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.

Hendricks, Mildred (Harvey)

Mildred Hendricks
Dec. 1901-Dec. 10, 1939


Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 11, 1939, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mildred Hendricks, Niles Ex-Resident, Ill Five Years, Dies

 

Mrs. Mildred Hendricks, 38, daughter of Mrs. Edwin Harvey, Niles, dies Sunday in the Jackson sanitarium. She was born in Niles in December, 1901, and had lived in Jackson seven years. Her death terminated five years' illness.

Beside her mother, Mrs. Hendricks leaves a son, Robert, six years old, a grandmother, Mrs. Nina Wolf, Niles; a brother, Kenneth Harvey, Jackson, and a sister, Mrs. Walter Lants, South Bend.

Services will  be Wednesday afternoon at 2:30 in the Price and Kiger funeral chapel. Friends of the family call at Price and Kiger's Tuesday night. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Dittmer, William August

William August Dittmer
Nov. 29, 1881-April 9, 1948


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 10, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

W.A. DITTMER DIES

 

William August Dittmer, 610 Howard street, died at 2:15 p.m. Friday in his home after an illness since May 1945.

He leaves three children, Kenneth, and Mrs. Carl Reum, both of Niles, and Mrs. Stephen Molner, South Bend, and two grandchildren. Also surviving is a sister, Mrs. Bertha Lee, Niles.

Dittmer, who was born Nov. 29, 1881, in Niles, had lived here all his life, and was a retired railroad clerk at the time of his death.

Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday by the Rev. Theo Eisen, pastor of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church, at the Pifer funeral home. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Deditch, Claudine (Horner)

Claudine Deditch
Feb. 7, 1897-Sept. 17, 1964


Niles Daily Star, Friday, September 18, 1964, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Claudine Deditch, 67, of 1197 Huntly Road, died at 5:05 p.m. Thursday in Pawating Hospital, where she had been a patient two days. She had been ill a year.

Mrs. Deditch was born here Feb. 7, 1897, and lived most of her lifetime in the community.

Surviving are her husband, Henry, a son, Dale, Niles; two brothers, Clarence and Everett Horner, both of Niles; three sisters, Mrs. Lucille Deditch, LaPorte, Ind., and Mrs. Albert Felhauer and Mrs. Orville Worvey, both of Niles, and two grandchildren.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday in the Pifer funeral Home. The Rev. John MacLachlan, pastor of her church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the funeral home after noon, Saturday.



Palmer, Clair W.

Clair W. Palmer
July 10, 1923-Sept. 19, 1964


Niles Daily Star, Monday, September 21, 1964, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Clair W. Palmer, 41, owner of Palmer Brothers Moving and Storage Company, 1244 S. 11th St., died at 11:30 a.m. Saturday in Pawating Hospital, where he had been a patient since Sept. 9.

Mr. Palmer, who resided at 2839 S. 3rd St., was born here July 10, 1923, and lived his lifetime in the community.

Surviving are his widow, Gloria; and a son, Larry, and a daughter, Debra, both at home.

He was a member of the South Bend Amateur Radio Club, the Four Flags Amateur Radio Club of Niles and the Niles Chamber of Commerce.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Pifer Funeral Home. The Rev. Harold Asire, pastor of Bertrand Bible Church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

 

Tracey, Iva M.

Iva M. Tracey
May 18, 1891-Sept. 21, 1964


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, September 22, 1964, page 11, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Iva M. Tracey, 73, of 133 Bailey Ave., died at 7:10 p.m. Monday in Buchanan Community Hospital, where she had been a patient for one day. She had been in ill health since April.

Mrs. Tracey was born May 18, 1891, in Decatur, Ind. and came here with her husband, Jay, from Sturgis in 1941.

She is survived by the widower husband, and three sons, Hugh of Homer, Robert and Donald both of Niles; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday at 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 today.

 

Holmer, Walter A.

Walter A. Holmer
Dec. 12, 1920-March 14, 1975


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, March 15, 1975, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Walter A. Holmer, 54, 2318 S. 14th St., was pronounced dead on arrival at Pawating Hospital Friday evening after a sudden illness.

Mr. Holmer, who had lived most of his life in the area, was born Dec. 12, 1920 in Chicago, Ill. On Sept. 17, 1955, he married the former Lillian Beck in Watervliet, where he lived for several years. Mrs. Holmer, who is currently the director of nursing at Pawating Hospital, survives him.

Also surviving are one son, Paul, who is at home, and one brother, Albert, of Coloma.

Mr. Holmer was employed as an electrician with Luzny Electric, Inc. in South Bend.  He was a member of the Plymouth Congregational Church in Watervliet.

A veteran of World War Two, Mr. Holmer was a member of the American Legion LaRue Messenger Post No. 26 in Niles.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time at the Halbritter Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to the Plymouth Congregational Church, Watervliet, Memorial Fund.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 17, 1975, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Funeral services for Walter A. Holmer, 5, of 2318 S. 14th St., who died Friday evening, will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Havery R. Lord of the Plymouth Congregational Church of Watervliet officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 4 p.m. today at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the Plymouth Congregational Church in Watervliet.

 

Cox, Wesley

Wesley Cox
Dec. 14, 1898-March 15, 1975


Niles Daily Star, Friday, March 14, 1975, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Wesley Cox, 76, of 2393 US 12, died suddenly at 3:03 p.m. Thursday on arrival at Pawating Hospital.

An Army veteran of World War I, he was a retired engineer for the Penn Central Railroad.

Born Dec. 14, 1898, in Olive Hill, Ky., he lived in Niles since 1921. On May 4, 1950, he married the former Esther Stuber.

She survives along with two sons, Frank and Lawrence Cox of Niles, two stepsons, William and Larry Rhoads of Niles, a daughter, Mrs. Debbie Smith of Niles, three step daughters, Mrs. Mary True, Mrs. Darlene Meador and Mrs. Sandra Robbins, all of Niles; a brother, William Cox of New Troy, Mich.; a sister, Mrs. Rose Simcox of LaPorte, Ind.; 21 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Funeral services will be held at 3 pm. Saturday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, with the Rev. Ralph Pletcher of Coulter's Chapel Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 3 p.m. Friday at the Funeral home.