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.

Harger, Meredith M.

Meredith M. Harger
April 22, 1919-March 25, 1984


Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 26, 1984, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Meredith M. Harger, 73, 750 Colony Court, died at 12:35 a.m. Sunday at Mease Hospital, Dunedin, Fla. after a brief illness.

She was a member of the Presbyterian Church and was a retired employee of Niles Community Schools.

Born April 22, 1919 in Bay City, she lived here since 1918, coming from Bay City. On June 8, 1935 in Niles, she married C. Keith Harger, who survives.    Services will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Halbritter Funeral Home with Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg officiating.  Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral  home.  Memorials may be made to the Southwestern Michigan Community Ambulance Service.

 

Hutton, Gladys E. Murphy (McCoy)

Gladys E. Hutton
Oct. 19, 1904-Oct. 29, 1977


Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 31, 1977, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library


NILES-- Mrs. Gladys E. Hutton, 73, of 113 N. 15th St., died at 11:30 p.m. Saturday at Pawating Hospital after an extended illness.

A member of the First Presbyterian Church of Niles and the Eastern Star, she was born Oct. 19, 1904 in Niles and had lived here her lifetime.

On Nov. 1, 1972 in Niles she married Thomas H. Hutton, who survives. Also surviving are a son, Kenneth N. Murphy of Buchanan; two brothers, Clayton McCoy of Niles and Donald McCoy of Battle Creek; and three grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. William J. Fuerstenau of the First Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

 

Zechlin, Michael L.

Michael L. Zechlin
Dec. 15, 1961-Sept. 30, 1988


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, October 1, 1988, page 2, col. 6-7, microfilm Niles District Library

Michael L. Zechlin, 302 S. Fourth St.., Niles, died as the result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident Friday morning.  He was pronounced dead at 9:45 a.m. Friday, Sept. 30, at Pawating Hospital.

Zechlin was a graduate of Niles High school and attended Southwestern Michigan College.

Employed by Allied Signal Ind., he was an active softball player. He born born Dec. 15, 1961, in Niles where he lived all his life.

On Sept. 26, 1987, he married Julie Shields. She and their son Nicholas survive.

He is also survived by his parents, Lewis (Sparky) and Patricia Zechlin of Niles; a sister, Kim Zechlin of Niles; and a grandmother, Mary Cottrell of Niles.

Services are planned for 11 a.m. Monday at Halbritter Funeral Home, with the Rev. David Henderson of Westminster Presbyterian Church officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2-4 and from 7-9 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home. The family asks that memorials be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church of the Babe Ruthe League.

 

Miller, Faultine

Faultine Miller
Jan. 22, 1871-Jan. 8, 1925


Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 9, 1925, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Faultine Miller Dies Suddenly Of Heart Trouble

 

Word was received in Niles last evening of the sudden death of Faultine Miller, 54, a former well known resident of this city for many years.  Mr. Miller was on a street car in Chicago last evening when he dropped dead of heart disease.  He had been employed for several years in Chicago by the Michigan Central Railroad company.

Mr. Miller is survived by a widow, one son, Walter, and one daughter, Eva, all at home; also by two brothers and two sisters, who are: Edward Miller, 1109 N. Front street, Mrs. Ambrose Mather, 510 Sycamore street, and Mrs. Ambrose Davis, 1212 Phoenix street of Niles, and William who lives in Wisconsin.  The deceased was born in Germany but came to Niles with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Miller, and grew to manhood here.

Edward Miller and Mrs. Mather went to Chicago this morning in response to the message, while the other relatives waited to learn the funeral arrangements, as it is probable the body will be brought to Niles for burial.



Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 12, 1925, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library


Body Brought Here

 

The body of Faultine Miller was brought to Niles from Chicago this afternoon on Michigan Central train No. 10, and was taken directly to Silver Brook cemetery for burial. Accompanying the body to Niles were the widow and two children of the deceased, also Mrs. Ambrose Mather of Niles, a sister of Mr. Miller, and other friends, including the pallbearers.  Edward Miller and Mrs. A. Davis, brother and sister of the deceased, and other relatives and friends met the funeral party here.  The funeral services were conducted at the home in Chicago by the reader of the Christian Science church, of which the deceased was a member.

 

Miller, Joseph R.

Joseph R. Miller
Feb. 3, 1897-March 11, 1960


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, March 12, 1960, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library


Joseph R. Miller, 63, route two, Niles, died at 9:45 p.m. Friday in Edwardsburg after suffering a heart attack.

Mr. Miller was born Feb. 3, 1897, in Milton Township, Cass County. His wife, Bertha, preceded him in death five years ago. Surviving are a son, Norman Miller, Niles, and two grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in the Pifer and Mayhew Funeral Home, Edwardsburg with the Rev. Herbert Meussling, pastor of St. John's United Church of Christ Evangelical and Reformed, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m. today.

 

Nethercutt, Robert L.

Robert L. Nethercutt
Aug. 22, 1925-Oct. 29, 1977


Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 31, 1977, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES-- Robert L. Nethercutt, 52, of 2411 Floral Dr., died at 4 p.m.  Saturday at Pawating Hospital.

A veteran of the Korean War with the U.S. Army, Mr. Nethercutt was a brick mason. He was born Aug. 22, 1925 in Carroll County, Ind., and had lived here since 1957, coming from Goshen, Ind.

On April 8, 1955 in Indiana, he married Dolores Hughes, who survives. Also survivng are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John H. Nethercutt of Goshen; two daughters, Mrs. John (Sandra) Klimek of Buchanan and Miss Cynthia Nethercutt, at home; a brother, Eugene Nethercutt of Goshen; and a sister, Mrs. Donald E. Miller of Elkhart, Ind.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are calling at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

 

Schell, Frank E.

Frank E. Schell
1884-Jan. 9, 1925


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, January 10, 1925, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library


Funeral Services For F.E. Schell On Monday

 

Funeral services for Frank E. Schell will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the home, 108 South Seventh street. Rev. H.T. Scherer, pastor of the Presbyterian church, will conduct the services.  Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.

Roy Schell, only brother of the deceased, has wired that he expects to be in Niles early Sunday morning, being now en route here from his home in Boston.

The body of Schell, which was taken to the Troost and Augustine undertaking rooms yesterday morning, was taken to the home this morning.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 12, 1925, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library


Funeral Today

 

Funeral services for Frank E. Schell were conducted by Rev. H. T. Scherer this afternoon at the home, 108 South Seventh Street.  Mrs. Albert Vetter sang.  Burial took place in Silver Brook cemetery. The following served as pallbearers: Fred R. Eaglesfield, C.R. Hemming, W.A. Noble, A.G. Nepstadt, T.C. Hance and C.E. Moon.  Among those from out of the city who attended the services were: Mr. Schell's sister, Mrs. Orlina Krause of St. Louis, Mo.; Leroy Schell of Boston, brother of the deceased; Mrs. Schell's brother and his wife, Mr.and Mrs. John Kless of Williamsport, Pa., and Mrs. Schell's sister, Mrs. Raymond Huber, and her husband of Gary, Ind.