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.

Walter, Edith Pitcher

Edith Pitcher Walter
Aug. 12, 1921-Jan. 29, 1978


Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 29, 1978, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles--Mrs. Edith Pitcher Walter, 56, of 412 N. 14th St., died at 3:40 a.m. Sunday at Pawating Hospital, following an illness of nine months.

She was born Aug. 12, 1921 in Grand Rapids, and had lived here since 1947, coming from Grand Rapids. She retired in Aug. 1977, from the folding department at Simplicity Pattern Co.

On Jan. 28, 1939 in Evert, Mich., she married Lovell Pitcher, who died March 13, 1973. In March, 1976, in Niles she married Burt Walter, who survives.

Also surviving are her mother, Mrs. Etta Guiles of Niles; five sons, Lonnie, David, Gerald and Bernie Pitcher, all of Niles and Lawrence Pitcher of Des Moines, Ia.; four daughters, Mrs. Sandra Barnaby of Greensburg, Pa., Mrs. Janet McClane, Mrs. Patricia Allen and Mrs. Judy Graziani, all of Niles; five brothers, Ronald, Robert and Charles Yahne, all of Grand Haven, Larry Yahne of Kent City, Michigan and Gerald Yahne of Niles; three sisters, Mrs. Joan Boldt and Mrs. Adella Jogodrinski, both of Niles and Mrs. Doris Anderson of Grand Rapids, and 17 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smtih Funeral Home with the Rev. Wendell A. Cordell, former pastor of the Church of God and the Rev. Steven Barnaby of Greensburg, Pa., officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after noon Tuesday at the funeral home.

 

Ward, Lula K.

Lula Ward
May 28, 1902-Jan. 10, 1978


Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 13, 1978, page 2, col. 4-5, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Mrs. Lula K. Ward, 75, of 657 N. 12th St., died at 8 a.m. Tuesday at her home, following a brief illness.

A member of the First Church of Christ Christian, she was born May 28, 1902 in Huntsville, Mo., and had lived here since 1940, coming from Elgin,Ill.

On Sept. 15, 1920, in Moberly, Mo., she married Victor R. Ward, who died Aug. 31, 1975.

Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Quincy (Virginia) Cummings of Niles; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Joe R. Johnson and the Rev. Jack E. VanArsdell of the First Church of Christ Christian officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and from 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorilas may be made to the Cancer Service of Berrien County.

 

 

 

Warren, Burl

Burl Warren
Aug. 15, 1892-April 30, 1932


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 30, 1932, page 4, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

ALDERMAN WARREN IS STRICKEN ABOUT NOON TODAY AFTER OPERATION

 

Burl Warren, 40, alderman from the Fourth ward, and engaged in the plumbing and heating business for the  past several years died just before noon today at his residence where he had been taken last Wednesday after an operation in Pawating hospital for the removal of the appendix.

Mr. Warren was feeling poorly on April 4 when he served as judge of election at the municipal balloting.  As soon as he had completed the task of counting and tallying the ballots in the fourth ward he went to his . .[illegible]. . His ailment was diagnosed as an affliction of the appendix and an operation was performed on April 5 at Pawating Hospital. It was found by the surgeon that the appendix had broken and a considerable amount of pus had infected the entire system. After being at death's door for several days Mr. Warren rallied and had sufficiently recovered that he was removed last Wednesday  to his home on Grant street.

Only last week his only son Robert fell while playing in the Warren yard and broke one of the bones in an arm.

As a member of the city council Mr. Warren made a reputation for a keen knowledge of the business affairs of the city. He was serving his third term in the city council and held a position on the more important committees.

Mr. Warren is survived by a widow, Mrs. Ilah Miller Warren, by two children, Robert and Rhea and by one sister, Mrs. Logan Van Doran, of Warsaw, Ind.

Mr. Warren was a member of the Evangelical church, was treasurer of the church society and treasurer of the current expense fund of the stewardship board.

The funeral service will be held Tuesday afternoon although the arrangements are not completed.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, May 2, 1932, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

FUNERAL SERVICES FOR BURL WARREN TO BE HELD TUESDAY P.M.

 

Funeral services for Alderman Burl Warren, who died on Saturday about noon in his home at 401 Grant street, will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 in the Evangelical church in West Niles of which he was a member and official. The pastor of the church, the Rev. M.R. Everett, will officiate. Burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery.

The flag over the city hall is at half-mast as a mark of respect to the memory of alderman Warren and in his home many expressions of sympathy are being received by the family of the deceased who was held in high esteem.

Mr. Warren was born in Palestine, Ind., on August 14, 1892. His mother died when he was seven years old and his father also preceded him in death.  He came to Niles 18 years ago to engage in plumbing work as an employe of E.H. Power and later launched into business for himself. His work here was interrupted by the world war he having been in service in a camp in the east.  He was married on March 27 (Easter) 1918 to Miss Ilah Miller, who survives him. He is survived also by two children, Robert, seven, and Rhea, four, and a sister, Mrs. Logan Van Doran, of Warsaw, Ind. He was a member of LaRue Messenger post, American Legion. Mr. Warren had served the Fourth ward as an alderman for seven years having been elected to that office for his first term in 1925 and had been re-elected every two years since.

Mr Warren was a treasurer of the Evangelical church society and also treasurer of the stewardship boards' current expense fund. He was interested in all activities in the church and had recently been interested in the organization of a Boy Scout troop in the church.

 

 

Wetherby, Amelia (Barron)

Amelia Wetherby
March 6, 1843-May 26, 1932


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, May 26, 1932, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Amelia Wetherby, 89, widow of William A. Wetherby, died this morning at 2:15 in her home 403 N. Third street. Mrs. Wetherby was born in Niles and had spent her entire life here and for several years had been Niles oldest native resident. She had lived in the house in which she died for upwards of 50 years. Last December Mrs. Wetherby fell and broke her hip and had since spent much time in a wheeled chair. Her last illness was of but two days duration. In spite of her advanced years and although she enjoyed reading and to do sewing she had never worn glasses.

The funeral services will be held in the home on Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson, rector of Trinity Episcopal church of which she had been a communicant since her youth, will officiate. Burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mrs. Wetherby's maiden name was Amelia Barron, a daughter of Clement and Mary Cutting Barron.  She was born on March 6, 1843. She had for many years been the last member of her family, her only brother, Clement Barron, having died in the '70s. She was married in Niles to William A. Wetherby, a pioneer Niles shoe merchant. He died in 1886. Three children were born to Mr.and Mrs. Wetherby, one, a girl, died in infancy, another daughter, Mrs. Bessie Ringler died six years ago, and the other a son, Barron, survives his mother and made his home with her.  Besides the son, Mrs. Wetherby is survived by two grandchildren, William Barron, of Gardiner, Maine, who is now motoring to Niles for the funeral services,and Dorothy, at home.  Their mother, Mrs. Minnie Groth Wetherby, died 12 years ago.

 

Wiley, Burrell G.

Burrell G. Wiley
Nov. 5, 1889-Dec. 1, 1953


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 2, 1953, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Burrell G. Wiley, 1423 Hickory street, died at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday enroute to a Michigan City, Ind., hospital.  He was taken ill while working as a conductor on a New York Central Railroad Company freight train.

Surviving are his wife, Albina (Betty); one son, Burrell G. Wiley, Jr., of LaPorte, Ind.; two grandsons; one brother, Westley, of Prescott, Ariz., one sister, Mrs. Edith Israel, of Ontario, Calif.

Wiley was born on Nov. 5, 1889, in Quincy, Ill., and came here from Michigan City, Ind., 20 years ago. He was a freight conductor for the New York Central Railroad Company.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday by the Rev. L. George Beacock, Methodist pastor. He was a veteran of World War I, and graveside rites will be conducted by the local American Legion Post at Silverbrook Cemetery.



Wilken, Susie Maxine

Susie Maxine Wilken
May 19, 1913-Dec. 31, 1977


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, January 2, 1978, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Word has been received here of the death Saturday of Susie Maxine Wilken, 64, of Stuart, Fla., formerly of Niles.

She was born May 19, 1913 in Boyne City, and left Niles in 1974.

On June 29, 1934 in Buchanan she married Vern Ernest Wilken, who survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Max and Robert, both of Niles; a brother, Nelson Hawks of Berrien Springs, and five grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m Wednesday at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. Mark Graham of the Wesley United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

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

 

 

Wolf, Charles

Charles Wolf
April 20, 1883-Dec. 16, 1904*


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, December 17, 1904, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

CHARLES WOLF DEAD

Son of Mr.and Mrs. Fred Wolf Passed Away Yesterday Afternoon

 

Charles Wolf, son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Wolf, passed away yesterday afternoon at 3 o'clock at the home of his parents, 707 Union street, aged 21 years.  The young man has been a invalid for a number of years and was a great sufferer.

He leaves besides his parents one brother and four sisters--Fred Wolf and Mrs. Henry Myers of Elkhart; Mrs. John Clark and Mrs. Edward Harvey of Kalamazoo,and Miss Freeda Wolf of this city.

The funeral will take place tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock from the residence, Rev. C.E. Marvin officiating.

 

*From Death Record Charles David Wolf, April 20,1883, Dec. 16, 1904, Burial H.E. Price, Dec. 18,