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.

Exner, August W.

August W. Exner
May 1, 1882-July 2, 1970

Niles Daily Star, Friday, July 3, 1970, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library


NILES--August W. Exner, 88, of 2276 N. Fifth, died at 1:15 p.m. Thursday at Pawating Hospital. He had been ill for three weeks.

A retired employe of Niles Steel Tank Co., he was a lifetime resident of Niles.  For 35 years, he was an elder and usher at the First Presbyterian Church. His wife, the former Seda Frederick, whom he married Dec. 30, 1903, died in 1964.

A daughter, Mrs. Donald L. (Vivian) Haynes of Niles, survives.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the First Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Donald E. Gordon, associate minister, will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

 

Felix, Joseph Samuel

Joseph Samuel Felix
June 1, 1892-July 6, 1970


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 7, 1970, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Joseph Samuel Felix, 78, of 2815 Bond St., died at 10:55 p.m. Monday in St. Joseph Hospital, South Bend, where he had been a patient since Sunday.

A retired C.P.A., Mr. Felix was born June 1, 1892, in Williamsport, Pa., and had lived here since 1930, coming from Jackson, Mich. On Aug. 2, 1932, in South Bend, he married the former Emma R. Rose, who died March 26.

Survivors include a step-son, Archie Slauson of Niles; two daughters, Mrs. Evelyn Eaton of Marshall and Mrs. Virginia Gross of Jackson; a brother, Louis Felix of Southwest Williamsport, Pa.; two sisters, Mrs. Gary Joyce and Mary Felix, both of Naugatuck, Conn. and three grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rt. Rev. Msgr. John D. Slowey of St. Mary's Catholic Chuch[sic] officiating.. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

 

Fisher, Catherine Lollensack

Catherine Lollensack Fisher
March 14, 1890-Jan. 3, 1940


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, January 3, 1940, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. G.H. Fisher, Mother of Five Dies in Home Here Today

 

Mrs. Catherine Lollensack Fisher, the mother of five children, died in her home, 1215 North Sixth street, this morning at 10:10 o'clock after an illness of a year and one-half.

She was born in Manitowoc, Wis., March 14, 1890. She was married to George H. Fisher, who survives her, in Michigan City June 21, 1911. She had lived in Niles the past 14 years.

Besides the husband, she is survived by two daughters, Margaret and Virginia, and three sons, George, Arthur and Raymond, all of Niles.

Plans for the funeral services are incomplete. The body has been taken to the Pifer funeral home.


Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 5, 1940, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library


Mrs. Fisher's Rites Saturday at 2:30 in Pifer's Chapel

 

Members of the lodges of which she was a member will attend the funeral services Saturday afternoon at 2:30 in the Pifer funeral home. The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson will officiate.

Mrs. Fisher, who died at the family home on North Sixth street Wednesday, was a member of the Daughters of America, the Maccabees and the ladies auxiliary of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers.

Pall bearers will be Arthur Kettlehut, Jesse Keltz, Stewart Miller, Carl Hayes, Harold Snook and C.M. Parsons.

Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Fisher, Harvey L.

Harvey L. Fisher
Nov. 11, 1917-Aug. 25, 1981

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, August 26, 1981, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles
District Library


Harvey A.[sic] Fisher, 63, of 2001 Morris Dr., Niles, died a 1:03 p.m. Tuesday in Pawating Hospital following a brief illness.

Arrangements are being made at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, August 27, 1981, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles
District Library


Harvey L. Fisher, 63, of 2001 Morris Dr., Niles, died at 1:03 p.m. Tuesday at Pawating Hospital following a brief illness.

He was a retired farm manager. he was a member of the Church of  God, the Morris Volunteer Fire Dept. and a trustee at the Center Meeting House.

Mr. Fisher was born Nov. 11, 1917 in Niles and had spent his lifetime in this area.

He married Evelyn E. Burch on Nov. 26, 1938 in Plymouth, Ind. She survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Henry of Niles and Glenn of Sturgis; a sister, Mrs. Ella Holmes of Niles; and four grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.  The Rev. John A. Railton of the Hope Chapel Church of God, South Bend, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

 

Note:  The cemetery record and the gravemarker both say Harvey L. consistent with the longer obituary so it appears that the middle initial "A" in the first death notice is incorrect.

 

Gentry, Alonzo W.

Alonzo W. Gentry
July 27, 1912-Aug. 20, 1981

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, August 22, 1981, page 2, col. 2=3, microfilm Niles
District Library

Alonzo W. "Tiny" Gentry, 69, of 164 Briar Crest Lane, Niles, died at 8:54 p.m. Thursday in Pawating Hospital following a brief illness.

He was a retired employee of the Kawneer Company. He was a member of the First Baptist Church, the Kawneer 25 Year Club and the Big Brothers of America.

Mr. Gentry was born July 27, 1912 in Manchester, Tenn. and had lived here since 1936, coming from Tennessee.  He was married on March 3, 1939 in South Bend to Mildred A. Ernsberger. She survives.

Also surviving are a son, Roger of Paw Paw; a daughter, Mrs. Willard (Doris) Monks of Stigler, Okla.; a brother, Thurston, of Niles; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at the First Baptist Church. The Rev. Ray C. Cunningham will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. Sunday at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

The family suggests that memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church or the Michigan Heart Fund.

 

Graham, G. Maxwell

G. Maxwell Graham
Aug. 16, 1903-Aug. 2, 1970

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 3, 1970, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library


NILES--G. Maxwell (Red) Graham, 66, of 2818 Niles-Buchanan Road, died at 11:55 p.m. Sunday in Pawating Hospital, after an illness of several weeks.

A retired purchasing agent for Bendix Corp., South Bend, Mr. Graham was born Aug. 16, 1903, in Niles, and had lived here a lifetime.  On April 13, 1926, in South Bend, he married the former Gladys M. Meyers, who survives.

Mr. Graham was a member of the Niles Elks Lodge.

Survivors include two sons, Richard G. and Robert C. Graham, both of Niles; his mother, Mrs. George Graham of Niles and two grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, with the Rev. Arlan E. Schlundt of St. John's United Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call beginning Tuesday at the funeral home.

 

Gilbert, Martha L.

Martha L. Gilbert
Oct. 25, 1889-Jan. 2, 1940

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, January 3, 1940, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. L.E. Gilbert, Resident of Niles 14 Years, is Dead.

Mrs. Martha L. Gilbert, 50, wife of L.E. Gilbert, died Tuesday night in her home, 19 North Fourth street, death terminating one week's illness.

She was born near Port Amberth, N.Y., Oct. 24, 1889, and came to Niles from Paw Paw 14 years ago.

Surviving are her husband; her mother, Mrs. Mary Bernard, Kalamazoo; a daughter, Mrs. Max Albright, Niles; and three sons, Norman, Leroy and Donald, all of Niles; also three brothers, Frank Schoolcraft, Niles; Norman Schoolcraft, Kalamazoo, and Freeman Schoolcraft, Chicago.

The body is at the Rutherford funeral home, where services will be held Friday afternoon at 2. The Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook.

 

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 4, 1940, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles  District Library

SERVICES FRIDAY FOR MRS. GILBERT

Services will be held Friday afternoon at 2 in the Rutherford funeral home for Mrs. Martha L. Gilbert, 50, wife of L.E. Gilbert. Mrs. Gilbert died Tuesday night in her home, 19 North Fourth street, following a week's illness.

She was born in Port Amberth, N.Y., Oct. 25, 1889, and came to Niles from Paw Paw 14 years ago.  She was married to Mr. Gilbert Dec. 13, 1909, at Paw Paw.

Surviving are her husband,; her mother, Mrs. Mary Bernard, Kalamazoo; four children, Norman, Leroy, Donald, at home, and Mrs. Max Albright, Niles; also four brothers, Frank Schoolcraft, Niles; Norman Schoolcraft, Kalamazoo; Freeman Schoolcraft, Chicago; Dale Schoolcraft, Kalamazoo; and five sisters, Mrs. Florence Spencer, Detroit; Mrs. Blanche Russell, Detroit; Mrs. Nellie Drolet, Climax; Mrs. Effie Reed, Athens, and Mrs. Eleanor Meyers, Kalamazoo.

The Rev. J. Kenneth Hoffmaster will officate at services Friday and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.


Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 5, 1940, page 2, col.2, microfilm Niles  District Library

GILBERT SERVICE HELD TODAY AT 2

Members of the family served as pallbearers this afternoon for the funeral of Mrs. Martha L. Gilbert at 2 o'clock in the Rutherford funeral home. The Rev. J.K. Hoffmaster officiated and burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

The pallbearers were Max Albright, Niles; Ralph Reed, Athens; Duane Drolet, Comstock; Eric Spencer and Thomas Russell, Detroit and Samuel Mayers, Kalamazoo.

Out of town relatives here for the service included Mr.and Mrs. Ray Spencer, Mr.and Mrs. Oscar Schoolcraft, Mr.and Mrs. Eric Spencer, Dorothy Spencer and Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Russell, Detroit, and Mr.and Mrs. Norman Schoolcraft, Mr. and Mrs. A. Bernard, Mr.and Mrs. Samuel Meyers, Dale Schoolcraft and Ruth Gilbert, all of Kalamazoo.