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.

Crawford, Myron

Myron Crawford
July 4, 1888-Jan. 23, 1953


Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 23, 1953, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library


Myron Crawford, 1604 Hickory street, died after a five month illness at 2:45 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital.

Surviving are his wife, Mary; three sons, Earl, Clem and Richard, all of Niles; one daughter, Mrs. Ervin Applegate, Berrien Springs; seven grandchildren; five brothers, Jasper, Chesterton, Ind., Wilbert, Laporte, Ind., and Delbert, Coloid and Edwin Crawford, all of Michigan City, Ind., and one sister, Mrs. Mattie Sabinski, Chesterton.

Crawford was born on July 4, 1888, in Furnesvelle, Ind., and came here from Michigan city in 1929. He was an engineer for the New York Central Railroad Company, and was a member of the Brotherhood of Railway Engineers and of the Pioneer Club.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday. Burial wil be in Silverbrook Cemetery.


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, January 24, 1953, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Crawford Rites

The Rev. Orlen L. Njus, pastor of the Bertrand Bible Church, will officiate at the 2 p.m. Monday service for Myron Crawford, who died early Friday morning in Pawating Hospital.

Friends may call at the funeral home, and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  The services will be held in the Pifer Funeral Home.


Will Attend Rites

All members of the GIA are requested to meet at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Pifer Funeral Home, to attend rites for Myron Crawford.

Domnoske, Elizabeth L.

Elizabeth L. Domnoske
July 31, 1899-Feb. 22, 1959


Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 23, 1959, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library


Mrs. Elizabeth L. Domnoske, 59, of rural route four [Bertrand Road], Niles, died at 8:50 p.m., Sunday in her home following an illness of two years.

Mrs. Domnoske was born July 31, 1899, Machterburg, Germany, and came to this community in 1926 from South Bend.  Surviving are: her husband, John; a son, Lawrence Domnoske, of Niles; a daughter, Mrs. Betty Lou Hoover, of Tampa,, Fla.; two grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. Erhart Hacker, of Walkerton, Ind., and a brother, Curtis Lachmund, of Michigan City, Ind.

Friends may call beginning this evening at the Pifer Funeral Home where arrangements are incomplete.



Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 24, 1959, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Domnoske Services Set

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in the  Bertrand Bible Church for Mrs. Elizabeth L. Domnoske, 59, of roural route four [Bertrand Road], Niles, who died Sunday night in her home following an illness of two years. The pastor, the Rev. Orlen Njus, will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home until noon Thursday when the body will be removed to the church to lie in state until the hour of the service.

 

Jamerson, Francelia

Francelia Jamerson
May 30, 1894-Sept. 2, 1942


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 2, 1942, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library


MRS. JAMERSON, 48, DIES; RITES FRIDAY

 

Mrs. Francelia Jamerson, 48, 1024 Ferry street, a Niles resident for 22 years, died this morning at 1:30 in the Berrien county hospital. She had been ill since June 17.

Surviving with her husband, Walter, are four children at home, Leonard, Eleanor, Richard and Walter Jamerson, Jr., and a son, Harold Miles, Chicago.

She also leaves her mother, Mrs. Anna Whallen, Rodeo, Calif.; a brother, Carl Grunst, Steger, Ill., and five sisters, Mrs. Ida Palmer, Niles; Mrs. Elsie Klienfeldt, Hammond, Ind.; Mrs. Loretta Lomax and Mrs. Florence Dusterpot, Oakland, Calif.,and Mrs Gladys Wellingham, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Native of Illinois

Mrs. Jamerson was born in Richton, Ill., May 30, 1894 and came to Niles from Mattson, Ill.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home where the Rev. Theo Eisen, pastor of St. John's Evangelical church, will officiate at the service at 4 Friday afternoon. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Keeys, John H.

John H. Keeys
Feb. 6, 1882-Feb. 5, 1959


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

John H. Keeys, 76, of 1645 Michigan Street, died at 4:59 p.m. Thursday in the Berrien County Hospital, Berrien Center, following five months of failing health.

Mr. Keeys, a retired office porter for the New York Central Railroad, was born Feb. 6 , 1882, in Uniontown, Ala., and came to Niles in 1943 from Sunflower, Miss. His wife, Pauline, preceded him in death in 1951.

Surviving are: six sons, Erskine Keeys, of Buffalo, N.Y., Central, Denver and Theora Keeys, all of Niles; Sgt. Verties Keeys, stationed at Fort Riley,Kan., and Airman 2C Garnetta Keeys, with the United States Navy in Hawaii; two daughters, Mrs. Nevada Morgan and Mrs. Mildred Gray, both of Niles; 14 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in Mount Calvery Baptist Church with the pastor, the Rev. T. Hadley, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home beginning Saturday noon.

 

Koenigshof, Harold E.

Harold E. Koenigshof
July 16, 1909-Feb. 4, 1990

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 6, 1990,  page 2, col. 5-6, microfilm Niles District Library

Services for a former resident of Buchanan, Harold E. Koenigshof, 80, of 5845 13th St., Zephyrhills, Fla., will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, the Rev. Lou Schweppe officiating.

Koenigshof died Feb. 4 at the East Pasco Medical Center, Zephyrhills. He had lived in Florida for 18 years, coming from Buchanan.

He was retired from Simon Brothers Warehouseman, South Bend, and had served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Koenigshof was born July 16, 1909, in Dayton, Mich. He married Evelyn M. Barkman, who survives him, Feb. 16, 1947, in Niles.

Other survivors include three sisters, Lena Castle, Laura A. and Agnes Koenigshof, all of Buchanan, and two brothers, Carl F. and Robert Koenigshof, both of Buchanan,

Koenigshof was affiliated with the First Methodist of Zephyrhills.

Burial will take place at the Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Friends may call 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Wednesday.  Memorials may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service and to St. John's United Church of Christ.

 

Washington, Lizzie M.

Lizzie M. Washington
Sept. 26, 1900-Feb. 3, 1990

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

Services for a former Niles woman, Lizzie M. Washington, 89, of 718 N. Elmer St., South Bend, Ind., will be Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Washington Temple Church of God in Christ, Niles, the Elder Paul Adams, pastor, officiating.

She was born Sept. 26, 1900, in Monroe County, Ga. In 1939, she married Henry Washington in South Bend, who preceded her in death in 1945. A son, Cullen Walton, South Bend survives her. She has seven grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

Washington died after an extended illness at 10:55 a.m. Saturday, at Memorial Hospital, South Bend.

She had lived in the area for 50 years.  She was active in the Washington Temple Church of God in Christ, and was a member of the Mothers Board of that church.

Burial will be at Silvebrook.  Friends may call 7-9 p.m. at Alford's Mortuary, 1222 Napier St., South Bend.

 

Andress, Mary Castleman (Borowski)

Mary Castleman Andress
July 23, 1911-Sept. 23, 1977


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, September 24, 1977, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library


NILES--Mary Castleman Andress, 66, of 22 S. Lincoln Ave., died at 11:15 a.m. Friday at South Bend Osteopathic Hospital after an illness of two weeks.

A part-time cook at Jay's Lounge, she was a member of the Post 26 American Legion Auxiliary. She was born on July 23, 1911, in South Bend, and lived in Niles since 1959 after moving from South Bend.

Two previous husbands, Rudy Castleman and Harvey Andress, died in 1944 and 1969 respectively.

Survivors include a son, Paul Castleman, with the U.S. Air Force at Ft. Meade, Md.; a daughter, Mrs. Walter (Alice) May of Mishawaka; two brothers, Walter and Ike Borowski, both of South Bend,  and a sister, Mrs. Lottie Stachowski of South Bend; and seven grandchildren.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Monday in the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call after noon Sunday at the funeral home.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, September 26, 1977, page 2, col. 7-8, microfilm Niles District Library


NILES--Mary Castleman Andress, 66, of 22 S. Lincoln Ave., died at 11:15 a.m. Friday at South Bend Osteopathic Hospital after an illness of two weeks.

A member of the Post 26 American Legion Auxiliary, she was a part-time cook at Jay's Lounge.  Mrs. Andress was born on July 23, 1911, in South Bend, and lived in Niles since 1959 after moving from South Bend.

Her first husband Rudy Castleman did in 1944.  She then married Harvey Andress.

Survivors include two sons, Paul Castleman, with the U.S. Air Force at Ft. Meade, Md., and Eugene Borowski of South Bend; a daughter, Mrs. Walter (Alice) May of Mishawaka; two brothers, Walter and Ike Borowski, both of South Bend,  and a sister, Mrs. Lottie Stachowski of South Bend; and seven grandchildren.

Funeral services were to be held at 10 a.m. today in the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home. Burial was to follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.