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.

Burns, Newton

Newton Burns
July 1853-March 11, 1934


Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 12, 1934, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Wilber Burns' Father Dies at Alma, Mich.



Newton Burns, father of Attorney Wilber N. Burns, 1204 Cedar street, Niles, died at the home of his daughter , Mrs. E.M. Moore, Sunday morning in Alma, Mich.

Besides his son and daughter, he is also survived by the widow, Mrs. Mary Burns, Alma, and another daughter, Mrs. Claire Rogers, La Grange, Ill.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 o'clock Tuesday morning at the Crandall funeral home in St. Louis, Mich. The body will be brought to Niles Tuesday for burial in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Espey, John

John Espey
Feb. 21, 1863-March 19, 1934


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 20, 1934, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Conduct John Espey Rites on Thursday

 

Funeral services for John Espey, 71, life-long resident of the district, who died at 1:30 o'clock Monday afternoon at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Frank Early, Seventeenth and Main street, will be held at 1:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon at the Price & Kiger Funeral home.  Interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery. The Rev. G.W.Simon will officiate at the services.

The deceased was born at Galien Feb. 21, 1863. Besides his daughter, Mrs. Early, he is survived by the widow, Mrs. Rose Espey, also at the daughter's home; and a sister, Mrs. Helen Kaley, Wichita, Kan.

Friends may call at the funeral home until time for the services.

 

Aldrich, Susan Adelia (Garwood)

Susan Adelia Aldrich (Garwood)
Sept. 14, 1854-Feb. 12, 1934


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 13, 1934, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Susan Aldrich Dies After Illness

 

Mrs. Susan Adelia Aldrich, 80, died at 5:30 o'clock Monday afternoon at her home, 516 Huron street, after several weeks illness.

She was born Sept. 14, 1854, at Wakelee, Mich. Her husband, James Aldrich, died several years ago.

Surviving are seven children: Adrian Aldrich, Three Oaks; Miss Nusettie[sic] Aldrich, James W. Aldrich, Edward Aldrich and Woodrow Aldrich, all of Niles; Byron Aldrich, Vandalia, and Mrs. Celia Glaska, Grand Rapids; a sister, Mrs. O.A. Roberts, Decatur, Mich.

Funeral services will be held at 2:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon at the Price and Kiger funeral home. Charles Kitterer will conduct the Christian Science services. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

The body will remain at home until time for the services.

 

Wells, Josephine Virginia (Curtis)

Josephine Virginia Wells
Sept. 2, 1844-March 14, 1934


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 14, 1934, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Wells, 90, Nurse in Civil War, Succumbs

 

Mrs. Josephine Virginia Wells, 90, lifeling resident of this vicinity who was a nurse during the Civil war, died at 2:40 o'clock this morning at the farm home of her son, R.L. Wells, one mile northeast of Pokagon.

Her parents came to Niles in the early 1830's, went to Sumnerville and finally blazed the trail to Curtis lake where they settled and Mrs. Wells was born Sept. 2, 1844.  The lake was named for her father. She attended school in a log cabin at Mayflower school in Pokagon township.  She went to live with her son after her Pokagon home was destroyed by fire last fall.

Sixty-five years ago she was married to the late Dr. Charles P. Wells, who died in 1884. A son, Roscoe, also died 33 years ago.

The deceased was the last of a family of 11 children. She is survived by three sons, R.C. Wells, Jackson, Mich.; R.H. Wells, Plymouth, Mich.; and R.L. Wells, Pokagon.

Funeral services wil be held in the Pokagon Methodist Episcopal church at 3 o'clock Friday afternoon with the Rev. Thomas Rice, Buchanan, former Pokagon pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Note:  Death record reads Josephine V. Burden and there is marriage to Nathaniel Burden in Berrien County in 1889.  Burial is found in burial records as Burdeu.

 

 

Schamel, Barbara

Barbara Schamel
Oct. 16, 1846-March 11, 1934


Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 12, 1934, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Barbara Schamel Dies Sunday Morning

 

Mrs. Barbara Schamel, 87, one of the oldest members of the St. John's Evangelical church of NiIes, died at 12:01 o'clock Sunday morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Walter Martin, 43 North St. Joseph avenue, after an illness of three weeks.

Born in Tubingen, Wertenburg, Germany, on Oct. 16, 1946, she came to the United States 51 years ago last May.

Surviving besides the daughter is an sister, Mrs. Louis Pfauth, Sawyer, Mich., four grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. The deceased was preceded in death by a son, a daughter, and husband.

Friends may call at the home until 2 o'clock Tuesday afternoon.  Funeral services will be held in the church at 2:30 o'clock with the Rev. Theo. Eisen officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

The Ladies Aid will attend the funeral in a body.


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, March 13, 1934, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Schamel Rites Held

 

Funeral services for Mrs. Barbara Schamel, 87, who died Sunday morning, where held at  2:30 o'clock this afternoon at the St. John's Evangelical church of which the deceased was one of the oldest members. The services were in charge of the Rev. Theo. Eisen, pastor. Interment was in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

 

 

York, Russell

Russell York, 81
Dec. 10, 1930 — Jan. 17, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published online 11:43pm Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Russell J. York, 81, of Niles, died at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012, following a brief illness. He was born on Dec. 10,

York

1930, to William and Mabelle (Shaft) York. Russell was a U.S. Marine veteran serving from 1952 to 1954. He was a forge and hammer operator at Buchanan Steel, which later became National Standard, and long-time member of the Niles American Legion Post 26 for more than 50 years.

On Valentine’s Day, 1975, he married Patricia Marie Makepeace, who preceded him in death in 1998.

Survivors include stepson, Jeff (Robin) Makepeace of Niles; stepdaughter, Bonnie Thomas of Niles; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; one brother, William York; and several step-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife; son, Russell W. “Billy” York; stepson, LaVerne Makepeace; and two sisters.

Interment will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles at a later date.

Wood, Louise Emma (Reum)

Louise Emma Wood
Feb. 3, 1885-Feb. 26, 1941


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, February 26, 1941, page 2,  col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Native of Niles Township Dies in Rural Home

 

Mrs. Louisa Emma Wood, 56, died in her home, Route 4, Dowagiac, at 4:15 this morning after two months' illness.

She was a native of Niles township, where she was born Feb. 3, 1885 and had lived in the home where she died since 1927.

She was the wife of William Wood, who survives.  She also leaves a daughter, Mary Louise, at home; a sister, Mrs. Russell File, Niles; and three brothers, Frank C. Reum and Fred L. Reum, Niles, and Gus Reum, South Bend.

Mr. and Mrs. Wood were married in Detroit in 1910.

Services will be Friday afternoon at 2:30 in Price and Kiger funeral chapel. The Rev. Theo Eisen will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.


Niles Daily Star, Friday, February 28, 1941, page 2,  col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Emma L. Wood Service Held Today

 

Services were conducted this afternoon in the Price and Kiger chapel for Mrs. Louise Emma Wood who died Wednesday in her home, Route 4, Dowagiac.

The Rev. Theo Eisen officiated and burial was in Silverbrook.

Pallbearers were Leonard Wiggins, Ernest Crouch, Marvin File, Robert File, Wallce Beehler and Richard Koenigshof.