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.

Huffman, John Cleo

John Cleo Huffman
March 25, 1954


Niles Daily Star, Friday, March 26, 1954, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

John Cleo Huffman was still born at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Plainwell to Mr. and Mrs. Cleo Huffman, 1434 Eagle street.

Surviving besides his parents are two sisters, Rose Ann and Helen Shirley, and one brother, Lawrence, at home.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home this evening. Committal services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Silverbrook Cemetery, with John W. Kinner, pastor of the First Church of Christ, presiding.

 

Lachman, Daniel

Daniel Lachman
Dec. 29, 1876-April 30, 1954


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, May 1, 1954, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Daniel Lachman, 77, of 210 North Seventh street, retired New York Central Railroad employe, died at 4:30 p.m Friday at his home following an illness of 16 years.

Lachman was born Dec. 29, 1876, in Russia and came to Niles in 1920 from Ohio. He was a member of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church here and of the Brotherhood of [illegible]

Surviving are: his wife, Pauline, two daughters, Mrs. Alvin Witt, Elkhart, Ind., and Mrs. Henry Merritt, Niles, and three grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 p.m., Monday in St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church with the pastor, the Rev. H.A. Meussling, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home here.

 

Lardner, Henry

Henry Lardner
July 31, 1879-March 5, 1954


Niles Daily Star, Friday, March 5, 1954, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Henry Lardner, Ex-Treasurer, Dies Today

 

Henry Lardner, 518 South Third Street, city treasurer of Niles in the early 1900s and brother of the late Ring Lardner, died at 6:30 a.m. today in his home. He had been ill five weeks. Lardner's parents were pioneers in Berrien County.

His wife, Kathryn, died in 1939. Surviving are one daughter, Miss Ellen Lardner, Niles; two sons, Fred W. , of Washington, D.C., and George E. Lardner, of New York city, and two sisters, Miss Lena Lardner, Niles, and Mrs. R.G. Tobin, of Douglaston, N.Y.

His grandfather, the Rev. Joseph Phillips, formerly was a pioneer rector of Trinity Episcopal Church for a number of years.  Another daughter, Atty. Katherine Lardner, died in 1935 in Chicago.

Lardner was born on July 31, 1870, In Glendale, O., and was graduated from the University of Michigan in 1891. He was a member of the Emeritus Club of the university, an honor organization for U. of M. graduates of 50 years or more.

He practiced as an attorney in Duluth, Minn., and operated the firm of Lardner and Middlekoff for a number of years. He moved to Niles and worked in the Post Office here until he retired in 1936.  Lardner was a Republican, and a member of the Niles Elks Lodge, Trinity Episcopal Church and of the Men's Club of Trinity Church.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home.  Services will be announced later.


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, March 6, 1954, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Lardner Rites Set

Funeral services for Henry Lardner, 518 South Third street, who died Friday in this home, will be held at 2 p.m. Monday in Trinity Episcopal Church with the rector, the Rev. John G. Carlton officiating.  Burial will be in the family lot in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Lardner's two sons, George of New York City and Fred of Washington, D.C. are in the city to attend rites.  A niece, Mrs. Stewart Tautphaus Green of Mount Clemens, also is in the city.

 

Lardner, Ruhamah Finley

Ruhamah Finley Lardner
Aug. 10, 1865-April 12, 1954


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 14, 1954, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Ruhamah Finley Lardner, formerly of Niles, died Monday night in St. Luke Hospital, Duluth, Min.

Mrs. Lardner was born Aug. 10, 1865, in Niles. She was married in 1895 to William P. Lardner, who died in 1950 in Duluth.  She was head of the Women's Naval Service of Duluth and an active member of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral there.

The body will arrive in Niles Thursday noon and funeral services will be held at 2 p.m.Thursday in Trinity Church with the rector, the Rev. John G. Carlton, officiating. Burial will be in the family lot at Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

McMiller, Blanche

Blanche McMiller
Nov. 22, 1897-April 20, 1954


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 21, 1954, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Blanche McMiller, 2506 Lake street, died 8:40 a.m. Tuesday at Pawating Hospital. She had been ill about a week.

Surviving are her husband, Albert, and the following children by a previous marriage, Lester Peryslan, U.S. Army, stationed in Germany, Lawrence, in California, Miles, in Chicago, and Mrs. Oreal Cooper, Floyd, and Mrs. Margaret Hiler, all of Niles, and 12 grandchildren.

Mrs. McMiller was married[sic] Nov. 22, 1897, in Iowa and came here from Chicago a number of years ago.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday by the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, Presbyterian pastor, Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, April 12, 1954, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Services for Mrs. Blanche McMiller, 2506 Lake street, have been changed from 2 to 1:30 p.m. Friday at the Pifer Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mrs. McMiller was born on Nov. 22, 1897, rather than married on that date.



McWilliams, Lora B. (Wilhelm)

Lora B. McWilliams
April 23, 1870-May 1, 1954


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, May 1, 1954, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Lora B. McWilliams, 82, of 1424 Regent street, died at 1:10 a.m. today in the Quick Rest Home, where she had been a patient since Oct. 30, 1953.

Mrs. McWilliams was born in Peru, Ind., and came to Niles 30 years ago from Michigan City, Ind. Her husband, George, preceded her in death.

Surviving are two brothers, Lane Wilhelm, Michigan City, and Sanford Wilhelm, Fort Worth, Tex.

Funeral services will be held at 4 p.m. Monday in the Kiger Funeral Home here with Elder L.C. Caviness of the Seventh-day Adventist Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

 

Pierce, David Vaughan

David Vaughan Pierce
April 22, 1954


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, April 2, 1954, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

David Vaughan Pierce was stillborn at 1 a.m. today at Pawating Hospital to Mr.and Mrs. Glen Pierce, 2212 North Fifth street.

Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Martin F. Pierce, of Dowagiac, and also surviving is one brother, Thomas Garth Pierce, at home.

A prayer service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. John G. Carlton, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery