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.

Heath, Minnie A.

Minnie A. Heath
Died March 9, 1867


Niles Weekly Times, Thursday, March 14, 1867, page 3, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library


DIED


In this city, on the 9th inst., MINNIE A., infant child of Jerry and Helen C. Heath.

Niles Republican, Saturday, April. 6, 1867, page 3, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Chester Rollo, the City Sexton, submitted his quarterly report of interments in the Cemetery for the quarter ending March 31st, of which the following is a summary:

. . .

March 10, Minnie A., daughter of J. & H. Heath, of Niles, at Niles, of Congestion.

 

Ramos, Mary Jane (Gibbs)

Mary Jane Ramos
Oct. 13, 1946-Aug. 18, 1970


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, August 19, 1970, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Mary Jane Ramos, 23, of 1201 S. Third St., died at 6:55 p.m. Tuesday in Pawating Hospital, after an illness of two days.

An employe of the Green Giant Co., Mrs. Ramos was born Oct. 13, 1946, in Niles, and had lived here all her life.  Her husband, Efigenio, survives.

Also surviving are a son, Efigenio Jr., at home; her father, Claude Gibbs of Niles; two brothers, Maynard and David Gibbs, both of Niles; three sisters, Mrs. Louis Voss and Mrs. Charles Lintz, both of Niles, and Mrs. Dale Mitchell of Benton Harbor.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, with the Rt. Rev. Msgr. John  D. Slowey of St. Mary's Catholic Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call beginning Thursday at the funeral home.

 

Sullivan, Mary (Neil)

Mary N. Sullivan
Abt. 1804-Feb. 21, 1867


Niles Republican, Saturday, March 2, 1867, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

OBITUARY

Died in this city on the 21st inst., at the residence of her sister, Mrs. H.C. Griffith, Mrs. MARY N. SULLIVAN, of Consumption, aged 62 years.

The deceased was the widow of the late William H. Sullivan, Esq., of this city, and daughter of the late Joseph S. and Olive R. Neil, of New Market, N.H., and where she resided in early life and also in Concord, where the name of Mary Neil was cherished, and will long be remembered by those who survive her there--As in early life she was a model girl, so in riper years was she a model woman adorning her sex. She leaves to mourn her loss three daughters, one own sister, and two half sisters and a brother, children of Maj. A.P. Stinson, with whom she was reared, and several nieces and nephews, none knowing or caring to know, but they were all of one family.  The deceased has many relatives and friends residing in N.H. and Maine, who will like her relatives and numerous friends here deplore her loss.  So amiable and lovely was she in her demeanor, that she won the esteem and good will of all with whom she mingled, and died as she lived, without one to reproach her.  Mrs. S., so far as is known to the writer, was never united to any christian church, yet ever gave the strongest evidence of her faith in the christian religion, by a "godly life and confirmation," being early taught by a sainted mother, whose example she followed. Her attachment to the M.E. church, while a youth, under the Ministry of Broachard, Ruter, Kelley, Stosts and Dow, became strong, which only increased in the west with riper years.   The Rev. A.J. Eldred, of Grand Rapids, ever a favorite preacher of the deceased and her family, accidentally being in the city, was solicited by the friends of the deceased to officiate at the funeral, which he cheerfully complied with on the 23rd inst., when all that remained of Mary N. Sullivan, was consigned to the last resting place on earth, in the beautiful Cemetery of this city, beside her late husband. It was remarked "it seemed as mourners, instead of friends who had come to pay their last tribute of respect to the memory of a friend and neighbor," and so it verily seemed.  A vacuum is left in the family circle and in the neighborhood, not soon to be filled.  Consumption, that loathsome disease, which baffles the best medical skill, had been praying upon her constitution for years, but succeeded not in its mission till the evening of the 21st, when, without a groan or a struggle, Mrs. S. fell asleep among relatives and friends and such friends few possessed.  All that could be done to alleviate her distress and if possible stay that disease, was done by her able physician, her sister and friends, but all for vain, her saviour called and she was ready to depart and be with him, who while living, she acknowledged to be her Redeemer and Saviour. Peace be in her ashes.

Niles Republican, Saturday, April 6, 1867, page 3, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Chester Rollo, the City Sexton, submitted his quarterly report of interments in the Cemetery for the quarter ending March 31st, of which the following is a summary:

. . .

Feb. 23, Mrs. Mary S. Sullivan, age 52, years, native of New market, N.H., at Niels, of Consumption.

 

Waterbury, Calista (Mather)

Calista Waterbury
1837-March 11, 1867

Niles Weekly Times, Thursday, March 14, 1867, page 3, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

DIED

In Chicago, on the evening of the 11th inst., CALISTA, wife of Charles Waterberry and daughter of the late Daniel W. Mather.

Niles Republican, Saturday, March 17, 1867, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

DIED--In Chicago, Ill., on the evening of the 11th inst., COLISTA, wife of CHARLES WATERJAY, and daughter of the late Daniel W. Mather, formerly of this place.


Niles Republican, Saturday, April. 6, 1867, page 3, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Chester Rollo, the City Sexton, submitted his quarterly report of interments in the Cemetery for the quarter ending March 31st, of which the following is a summary:

. . .


March 14, Mrs. C.M. Waterbury, age 30 years, native of Elbridge, N.Y., at Niles, of Paralysis.

 

Wertenberger, Pete

Pete Wertenberger
April 7, 1896-Aug. 19, 1970


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, August 19, 1970, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library


Niles--Pete Wertenberger, 74, of 2804 S. 13th St., died at 6 a.m. today in his home, after an extended illness.

A retired farmer, Mr. Wertenberger was born April 7, 1896, in Howard City, Mich. He had lived here since 1960, coming from Warsaw, Ind. His wife, Leah, died in 1962. He was a veteran of World War I.

Survivors include one sister, Mrs. Laverne Brown of Phoenix, Ariz.; a brother, John H. Wertenberger of Indianapolis, Ind.; a sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Cornwell of Niles; a half-sister, [illegible] Post of Belding, Mich. and two grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Lester Young of the United Brethern Church of Warsaw, Ind., officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 tonight at the funeral home.

 

 

Grant, John F. Sr.

John F. Grant, Sr., 73
Dec. 25, 1938-Nov. 4, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published online 5:09pm Monday, November 5, 2012

Grant, Sr.

John F. Grant, Sr., age 73 years of Niles, Mich., died at 1:55 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012 at Kindred Hospital Northern Indiana in Mishawaka following a brief illness.

He was born on Dec. 25, 1938 in Springfield, Ohio to Howard and Viola (Ashing) Grant.  He graduated from Niles High School, and lived here most of his life.  He served in the United States Army, and was stationed in Korea.  He was employed at Modineer, and at the former Tyler Refrigeration and Nyloncraft.

John was a member of the American Legion Post 26 in Niles.  He was a vocalist and drummer for several area bands.  He enjoyed expanding his intellect through science journals, word puzzles, and challenging repairs in his home shop.  He is best remembered for his sense of humor.

On July 26, 1963 in Niles he married the former Mary Ellen Fisher with whom he had celebrated the forty-ninth anniversary of their marriage.

Surviving family includes his wife, Mary Ellen Grant, and their children, Fran (& Walter) Ludwig, John (& Emily) Grant, Jr., and Julie (& Joe) Hess, all of Niles and Vicki (& Jeff) Winslett of Galien, Mich., and Kimberly (& Russell) Schermerhorn of Milford, Pa.; grandchildren, Chris Ludwig, Lauren Ludwig, Allison Grant, Joey Hess, Derek Hess, Abigail Hess, Jessica Winslett, Joshua Winslett, Jordan Winslett, Jenna Winslett, and Steven Schermerhorn; great-granddaughter, Kyleigh Hayes; and John’s sister, Gertrude (& William Meyers of Niles, and brother, William H. Grant of Eau Claire, Mich., and many nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for John F. Grant will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.  Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and will conclude with Full Military Honors by American Legion Post 26 in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.  Contributions in memory of John may be made to the donor’s choice.

Engberg, Kathleen M. (Hannah)

Kathleen M. Engberg, 88
July 23, 1924-Oct. 31, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published 3:30pm Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Kathleen M. Engberg, age 88 years of Colony Court in Niles, Mich., died at 1:55 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012 at the Buchanan Meadows Living Center, Buchanan, Mich., following an extended illness.

She was born on July 23, 1924 in Middletown, Ohio to Lawrence and Blanche (Holloway) Hannah.  She was graduated from high school in Middletown, and employed at the former Sorg Paper Company (now Bay West division of Wausau Papers) in Middletown.  She has lived in Niles since January of 1960.

Kathleen was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles.  She was a sustaining member of the Niles Service League, and a member of the Monday Reading Club.  She always enjoyed helping others, including volunteering with the Pawating Auxiliary of Lakeland Community Hospital, and as a young mother, volunteering with the Girl Scouts of America as an adult leader of the local Brownies.  She also enjoyed walking outdoors.

On October 13, 1951 in Middletown she married Rudolph A. “Rudy” Engberg with whom she celebrated the 51st anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on Jan. 9, 2003.  She was also preceded in death by her parents, and by her brothers, Wilbur and William Hannah, who were twins.

Surviving family includes a daughter, Susan (& Dave) Majerek of Niles; grandsons David Majerek, Scott Majerek, and Chad Majerek; and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Kathleen M. Engberg will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Edward H. Slate of Faith United Methodist Church in Buchanan officiating.  Committal Services will be at the Graveside at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles at 11 a.m. on Friday.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home.  Contributions in memory of Kathleen may be made to Hospice at Home.