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.

Johnson, Fannie Mae

editor Obituaries

Fannie Mae Johnson
May 20, 1892-Aug. 24, 1956

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, August 25, 1956, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Fannie Mae Johnson, 64, of 2601 North Fifth Street, died at 2:35 pm. Friday in Pawating Hospital following an extended period of poor health.

Mrs. Johnson, a member of the Daughters of America here, was born May 20, 1892, in Elliott County,Ky., and came to Niles 54 years ago from Wolverine, Mich.

Surviving are her husband, William; her father, Frank Adkins, of Sandyhook, Ky.; two sons, Emerson and Homer Vaughn, both of Niles; three daughters, Mrs. Herman Kroll, of Edwardsburg; Mrs. Harold Linter, of Buchanan, and Mrs. Joseph Howard, of Niles; four brothers, Alvin, Ollie, Willie and Thomas Adkins, all of Kentucky; two sisters, Miss Cora Adkins of Kentucky, and Mrs. Stella Eldridge, of Palestine, Ark.; 15 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 pm. , Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. Ray McCoy, pastor of the First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

Ranft, Mary

editor Obituaries

Helen and Mary Ranft
Sept. 3, 1956

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, September 4, 1956, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Twin Girls Stillborn

Committal rites were held at 11 a.m. today at Silverbrook cemetery for Helen and Mary Ranft, twin daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ranft, of 723 Brown Street, who were stillborn Monday afternoon at Pawating Hospital. Surviving besides the parents are: two sisters, Rene and Rebecca, both at home, and the grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Ranft, of Niles, and Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Kanizaro, of Vicksburg, Miss.

Ranft, Helen

editor Obituaries

Helen and Mary Ranft
Sept. 3, 1956

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, September 4, 1956, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Twin Girls Stillborn

Committal rites were held at 11 a.m. today at Silverbrook cemetery for Helen and Mary Ranft, twin daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Ranft, of 723 Brown Street, who were stillborn Monday afternoon at Pawating Hospital. Surviving besides the parents are: two sisters, Rene and Rebecca, both at home, and the grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Ranft, of Niles, and Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Kanizaro, of Vicksburg, Miss.

Ristau, Henry G.

editor Obituaries

Henry G. Ristau
Sept. 7, 1892-Aug. 18, 1956

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, August 18, 1956, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Henry G. Ristau, 63, of 513 North 14th Street, died at 8:40 a.m. today in Pawating hospital after an illness of three weeks.

Ristau was born in Chicago, Sept 7, 1892, and came to Niles from Michigan City, Ind., 37 years ago. He was a passenger engineer on the New York Central Railroad.

Survivors are: his widow, Gertrude; one son, Robert of Niles; two grandchildren, and two sisters, Mrs. Julius Krieger of Gary, Ind., and Mrs. William Schroll of Niles.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home where arrangements are incomplete.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 20, 1956, page 2, col.4-5, microfilm Niles District Library

RISTAU RITES SET

Funeral services will be held at the Pifer Funeral Home Tuesday for Henry G. Ristau, 63, of 513 North 14th Street, who died early Saturday in Pawating Hospital. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Ristau was a member of the Niles Elks, St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4 F.and A.M., Tall Cedars, Benevolent Order of Locomotive Engineers and Benevolent Order of Locomotive Firemen and Engineers.

 

Thompson, Jessie H.

editor Obituaries

Jessie H. Thompson
Feb. 2, 1883-Nov. 1970

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, November 28, 1970, page 2, col. 4-5, microfilm Niles District Library

NILAS[sic]--Private graveside services for Mrs. Jessie H. Thompson, 87, a former Niles resident are scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at Silverbrook Cemetery, with the Rev. Arlan E. Schlundt of St. John's United Church of Christ officiating.

Mrs. Thompson, who resided in Chesterton, Ind., at the time of her death, was born Feb. 2, 1883 in St. Joseph, Mich., later moved to Niles. She moved to Michigan City, Ind. with her husband, Royal Thompson and from there the couple moved to Chesterton in 1934. Her husband died in 1936.

Mrs. Thompson is survived by a son, John, of Michigan City.

 

Villwock, Emil W.

editor Obituaries

Emil W. Villwock
Aug. 6, 1884-Nov. 27, 1970

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, November 28, 1970, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Funeral services for Emil W. Villwock, 86, of Bry-Fern Nursing Home, Berrien Center, who died Friday  are scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday at the Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery

The Rev. Arlan E. Schlundt of St. John's United Church of Christ will officiate at the services. Friends may call beginning Sunday at the funeral home.

Mr. Villwock, a retired farmer and former resident of Niles, was born Aug. 6, 1884 in Russia. He came to Niles in 1900 after living in St. Joseph.

He married the former Minnie B. Priebe Sept . 26, 1914 in Niles, She died in 1963.

He is survived by three sons, Max and Lester of Niles and Albert of Berrien Springs; two daughters, Mrs. John Gold of Niles and Mrs. Henry Villwock of Berrien Springs; 13 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

 

Walter, John A. Sr.

editor Obituaries

John A. (Jack) Walter, Sr.
Died Jan. 14, 1965

Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 15, 1965, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

John A. (Jack) Walter, Sr., formerly of the Sodus-Berrien Center area, died Thursday morning in his home in Muncie, Ind.

He moved to Muncie from this area in 1933, and retired in 1949 following 47 years' service as a freight agent of the New York Central Railroad.

Survivors include a son, Jack Walter III, and two grandchildren, all of Muncie.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday in the Meeks Funeral Home, Muncie. Interment will follow at 2:30 p.m. in Silverbrook Cemetery mausoleum here.

 

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