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.

Archer, Alfred Earl

Alfred Earl Archer
Oct. 31, 1932-Feb. 11, 1990


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 13, 1990, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library

Services for Alfred Earl Archer, Jr. 57, of 218 Owens st., Niles, will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, Niles, the Rev. John Bair, Bethel Tabernacle, officiating.

Archer was born Oct. 31, 1932 in Medaryville, IN, and had lived in this area since 1955. He retired from Tyler Refrigeration May 1, 1985. In Medaryville, IN, July 30, 1955 he married Rosa Lee Carpenter, who survives him.

Archer died Sunday at 11:17 p.m. in Pawating Hospital after a sudden illness.

Also surviving are two daughters, Cathy Baughman, Mishawaka, IN, and Diane Archer, Phoenix, AZ; two sisters, Florine Bonnell, Mishawaka, IN, nad Audrey Allen, Rensselaer, IN; and five grandchildren.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Friends may call 2 to 4 and 7 to p .m. Wednesday.

 

Asmus, Augusta C. (Wedel)

Augusta C. Asmus
June 29, 1877-Jan. 9, 1953


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, January 10, 1953, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library


Mrs. Augusta C. Asmus, 1622 North Twelfth street, died at 3:30 p.m. Friday in Pawating Hospital.  She had been in poor health for a number of years.

Surviving are her husband, Charles C. Asmus; three sons, Alfred, Deverne and Clarence, all of Niles; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; three brothers, Paul, Carl and Julius Wedel, all of Niles, and three sisters, Mrs. Minnie Zimmerman, Mrs. Caroline Asmus and Mrs. Frieda Faye. all of Niles.

Mrs. Asmus was born on June 29, 1877, in Germany, and came to Niles from Germany 63 years ago. She was a member of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church, an honorary member of the church's Women's Guild, and a member of Lady Maccabees.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday by the Rev. H.A. Meussling, pastor of St. John's Church. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

All members of the Woman's Guild are requested by the president, Mrs. Anthony Jaroch, to meet in a group to attend the rites.

 

Ausmus, Martha

Martha Ausmus
Aug. 15, 1900-Nov. 27, 1997


Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 28, 1997, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library


Funeral services for Martha Ausmus, 97, 1615 N. Fifth St., Niles, are Saturday at 10 a.m., at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, Niles. burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Mrs. Ausmus died Thursday at 4:05 a.m.,, at Silverbrook Manor, Niles, of natural causes.

She was born Aug. 15, 1900, in Posen, Poland. Mrs. Ausmus was a homemaker.  Her husband, Henry Ausmus, preceded her in death in 1946.

She was a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Niles. She was also a member of YMCA Golden Agers and Royal Neighbors.  Friends may call one hour prior to the funeral. Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church.



Atkinson, Everett W.

Everett W. Atkinson
Nov. 3, 1912-Nov. 8, 1997


Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 10, 1997, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Everett W. Atkinson, 85, formerly of 2280 Warren Road, Niles, are Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, by the Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman of First Presbyterian Church.  Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.   There will be no visitation.

Mr. Everett died Saturday, Nov. 8 15 1:20 p.m., at Riveridge Manor, Niles following a brief illness.

He was born Nov. 3, 1912,in Alma, and had lived in Niles since 1958, coming from Texas.

On March 5, 1940,in Alma, he married the former Olive "Elaine" Grosenburg, who preceded him in death April 1, 1993.

Mr. Atkinson retired as a self-employed painter of RVs and sold the specialized paint for RVs.

Survivors include a daughter, Elena "Kristen" Hensley of South Bend, Ind.; a son, William Stuart Atkinson of Niles; twelve grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson; two sisters, Irene Girard of Union City and Margaret Thomas of Freemont, Ind.; two sisters-in-law, Mary Atkinson, and Betty Atkinson; and two step-daughters, Linda Pamela Davis of Chloride, Ariz.,and Yvonne Cummins of Yuma, Ariz.  He was preceded in death by a son, Jon Wesley Atkinson, in 1963; and two brothers, Don Atkinson, and Jack Atkinson.

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, November 11, 1997, page 2, col. 7-8, microfilm Niles District Library


Funeral services for Everett W. Atkinson, 85, formerly of 2280 Warren Road, Niles, were today at Halbritter Funeral Home by the Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman of First Presbyterian Church. Burial followed at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Mr. Atkinson died Saturday, Nov. 8, at 1:20 p.m. at Riveridge Manor, Niles, following a brief illness.

He was born Nov. 3, 1912, in Alma, and had lived in Niles since 1958, coming from Texas.

On March 5, 1940, in Alma, he married the former Olive "Elaine" Grosenburg, who preceded him in death April 1, 1993.

Mr. Atkinson retired as a self-employed painter of RVs and sold specialized paint for RVs.  He enjoyed fly-fishing on the Au Sable River near Mio.

Survivors include a daughter, Elena "Kristen" Hensley of South Bend, Ind.; a son, William Stuart Atkinson of Niles; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson; a sister, Irene Girard of Union City; two sisters-in-law, Mary Atkinson, and Betty Atkinson; and two step-daughters, Linda "Pamela" Davis of Chloride, Ariz.,and Yvonne Cummins of Yuma, Ariz.

He was preceded in death by a son, Jon Wesley Atkinson, who died in 1963; a sister, Margaret Thomas; and two brothers, Don Atkinson, and Jack Atkinson.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation.

 

 

Bair, Emma Mae

Emma Mae Bair
May 9, 1870-Jan. 17, 1953


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, January 17, 1953, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library


Mrs. Emma Mae Bair, 82 of 214 North Third street, a life resident of Berrien County, died at 8 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital following an illness of one year.

Mrs. Bair was born May 9, 1870, in Berrien County and lived here all her life. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church here.  Her husband, Edwin, died in 1917.  Surviving is a son, Earl, Niles, and two grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday in the Kiger Funeral Home with the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, Presbyterian pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

 

Barber, Elizabeth (Lambert)

Elizabeth Barber
July 24, 1867-Jan. 26, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, January 26, 1954, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Elizabeth Lyle Barber, 522 Oak street, died at 8 a.m. today at her home. She had been in poor health for some time.

Surviving is one brother, Richard Lambert, of Philadelphia, Pa. Mrs. Barber was born on July 24, 1867, in Grand Rapids, and came here from Winnetka, Ill., 12 years ago.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday. Durlin Wheeler will read the Christian Science service, and burial will be in Wyoming Township Cemetery, Grand Rapids.


Niles Daily Star, Friday, February 26, 1954, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

The remains of Mrs. Elizabeth Lambert Barber, which were cremated, were buried during a prayer service held Friday at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mrs. Barber, who made her home with Mrs. Blendena Haviland 422 Oak street, died on Jan. 26, and a Christian Science service was held on Jan. 28 here.

 

Note: Cemetery record has name spelled Barbour

 

Bell, Warren H.

Warren H. Bell
March 14, 1915-Nov. 9, 1997


Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 10, 1997, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library


Funeral services for Warren H. Bell, 82, 2255 U.S. 12 East, Niles, are Wednesday at noon, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles by the Rev. Richard T. Muessig of Pokagon United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Mr. Bell died Sunday at 9:30 a.m. at his home unexpectedly, but of natural causes.

He was born March 14, 1915, in Chicago. He had lived in Niles since 1960, coming from Tinley Park Ill.

On April 7, 1934, in Chicago, he married the former Marie C. Peters, who preceded him in death April 8, 1996.

Mr. Bell attended Pokagon United Methodist Church, and was a member of Saint Peter's Lodge No. 406, F. & A.M., Edwardsburg.  He retired as an engineer on the Penn Central on March 2, 1975, after 34 years of service. While working on the railroad, he completed two years of college night courses in chemistry and pharmacology.

Survivors include two sons, James A. Bell of Romeo, and Warren H. Bell Jr. of Niles; six grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a sister, Helen Ann Pickens, Sept. 24, 1995.

Friends may call Tuesday, from 2 until 4 p.m. and 6 until 8 p.m. at the funeral  home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the donor's choice.