pawating Hospital in Niles following a brief illness.

She was born Jan. 30, 1915, in Lowell, Mass., and lived here since 1979, coming from Dearborn. She married Charles Burner Aug. 4, 1935, in Detroit. He died May 19, 1962.

Survivors include: a daughter, Marie Howkins of Dearborn; a son, Alfred of Niles; and six grandchildren.

Services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home, where Rev. Arnold Schaap will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.

 

Butt, Ruth Ann (Buck)

Ruth Ann Butt
April 25, 1902-Oct. 29, 1942

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, October 29, 1942, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library


MRS. RUTH BUTT STRICKEN TODAY

 

Mrs. Ruth Ann Butt, 40, died this morning at 2:45 in her home near Barron lake, after an illness of eight months.

A resident of the Niles community since 1938, when the family moved here from South Bend, Mrs. Butt was born April 25, 1902 in Anderson, Ind.

Surviving with her husband, Phillip Butt, are her father, Lemuel Buck, Denver, Ind.; two sons, Phillip Leroy, who is serving with the navy, and Max Wilbur Butt, at home; two brothers, Cecil and Robert Buck, Denver, Ind., and two sisters, Mrs. Helen Young, South Bend, and Miss Marian Buck, Anderson, Ind.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home where services will be conducted Saturday afternoon at 2:30. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Byrd, Blanche D.

Blanche D. Byrd
April 28, 1895-Feb. 6, 1990


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 6, 1990,  page 2, col. 7-8, microfilm Niles District Library


Services for Blanche D. Byrd, 94, of 1211 State Line Road, Niles, will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Trinity Episcopal Church by the Rev. Steven L. Schuneman.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Mrs. Byrd was born April 28, 1895, in Aberdeen Miss., and came to Niles in 1897.

She was active in the Trinity Episcopal Church and the St. Agnes Guild of the church, Order of the Eastern Star, the White Shrine of Jerusalem and the Pythian Sisters. She was a 1913 graduate of Niles High School and a graduate of Ferris State College.

She was retired from Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company.

Mrs. Byrd died Tuesday at 6:30 p.m at Woodfield Manor, Niles, following an extended illness.

Several cousins survive.

Friends may call at the church one hour prior to the service. Contributions may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church.