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.

Radewald, Edward H.

Edward H. Radewald
June 1, 1900-Feb. 16, 1960


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, February 17, 1960, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Edward H. Radewald,  59, 527 Cass St., died at 3:20 p.m. Tuesday on arrival at Pawating Hospital, after suffering a heart attack while trimming a tree in his yard.

Mr. Radewald, a former employe of Studebaker Packard Corp., South Bend, was born on June 1, 1900, in the home on 527 Cass St., He is survived by a brother, Ray S. Radewald, also of 527 Cass St.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Kiger and Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Herbert Meussling, pastor of St. John's United Church of Christ (Evangelical and Reformed), officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

 

Walton, Mary

Mary Walton
Dec. 27, 1874-Feb. 10, 1960


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, February 11, 1960, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Silverbrook Cemetery for Mrs. Byron (Mary) Walton, 85, Aberdeen, S.D. , who died Wednesday in South Dakota.  The Rev. John P. MacLaclan, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, will officiate.

Mrs. Walton was born Dec. 27, 1874, in LaFayette, Ind., and is survived by a son, Robert Noble Walton, Chicago. Her husband preceded her in death in 1950.

The body is to be removed from a funeral home in Aberdeen to the Pifer Funeral Home, Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, February 12, 1960, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

The Rev. John P. MacLachlan, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, will read graveside rites at 11 a.m. Monday at Silverbrook Cemetery for Mrs. Byron (Mary) Walton, 85, who died Wednesday in Aberdeen, N.D. It was erroneously stated in a previous announcement of the death that services were to be held for Mrs. Robert Walton.

 

Kelly, Marvel (Marks)

Marvel Kelly, 95
March 20, 1917-July 5, 2012

Kelly

 

Niles Daily Star, Published online 5:07pm Sunday, July 8, 2012

Marvel L. Kelly, 95, of Lewis Drive in Niles, died at 1:50 p.m. Thursday, July 5, 2012, at Silverbrook Manor in Niles following a brief illness.

Mrs. Kelly was born on March 20, 1917, in South Bend, Ind., to Clyde and Agnes (Clabaugh) Marks. Her family moved from South Bend to a farm, south of Plymouth, in 1930. She graduated from Plymouth High School in 1935.

After graduation, she moved to Niles and worked at Simplicity Pattern Company and Riveridge Nursing Home. She also assisted in her husband’s real estate business, Heritage Realty.

Marvel was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Niles. She enjoyed flower gardening.

On July 30, 1937, in Niles, she married Walter L. Kelly, who preceded her in death on Jan. 30, 1977.

Mrs. Kelly is survived by her sons, David B. (Doris) Kelly, of Niles, and Larry W. (Marcie) Kelly, of Saint Joseph; grandchildren, Jeremy and Susana Kelly, Tara (Jim) O’Laughlin, and Ryan (Laura) Kelly; great-grandchildren, Kyle, Erin and Brendan O’Laughlin, and Rachel and Megan Kelly; and sister, June Marks, of South Bend.

In addition to her husband, she was also preceded in death by her brother, Harold Marks, and sister, Helen Chizum.

The funeral service for Marvel will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 9, 2012, at Halbritter Funeral Home, in Niles, with Dr. Anthony Tomasino, of Grace United Methodist Church, and the Rev. Colin Seitz, of Community Evangelical Free Church, officiating.

Committal services will be at 2 p.m. Monday graveside at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Marvel may be made to Grace United Methodist Church, or to the Berrien County Cancer Service.

Woodward, Claud S.

Claud S. Woodward
Oct. 3, 1884-Feb. 17, 1960


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, February 18, 1960, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Claud S. Woodward, 75, 1105 Stateline Rd., died Wednesday morning in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, following a lingering illness.

Mr. Woodward, a retired employe of Roach Appleton manufacturing Co., South Bend, where he had worked for 16 years, was born Oct. 3, 1884, in Bonham, Tex., and came to Niles in 1936 from Denison, Tex. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Niles and the Men's Bible Class of the church.

Surviving are his widow, Jessie, several nieces and nephews, and two sisters, Mrs.Kelly Brown, Muskogee, Okla. and Mrs. J.S. Colley, Kerrville, Tex.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. Earl J. Wickstrom, pastor of the First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home.

 

Ausmus, Leon

Leon Ausmus
Nov. 26, 1905-March 1, 1933


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 1, 1933, page 1, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

LEON ASMUS, 27, DIES AFTER BRIEF ILLNESS

Passes Away at Hospital At an Early Hour This Morning

 

Leon Ausmus, 1518 N. Twelfth street, 27, died in Pawating hospital this morning at 4:15 after a brief illness with pneumonia. He was entered in the hospital at 5:30 last evening after his condition suddenly had become alarming.

Mr. Ausmus was born in Niles on November 26, 1905, a son of Mr. and Mrs. George L. Ausmus, 1518 N. Twelfth street.  He had spent his entire life in Niles. He was married seven years ago to Freeda Koomler of Plymouth, Ind., who survives him.  Besides the widow, he is survived by one son, Leon,Jr. age six years, by his parents, by one sister, Dorothy, and . . .[illegible] all of Niles. Mr. and Mrs. William Knott of Lake street are the maternal grandparents of the deceased and Mrs. Charles Ausmus is his grandmother. His grandfather, Charles Ausmus, died last December.

Mr. Ausmus was employed for several years by the Michigan Central Railroad company and recently by the Simplicity Pattern company in Niles.

The funeral services will be held in the home on Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The Rev. G.W. Simon, pastor of the Presbyterian church, will officiate. Burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Grafford, Loretta Leola

Loretta Leola Grafford
Jan. 31, 1914-Feb. 13, 1933


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 14, 1933, page 3, col. 6-8, microfilm Niles District Library

MISS LORETTA GRAFFORD IS STRICKEN AT HOME

Dies after illness Lasting Since Before Mid-Year Holidays

 

Miss Loretta Leola Grafford, 19, daughter of George W. Grafford, assistant road master of the Michigan Central Railroad company, and Mrs. Grafford, died in their home last evening at 10:30 after having been ill since before Christmas. The death of Miss Grafford last evening followed that of her sister, Grace, 20, within less than a year, the latter having died on March 20, 1932. Much sympathy is felt for Mr.and Mrs. Grafford and their family in the loss of the two daughters.   The brief lapse of time between their deaths deepens their sorrow.

Miss Grafford was born in Porter, Ind., on Jan. 31, 1914. The family came to Niles when she was a small girl. She began her education in the kindergarten grades of the Niles public schools and received her entire education here with the exception of two years when the family lived in Michigan City, having returned to that city in accordance with Mr. Grafford's plan of work. Nine years ago the family again moved to Niles and have since resided here. Miss Grafford was graduated last June from the Niles High school. Last April her health began to fail but after an operation she was able to continue her studies. However, since before Christmas she had been confined to her bed. Her nineteenth birthday anniversary a week ago today was an occasion for more than 40 friends to remember her with flowers and greeting cards.

Miss Grafford is survived by her parents, by two brothers and two sisters, Russell and William Grafford, Mrs. Cleland Pirdy and Vivian Grafford, all of Niles. an d by her grandmother, Mrs. Jennie Rogers, of Mishawaka, Ind.

The funeral services will be held in the home on Thursday afternoon at 3 o'clock. The Rev. G.W. Simon, pastor of the Presbyterian church, will officiate. Burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Brydon, George E.

George E. Brydon
Aug. 12, 1871-Feb. 9, 1933


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, February 9, 1933, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

GEORGE BRYDON DIES AFTER SHORT ILLNESS

One of Janitors at Central Building is Stricken Early Today

 

George E. Brydon, 61, a janitor at the Central school for three years died this morning at 7:45 in his home, 901 Cherry street, after a brief illness.  Mr. Brydon went to his work on Tuesday morning as usual and after having worked about two hours he complained of illness and returned to his home. His illness diagnosed as gall  bladder trouble progressed steadily to a fatal termination.

Mr. Brydon was born in Chatsworth, Ill., on  August 12, 1871. He was married to May Engser on June 3, 1896. The came to Niles from Whitney, Kans., in 1922 and had since lived here. Mr. Brydon is survived by a widow and one son, Ray, of Niles, by three brothers, Wesley, of Chatsworth, Ill., Frank of Monroe City, Mo., and A.I. Brydon, of Milford, Ind., and by two sisters, Mrs. Charles Galbraith, of Remington, Ind., and Mrs. Edith Smith of Chatsworth.

Mr. Brydon was jaintor[sic] at the Ferry street school for one year before being transferrred to the Central school three years ago.

The funeral plans have not been completed waiting word from relatives out of the city. The body is at the Rutherford Funeral Home.


Niles Daily Star, Friday, February 10, 1933, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral George Brydon


Funeral services for George Brydon, 901 Cherry street, who died yesterday morning after a brief illness, will be held on Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the Rutherford Funeral home. The Rev. Robert Meader, pastor of the Methodist church, will officiate.  Burial will be made in Silverbrook cemetery.  Mr. Brydon was engaged in his work at the Central school as a janitor when stricken with illness yesterday morning.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 13, 1933, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral George Brydon


Funeral services for George Brydon who died on Thursday morning after a brief illness were held this afternoon. The Rev. Robert Meader conducted the services.  Burial was made in Silverbrook cemetery.  Albert Miller and the following employes of the Niles Board of Education  at Central school where Mr. Brydon had been empoyed[sic] as janitor for several years were pallbearers: John Johnson, George Hendershot, Hudson Kirk, Wallace Vaugn and Dillard Tice