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.

Ramsby, Zella (Gridley)

Zella Ramsby (Gridley)
April. 29, 1875-Nov. 19, 1961


Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 20, 1961, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Zella Ramsby, 86, 510 N. 5th St., died at 10:30 a.m. Sunday in her home after several years of illness.

She was born April 29, 1875 in Richland. On Oct. 18, 1898, she was married to Casper Ramsby. In June of 1945, she moved to Niles from Cleveland, Ohio.  Her father, the late George E. Gridley, was one of the guards of honor over President Lincoln's body while it lay in state in Washington and Baltimore in 1865.

Surviving besides her husband are a son, G. Russell Ramsby, Niles; and a daughter, Miss Virginia G. Ramsby, Niles; two grandsons and three great-grandchildren.

Private funeral services will be held at the Kiger-Halbritter Funeral Home, Tuesday at 2 p.m.  Rev. John P. MacaLachlan, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, of which she was a member, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

Mark, Peggye Lynn

Peggye Lynn Mark
Nov. 17, 1961-Nov. 18, 1961


Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 20, 1961, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Graveside services were held this morning at Silverbrook Cemetery for Peggye Lynn Mark, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Mark, 1737 Cass St., with the Rev. Fred T. Smith, pastor of the South Niles Church, officiating.

The infant, born Friday, died at 8 a.m. Saturday at Pawating Hospital.

Surviving, in addition to her parents, are the paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Mark, M-40 N., the maternal grandfather, Velter Miller, Smithville, Tenn.; and the maternal grandmother, Mrs. Gentry Evans, Barron Lake Road.

 

 

 

Poort, Edward H.

Edward H. Poort
March 28, 1904-Nov. 12, 1961


Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 13, 1961, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Edward H. Poort, 57, 1638 Huron St., died at 2:41 p.m. Sunday . .[illegible] . . . Hospital. He had been in poor health for the last six months.

Mr. Poort was born March 28, 1904 in Muskegon, and on Oct. 31, 1952 was married to Mildred Ellis in Niles. A resident of Niles for the last 30 years, he was employed by the Kawneer Co. He also was a member of the First Evangelical United Brethren Church.

Surviving besides his wife are four daughters: Mrs. Willard Palen Jr., New Buffalo; Mrs. Alene Sheeley and Miss Eda Poort, both of Niles, and Mrs. Maurice Riggs, Dowagiac; two sons, Robert Ellis and Daniel L. Ellis, both of Niles; a sister, Mrs. Dena Carney, Muskegon; four brothers: Henry, Richard and Casey Poort, all of Muskegon and Herman Poort, Jackson, and nine grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the EUB Church, with the Rev. Gordon Everett, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call at the Smith Funeral Home, New Buffalo, from 7 p.m. today until 9 a.m. Wednesday, and then after 10 a.m. Wednesday at the church.


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, November 14, 1961, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

SERVICES WEDNESDAY

Funeral services will be held Wednesday in the First Evangelical United Brethren Church here for Edward H. Poort, 57, 1638 Huron St., who died Sunday. He and his widow, Mildred Elllis Poort, were married on Oct. 31, 1942, in Niles. The wedding date had been reported as 1952 in a previous announcement of the death.

 

Hulce, Clara Price

Clara Price Hulce
Nov. 15, 1874-Nov. 13, 1961


Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 13, 1961, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Clara Price Hulce, 85, 507 N. 5th St., retired Niles elementary public school teacher, died at 1:17 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital, where she had been a patient for three days.

Mrs. Hulce was born in Niles Nov. 15, 1874, and spent her lifetime here. She was graduated from the University of Chicago and Cleary Business College at Ypsilanti and . . .[illegible]. .. She taught kindergarten and first grade at the former Eagle Street School, retiring in 1930.

She was one of the first members of the First Presbyterian Church, joining in 1902. She was active in the Women's Association of the church, was a member of the What-so-Ever Class, and taught Sunday school for 28 years.

She also was a charter member and first president of the Progress Club and held memberships in the Niles Branch of the American Association of University Women, Business and Professional Women's Club, order of Eastern Star, Bend of the River Grange and the United Spanish American War Veterans Auxiliary, of which she was a past president.

Her husband, Fred T. Hulce, died May 27, 1956.

Surviving are a son, Ray Hulce, 1622 Cedar St.; four grandchildren, and a brother, Frank J. Treiber Sr., Winn Road.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the First Presbyterian Church with the pastor, the Rev. John P. MacLachlan, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home from 7 p.m. today to noon Wednesday.

 

Dick, Amelia R.

Amelia R. Dick
July 16, 1892-Nov. 3, 1961


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, November 4, 1961, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Amelia R. Dick, 69, 3030 Pine Lake Road, died at 1:45 p.m. Friday in her home following an illness of eight years.

Mrs. Dick was born July 16, 1892, in Ohio and had lived in the Niles community for many years.

Surviving are: her husband, C. W. Dick; three sons, John Huss, Gobles, Andrew Huss, Cassopolis, and Roy Dick, Grant Street; 12 grandchildren; six great grandchildren; a  brother, Earl Dick, Bertrand, and a sister, Mrs. Oral Herman, Buchanan.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Monday in the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. Cecil Scott, pastor of Pokagon Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery . Friends may call at the funeral home.

 

Klopfenstein, Herman R.

Herman R. Klopfenstein
Dec. 28, 1895-Oct. 31, 1961


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 1, 1961, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Herman R. Klopfenstein, 65, route six (Yankee Street), was dead on arrival at Pawating Hospital at 9:45 a.m. Tuesday after being stricken ill at Silverbrook Cemetery, where he was employed.

Mr. Kolpfenstein was born Dec. 28, 1895, in Elkhart, Ind., and lived most of his lifetime here.

Surviving are: his widow, Margaret; three sons, Clayton Klopfenstein, 2717 Horton Court; Gorden Klopfenstein, 2254 White St., and Dale Klopfenstein, route two, Edwardsburg; four daughters, Mrs. Dora Hase, 1812 Cass St.; Mrs. Pat Cates, 1937 S. 13th St., ; Mrs. Richard Brown, 222 S. 15th St. and Miss Charlotte Klopfenstein, at home; 13 grandchildren, and two sisters, Mrs. Mary Anderson, 523 S. 5th St.,and Mrs. Pearl Chamberlain, Berrien Springs.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Harold Lewis, pastor of Bible Baptist Church of Augusta, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home.

 

Zehner, Floradean G.

Floradean G. Zehner
Aug. 12, 1919-Oct. 29, 1961


Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 30, 1961, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Floradean G. Zehner, 42, 311 Parker St., Dowagiac, formerly of Niles, died early Sunday in Lee Memorial Hospital, Dowagiac, following an illness of several months.

Mrs. Zehner was born Aug. 12, 1919, in Niles, and had lived in Niles and Dowagiac all of her lifetime.

Surviving are; her husband, Glen; four children, Glen Jr., and Dorothy, both at home, Mrs. Nancy Baldwin, Dowagiac, and Larry, stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.,; her mother, Mrs. Sylvia Binkley, Dowagiac; two grandchildren, and a brother, Cleo Binkley, Barron Lake, Niles.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. J. Blossomgame, pastor of Pentecostal Church, Dowagiac, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery here. Friends may call at the funeral home.