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.

Pontious, Charles

Charles Pontious
1876-Dec. 12, 1937


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, December 18, 1937, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Veterans to Honor Canadian Comrade at Funeral Rites

 

Full military rites will be held at 11 o'clock Monday morning in the Rutherford funeral home for Charles Pontius[sic], 60, Canadian World War veteran.

The services will be conducted jointly by the Rev. Harry L. Nicholson, the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign wars, and the Spanish American War Veterans. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

During the World war Mr. Pointius served with the Canadian army and was decorated for distinguished service at the Front.

He died Sunday night in the Berrien county hospital following an extended illness. A former resident of Three Oaks, he had been employed on various farms in Benton township for the last two years.

 

LaPointe, Frank Philip

Frank P. LaPointe
June 18, 1869-Dec. 16, 1937


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, December 16, 1937, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Frank P. LaPointe, Resident of Niles 21 Years, Stricken

 

Frank Philip LaPointe, 68, automobile mechanic and a resident of Niles for the last 21 years, died at 10:45 this morning at his home, 1625 North Fifth street.  His death ended a two months' illness.

For a number of years prior to his illness, Mr. LaPointe had conducted a garage at 223 North Front street. He was born in Conneaut, Ohio, June 18, 1869, and was married in Buffalo to the former Laura Smtih in 1898.

Beside his wife he leaves his 98 year-old father, Eugene LaPointe, Grand Rapids; one son, Elmer, Niles, and one daughter, Mrs. Richard Hamilton, Pittsburgh, Pa.; also three grandchildren.

The body was taken to the Turner and Pifer funeral home, but will be removed to the LaPointe residence later.

Arrangements for the funeral are incomplete.


Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 17, 1937, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

LaPointe Services

 

The Rev. T.O. Lee, of the First Methodist church, will conduct services at 3 o'clock Saturday afternoon for Frank P. LaPointe, 89, in the LaPointe home, 1625 North Fifth street. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Mr. LaPointe, a resident of Niles 21 years, died Thursday morning after a two months illness. Friends may call at the home.


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, December 18, 1937, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

LaPointe Rites Held

 

John Johnson, George Flower, William DeVall, Eugene Williams and Edward and William LaPointe served as pallbearers at 2 o'clock this afternoon during the funeral services of Frank P. LaPointe, 68. The services were held in the LaPointe home, 1625 North Fifth street, with the Rev. T.O. Lee officiating. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery. Mr. LaPointe died at his home Thursday morning.

 

Smith, Calvin C.

Calvin C. Smith
Sept. 21, 1860-Dec. 15, 1937


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 15, 1937, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Brief Illness Fatal to Calvin C. Smith

 

Terminating a brief illness, Calvin C. Smith , 77, of 612 Clay street, died at 6:30 o'clock this morning in Pawating hospital. He entered the hospital at 9 o'clock Tuesday night.

Mr. Smith moved to Niles from Dowagiac about 30 years ago.  He was born in Lakeview Sept. 21, 1860.

Besides his wife, Ada, he leaves two daughters, Mrs. Edna Gunn and Mrs. Thelma Peters, both of Chicago; also one son, William Cudney, Schoolcraft.

The body was taken to the Price and Kiger funeral home where friends may call. Arrangements for the services are incomplete.


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, December 16, 1937, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Smith Services

 

The Rev. A.R. Kuehn, of the First Evangelical church, will conduct funeral services at 11 o'clock Saturday morning in the Price and Kiger funeral home for Calvin C. Smith, 77.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Mr. Smith died Tuesday morning in Pawating hospital following a brief illness.


Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 17, 1937, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Pallbearers Announced

 

Henry Passig, Emil Schrumpf, Carl Shouder, Edwin Fernstahl, Elmer Weltzien and Cleo Miltenberger will serve as pallbearers at 11 o'clock Saturday morning for the funeral of Calvin C. Smith, 77. Services will be conducted in the Price and Kiger funeral home with the Rev. A.R. Kuehn officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, December 18, 1937, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Smith Rites Held

 

Final rites for Calvin C. Smith were conducted at 11 o'clock this morning in the Price and Kiger funeral home by the Rev. A.R. Kuehn. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.  Mr. Smith died Tuesday morning in Pawating hospital following a brief illness.




Williams, William E.

William E. Williams
June 29, 1848-Dec. 15, 1937


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, December 16, 1937, page 2, col. 7-8, microfilm Niles District Library

William E. Williams, Aged Niles Resident, to be Buried Friday

 

William E. Williams, 89, one of Niles' oldest residents, died Wednesday afternoon at his home, 10 North Lincoln avenue. His death terminated an extended illness.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 o'clock Friday afternoon in the Price and Kiger funeral home with William Putnam, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

The son of the late George W. and Elizabeth Williams, Mr. Williams was born in Cass county, June 29, 1848. He was married in 1868 to the former Eleanor Rush of Junata county, Pa.  Mrs. Williams preceded her husband in death.

Mr. Williams leaves four daughters, Mrs. Della Hemminger, Mrs. Ida Bigelow and Mrs. Tuttle, all of Niles., and Mrs. Ella McOmber, Cadillac; also one brother, John Williams, Niles.

Friends may call at the funeral home.


Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 17, 1937, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Williams Rites

 

Final rites for William E. Williams, 89, were conducted at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon in the Price and Kiger funeral home with William Putnam officiating. Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery. Mr. Williams, one of Niles' oldest residents, died Wednesday afternoon at his home, 10 North Lincoln avenue.

 

Schlegel, Karoline (Hildebrande)

Karoline Schlegel
Sept. 28, 1859-Dec. 7, 1937


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 8, 1937, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. K. SCHLEGEL, 78, TAKEN BY DEATH

Resident of Niles in 1890 Dies After Long Illness

 

Terminating a long illness, Mrs. Karoline Schlegel, 78, died at 9 o'clock Tuesday night in Pawating hospital. Mrs. Schlegel's condition became serious last Saturday.

Prior to entering the hospital, she had made her home with her nephew, Herman Bath, 210 Emmons street. She had lived with the family since 1913 following the death of her husband, Gottlob.

The body was taken to the Turner and Pifer funeral home where friends may call until Friday noon at which time it will be removed to St. John's church.

The Rev. Theo Eisen will conduct services in the church at 2 o'clock Friday afternoon. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

The daughter of the late Frederick and Barbara Hildebrande, Mrs. Schlegel was born in Stettin, Germany , Sept. 28, 1859. She came to the United States in 1890 and the same year was married to Gottlob Schlegel. The ceremony was performed in Niles by the late Rev. Frederick Rahn.

Mrs. Schlegel leaves two sisters in England, and a brother and sister in Germany, also a sister, Mrs. P.J. Fisher, Findlay, Ohio, and another  sister, Mrs. Hannah Wolf, Covington, Okla. Several nieces and nephews live in Niles, Ohio and Oklahoma.

 

Goodsell, Louis S.

Louis S. Goodsell
May 30, 1884-Dec. 12, 1937

Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 13, 1937, page 1, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library


LIFELONG RESIDENT OF NILES STRICKEN

Louis S. Goodsell, 53, Ex-Postal Employe, Dies Suddenly

 

Louis S. Goodsell, 53, prominent Niles resident and retired mail carrier, died suddenly at 6 o'clock Sunday morning in Pawating hospital.

Although Mr. Goodsell had been in ill health for the past year his condition did not become critical until 12: 30 o'clock Sunday morning when he suffered a stroke of apoplexy and was rushed to the hospital.

Services Tuesday

The Rev. Guy W. Simon of the First Presbyterian church will conduct funeral services at 2:30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon in the Rutherford funeral home followed by burial in Silverbrook cemetery.

A lifelong resident of Niles, Mr. Goodsell was born here May 30, 1884, the son of the late George M. and Lydia Swartz Goodsell.

Educated  in the Niles public schools he was married to the former Bessie Ausmus, August 18, 1911. The ceremony was performed in Crawfordsville, Ind.

Ex-Postal Employe

For more than 15 years he carried a city mail route retiring voluntarily April 10, 1923. Later he served as manager of the Claude Huff tire shop and more recently was employed as a clerk in the Niles license bureau. He also served as a special deputy under Sheriff Charles E. Miller.

Besides his wife, Mr. Goodsell leaves three sons, George M., Robert L. and Harold Henry, all of Niles; also one sister, Mrs. J.L. Sweet, Chicago; and two brothers, Floyd Goodsell, Niles and Howard Goodsell, Dowagiac.

Friends may call at the Rutherford funeral home.


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 14, 1937, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Goodsell Rites Held


Final rites for Louis S. Goodsell, 53, lifelong resident fo Niles, were conducted at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon in the Rutherford funeral home by the Rev. Guy W. Simon.  Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery. Claude Huff, Lawrence Hastings, Carl Frazee, Maurice McDonald, Alexander Henderson, and Chester Overcash served as pallbearers. Mr. Goodsell died Sunday morning following a stroke of apoplexy.

Roskay, Leland C.

Leland C. Roskay
April. 4, 1907-Oct. 21, 1980


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, October 23, 1980, page 2, co. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Leland C. Roskay, 73, of Port St. Lucie, Fla. formerly of Niles, died at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Lawnwood Medical Center, Ft. Pierce, Fla.

He was the retired owned[sic] of Niles Airways and was airport manager from 1941 until 1975.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, the Moose Lodge, the Niles Elks Lodge, the OX-5 Aviation Pioneers, the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and the Veteran Pilots Assocation[sic].

Mrs. Roskay was born on April 4, 1907 in Niles. He married Mabel Y. Ballard on April 28, 1941 in Elkhart.

His wife survives, as does a daughter, Susan Lee Roskay of Lansing.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. The Rev. Arnold O. Schapp of Edwardsburg will officiate.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

The family requests that memorials may be given to the Niles Community Library.

There will be no visitation. Local arrangements are being handled by the Halbritter Funeral Home.