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.

Morrell, Mary Elizabeth (Dressel)

Mary Morrell, 92
Aug. 23, 1920-Aug. 28, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published online 9:30pm Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Mary Elizabeth Morrell, 92, of Niles, died Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012, at Woodland Terrace in Niles following a brief illness.

She was born Aug. 23, 1920, in Woodworth, Ohio, to Oliver and Vida (Seidner) Dressel.

Mary graduated from Boardman High School in 1938. On July 16, 1944 in Youngstown, Ohio, she married G. Arthur “Art” Morrell, who preceded her in death Jan. 15, 2007. In 1968, the family moved to Niles. Since then, Mary was a long-standing member and active volunteer at Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles. She volunteered at the former Powating Hospital Coffee Bar, was treasurer with Love Inc. and played bridge.

Mary is survived by her daughter, Marjorie Berkheiser of Mishawaka, Ind.; sons, Jeffery A. (Dorian) Morrell of Pt. Jefferson Station, N.Y., Ned O. (Linda) Morrell of Batavia, Ohio, Gary A. (Carol) Morrell; seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Along with husband Art, she is preceded in death by brother, Oliver Dressel, and sister, Julia Freeberg.

The funeral service for Mary Elizabeth Morrell will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, at the Wesley United Methodist Church with the Rev. Cathi Huvaere of the church officiating. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Friday at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles from 5 to 8 p.m.

Contributions in memory of Mary may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church, Niles.

Beehler, Charles P. 1869-1930

Charles P. Beehler
Aug. 13, 1869-March 17, 1930


Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 17, 1930, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

CHARLES P. BEEHLER, 60, DIES AFTER INJURY

Former Cass County Farmer Passes Away as Result of Severe Fall

Charles Peter Beehler, 60, a Cass county farmer for many years before moving to Niles about six years ago and taking up his residence at 1231 Oak street, died this morning at 11:15 in Pawating hospital where he was taken last Thursday after he had fallen while at his farm on Yankee street and broken one of his hip bones.  Mr. Beehler had been in ill health for about four years and the shock of thie fall and the complications which arose proved fatal.

Mr. Beehler was born in Madison township, St. Joseph county, Indiana on August 13, 1869.  He moved to Michigan 37 years ago. He was married in Niles to Mary Reum of Niles who survives him.  Besides his widow, he is survived by three children, Walter and Harry Beehler who live on the Beehler farm on Yankee street, and Mrs. George Reid, 1213 Oak street.  Six brothers, all of Mishawaka, also survive.  The brothers are Phillip, Jacob, Joseph, Peter, Adam and Fred.

Mr. Beehler was a prominent member of St. John's Evangelical church and had served as an officer of the church council.

The funeral plans are not completed.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, March 18, 1930, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: FUNERAL CHARLES BEEHLER

Funeral services for Charles Beehler will be held on Thursday afternoon. The body will be taken to the Beehler farm home on Yankee street this evening. On Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock a service will be held in the home and at 2:30 a service will be held in st. John's Evangelical church. The Rev. G.W. Webbink, pastor of the church, will officiate. The body will be placed in the mausoleum in Silver Brook cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, March 20, 1930, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: FUNERAL CHAS. BEEHLER

Funeral services for Charles Beehler were held this afternoon. After a service at the Beehler farm home on Yankee street, a service was held in St. John's Evangelical church, with the Rev. G.W. Webbink officiating. Mr. and Mrs. Rex Leach sang. The body was placed in the mausoleum in Silver Brook cemetery.

 

 

 



Brock, Willis John

Willis John Brock
Aug. 25, 1938-Aug. 26, 1938


Niles Daily Star, Friday, August 26, 1938, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Willis John Brock Services Saturday

 

Funeral services for Willis John Brock, infant son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Brock, R. 4, Niles, will be held at 10:30 o'clock Saturday morning in the Rutherford funeral home.

The infant died five hours after birth at 10:30 o'clock Thursday night in Pawating hospital. It was the Brock's only child.

 

Delibac, Moses

Moses Delibac
1865-Aug. 22, 1938


Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 22, 1938, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library


MOSES DELIBAC, 73, SUCCUMBS IN HOME

Death Follows Illness of Six Years; Services Wednesday

 

Ill more than six years, Moses Delibac, died at 8:50 o'clock this morning in his home, 1334 Pheonix[sic] street, he was 73 years old.

A former employe of the Kawneer company, Mr. Delibac had lived in Niles for the last 16 years.  He moved here from Akely, Minn.

Mr. Delibac was twice married, the first time to Emaline Shaffer in Kankakee, Ill., July 14, 1884. Later he was married to Mary Pecore in Waynesville, Ill., Oct. 26, 1902.

He leaves his wife, Mary; two sons, Walter, Niles, and Willis, Buchanan; one daughter, Mrs. Darcy Salisbury, Niles, and two step-children, Edward Turtle,and Mrs. George Moon, Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon in the Rutherford funeral home. The Rev. T.O. Lee will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home.


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 23, 1938 page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

DELIBAC RITES


Edward Zimmerman, Edward Miller, Roy Wager, DeVern Asmus, Dale Hull and Dewin Dunn will serve as pallbearers at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon for the funeral of Moses Delibac, 73. The Rev. T.O. Lee, will conduct the services int he Rutherford funeral home. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Mr. Delibac died Monday morning in his home, 1334 Phoenix street.

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, August 24, 1938 page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

DELIBAC RITES HELD


The Rev. T.O. Lee conducted funeral services for Moses Delibac, 73, at 2 o'clock this afternoon in the Rutherford funeral home. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery. Edward Zimmerman, Edward Miller, Roy Wager, DeVern Asmus, Dale Hull and Edwin Dunn served as pallbearers.

Evans, Derick Lee

Derick Lee Evans
Jan. 3, 1984-Oct. 23, 1987


Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 26, 1987, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Derick Lee Evans, 3, 205 E. Indiana St., South Bend, Ind., died at about 1 p.m. Friday in an accident on Sample Street in South Bend.

He was a lifetime resident of the area who was born Jan. 3, 1984 in South Bend.

Surviving are his father, Julio Arraga of Florida; his mother, Mary Dean Evans, home; grandparents, Mr.and Mrs. Columbus Evans, South Bend; and a brother, Adrian Evans, Home.

Services are at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home with Rev. Silas Anderson, St. Paul's Church of God in Christ, South Bend, officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

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

 

Gephart, Rodger F.

Rodger F. Gephart
Dec. 14, 1887-July 16, 1950


Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 17, 1950, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Rodger Fred Gephart, 62, former Niles resident, died at 11 p.m. Sunday in Marion, Ind., after an illness of two months. He had been active in real estate dealings here.

He was born Dec. 14, 1887, in Niles, and moved to Marion when. . [illegible]. .  .

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home. The Rev. Percy D. Jones will conduct services at the funeral home at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Gilbert, Frank

Frank Gilbert
July 17, 1915-Aug. 6, 1938


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, August 6, 1938, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles Boy Killed, 3 Hurt as Speeding Car Strikes Truck Near Indian Lake

Frank Gilbert Victim of Fatal Crash This Morning

Injured in Hospital

Truck Driver Claims to Have Misjudged Auto's Speed

 

One Niles youth was killed and his three companions injured when a speeding car crashed into a truck on the Indian lake road at 12:30 this morning.

The dead:

Frank Gilbert, 23, of 19 North Fourth street, Niles.

The injured:

Chester York, 24, 122 1/2 North Front street, driver of the car, jaw and thigh     fractures, punctured chest;

Anna Schultz, 18, Dowagiac, jaw and skullfractures, bruises;

Kathryn Rife, 18, Dowagiac, Possible fracture of spine and pelvis.

All of the injured are in Lee Memorial hospital, Dowagiac, with about an even chances for recovery.

Truck Driver Unhurt

James Gallinger, Sodus, truck driver, and Joseph Flamenbaum, owner of the truck, escaped injury.

The accident occurred two miles west of Dowagiac when Gallinger attempted a left turn in front of the speeding York car. The young people were en route from Indian lake to Dowagiac when the fatal crash occurred.

Dr James Kelsey, Cass coroner, could not be reached this morning for information on a possible inquest. Cass county sheriff's department has no record of any arrests in connection with the accident.

Home on Furlough

Young Gilbert was in Niles visiting his parents, Mr. and Mrs. L.M. Gilbert. He was on furlough from the U.S. Aviation Corps headquarters at Chanute Field, Rantoul, Ill. He came to Niles Friday and joined his parents at Indian lake where they are vacationing.  He met York at a dance and the two were taking the girls to Dowagiac when the fatal crash occured[sic].  Gilbert and York were in the front seat, the girls in the rear seat of the car.

Gallinger, driver of the truck, said he believed he had time to make the left turn but misjudged the speed of the approaching car.

Gilbert's body was brought to the Rutherford funeral home. Services will be held there Monday.

Before coming to Niles Friday he had passed tests as a radio operator in the Air Corps of the United States army and was to have been graduated Aug. 19. He had been stationed at Rantoul since his enlistment Dec. 23, 1936.

Gilbert was born in Paw Paw, July 17, 1915. He came to Niles with his parents 12 years ago. He leaves his parents, three brothers, Norman, Leroy and Donald, and one sister, Mrs. Max Albright, Niles.

Friends of the family may call at the Rutherford funeral home.


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