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.

Commins, William Jason

William Jason Commins
July 16, 1901- Oct. 30, 1977


Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 31, 1977, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library


NILES-- William Jason Commins, 76, of 2743 Earl St., died at 2:40 p.m. Sunday at Pawating Hospital, following a short illness.

A member of the Christian Faith Tabernacle, Mr. Commins was retired from the Michiana News Service. He was born July 16, 1901, in Grand Traverse, and had lived here since 1948, coming from Berrien Springs.

On July 24, 1927, in Riverdale, Mich., he married Jennie May Loughin, who survives.

Also surviving are five sons, Harry of Niles; Charles of Coldwater; Ernest of Eau Claire; Edwin and Elmer; five daughters, Ms. Evelyn McNinch, Mrs. Frances Helms and Mrs. George Stanifer, all of Niles; Mrs. Minnie Owens of Chicago and Mrs. Delores Mobley of Decatur; a brother Earl; 21 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. Harrell Wilson of Christian Faith Tabernacle officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 4 p.m. today.

 

Cross, Ralph E.

Ralph E. Cross
Dec. 31, 1893-Aug. 22, 1970

Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 24, 1970, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library


NILES--Ralph Cross, 76, of 1982 Baldwin Dr., died at 8:30 p.m Saturday in Pawating Hospital after an illness of six months.

A retired employe of Niles Steel Tank Co., Mr. Cross was born Dec. 31, 1893, in Detroit, and had lived here since 1926, coming from Grand Rapids. On May 5, 1920, in Allegan, Mich., he married the former Viola V. Goodrich, who survives. He was a World War I Army veteran and a member of the American Legion Post 26 and the Four Flags Barracks, Veteran's of World War I.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Esel York and Mrs. Edwin Sayer, both of Niles; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, with Sheldon M. Hart of the Jehovah's Witnesses Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home..

 

Davis, Robert Charles

Robert Charles Davis
Oct. 9, 1939- Jan. 1, 1940

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

Davis Infant Dies: Service Wednesday at Pifer's Chapel

 

Services will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 for Robert Charles Davis, infant son of Mr.and Mrs. Robert Davis, 323 1/2 North Third street.

The child, who had been ill two weeks, died Monday afternoon in Pawating hospital.

The body is at the Pifer funeral home where services will be held. The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.



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.