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.

Blackburn, George W.

George W. Blackburn
Sept. 12, 1858-Feb. 4, 1941


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, February 5, 1941, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

G.W. BLACKBURN STRICKEN AT 82

 

George W. Blackburn, 82, a resident of Niles the last 24 years, died Tuesday afternoon at 12:05 in his home at 1414 Broadway after a six months' illness of complications.

Mr. Blackburn, a retired carpenter, was born in Thalmus, Ky., Sept. 12 , 1858. He came to Niles . . [illegible] .. whom he was married March 13, 1879, in Manchester, Tenn. survives.

Other survivors include five daughters, Mrs. Rose McLaughlin, Miss Della Blackburn, Mrs. Minnie Donner and Mrs. Clyde Cook, Niles, and Mrs. Cora Bennett, Tullahoma, Tenn.; three sons, Hershel, Cleve and Herman Blackburn, Niles; 23 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.

Friends may call at the Rutherford funeral home where services will be conducted Thursday afternoon at 2:30. The Rev. Floyd Johnston, pastor of the First Baptist church, will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

 

Butler, Florence

Florence Butler

Feb. 26, 1876-Feb. 2, 1941


Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 3, 1941, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. F. Butler, 65, Resident of Niles for 22 Years, Dead

 

Mrs. Florence Butler, 415 North Second street, died Sunday morning in Pawating Hospital after an illness of two weeks.

She was born in VanBuren, Me., Feb. 26, 1876, and came to Niles from Jackson 22 years ago.

Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Delphine Clemo, Munith, and Levi J. Godin, Sault Ste Marie.

Services will be in the Pifer funeral home Tuesday afternoon at 1:30, the  Rev. A.R. Kuehn officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Radewald, Otto

Otto Radewald
Aug. 30, 1858-Feb. 5, 1941


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, February 6, 1941, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

OTTO RADEWALD, 82, PROMINENT BERRIEN FRUIT RAISER, DIES

Five Weeks' Illness Fatal to Community and Church Leader

 

Otto Radewald, 82, prominent Berrien township fruit raiser and farmer and, for many years a leading figure in township affairs, died Wednesday afternoon in Pawating hospital.

Mr. Radewalds's death followed an illness of five weeks.

He was born in Niles Aug. 30, 1858 and had lived 72 years in the Berrien township community.  With the exception of 10 years in St. Joseph, Mr. Radewald had spent his entire life in and near Niles.

Among his activities in the service of the community were 45 years as treasurer of the Oak Grove school district; two terms as Berrien township treasurer, and duties connected with church and school affairs.

Church Township Leader

He had served on the board of review and as a member of the St. John's Evangelical church board.  In St. Joseph, he was one of 12 organizers of St. Peter's Evangelical church in 1882.  The church celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1932 and members of the original board attended.  Mr. Radewald, until his death Wednesday, was the last surviving member of that board.

He was a member of St. John's church in Niles, of the Maccabees and the Woodmen.

Surviving are five children--Edwin, Route 3, Niles; Miss Lydia Radewald,  at home; Mrs. Fred Foster, Mrs. Ray Foster, Route 3, and Mrs. Adolph Knott. He also leaves a sister, Mrs. Herman Hinz, St. Joseph, and 11 grandchildren.

Wife Died in 1910

His wife, the former Miss Minnie Kupperness, to whom he was married in 1887, died in 1910. The Rev. Ewalf officiated at the marriage ceremony in St. Joseph.

Services will be conducted in St. John's Evangelical church Saturday afternoon at 3:30, the Rev. Theo Eisen officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook.

Friends of the family will be received at the Price and Kiger funeral home tonight and until noon Friday, and at the family home from noon Friday to Saturday noon. The body will be taken to St. John's church at 1:30 Saturday afternoon.

 

 

 

 

Radewald, Roy

Roy Radewald
Feb. 6, 1893-Feb. 1, 1941


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

Roy Radewald, 47, Veteran Kawneer Worker, is Dead

 

Roy Radewald, 47, who completed 25 years of service with The Kawneer company last month, died Satuday night at 10:30 in his home at  625 North Twelfth street.  He had suffered from heart trouble the last six months but his condition became serious just five days before his death.

Mr. Radewald was born in Niles Feb. 6, 1893, and had lived here all his life. He was a rolling machine operator for The Kawneer company.  He is survived by his wife, the former Lena Blanchard, to whom he was married March 31, 1916, in Niles.

Other survivors include his father, Edward Radewald, and two brothers, Edward, Jr., and Ray.  Another brother, George, died several years ago.

Friends may call at the Rutherford funeral home where services will be conducted Tuesday afternoon at 2.  The Rev. Guy W. Simon will officiate.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Zimmerman, J. Adam

Adam Zimmerman
Oct 10, 1862-Feb. 1, 1941


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 1, 1941, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

ADAM ZIMMERMAN, EX-RAIL MAN, DEAD

 

Adam Zimmerman, retired railway employe and lifelong resident of Niles, died at 3:30 this morning in his home, 520 Lake street. He had been ill two months.

Mr. Zimmerman was born in Niles Oct. 10, 1865. He leaves his wife, Anna; a son, Roy Zimmerman; a daughter, Mrs. Ralph Fickes, and two grandsons, Donald and William Zimmerman, all of Niles.

Friends may call at the family home. Services will be conducted there Tuesday afternoon at 2:30, the Rev. Theo Eisen officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook.

Mr. Zimmerman was a member of St. John's Evangelical church.


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 4, 1941, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Rites Held Today for A. Zimmerman, Lifelong Resident

 

Services for Adam Zimmerman, 75, who died Saturday in his home at 520 Lake street, were conducted this afternoon at 2:30 in the family home.  Mr. Zimmerman was a lifelong resident and native of Niles.

The Rev. Theo Eisen officiated at services today. Pallbearers were Edward Stemley, Gordon Ullrey, Henry Asmus, George Boller, Clarence Cuthbert and Frank Mihill.

 

Henkel, Henry

Henry Henkel
July 18, 1861-Feb. 1, 1941


Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 3, 1941, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles Civic and Business Leader Dies

Member of Prominent Old Family Passes After 3 Months' Illness

 

Niles lost a retired business man, member of an old pioneer family and prominent member of the community in the death Saturday night of Henry Henkel, 79.

Mr. Henkel had been seriously ill for the last three months. His death occurred in Epworth Hospital, South Bend.

He was a charter member of the Elks lodge and of Calanthe lodge, Knights of Pythias. The latter honored him in 1935 with a life membership after 50 years affiliation with the order.  He was also a member of the Presbyterian church, of the Royal Arcanum and of the Niles cemetery board on which he had served since 1932.

In Niles 76 Years

Mr. Henkel came to Niles 76 years ago with his parents, John and Christine Henkel.  He came from Listerwald, Canada, where he was born July 1, 1861.  Prominent in many area business, social and fraternal circles, Mr. Henkel [illegible] in civic and community affairs.

At the age of 21 he joined his father as partner in the dry goods business and when the latter died his brother, George, entered into partnership with him. He continued the business until 1929, several years after the death of his brother.

Marked 50th Wedding Date

Mr. and Mrs. Henkel celebrated their fiftieth wedding anniversary three years ago in the home on South Fourth street they had occupied for more than a half-century.

Mr. Henkel was married to the former Miss Carrie Bither of Chatham, N.Y, Jan. 18, 1838. The marriage took place in Muskegon.  Mrs. Henkel survives; also a daughters, Mrs. Frances Odell, South Bend; two grandchildren, Carolyn Jean and William Henry Odell, South Bend, and a sister, Mrs. Stanford Soule, Niles.  Another daughter, Carrie Maude, died in 1915.

Friends may call at the Price and Kiger chapel where services will be held Tuesday afternoon at 3:30, the Rev. G.W. Simon officiating.


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, February 4, 1941, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

HENKEL SERVICES CONDUCTED TODAY

 

George A. Forler and Hugh Dean, lifelong friends of the late Henry Henkel, were honorary pallbearers at the Henkel service this afternoon in the Price and Kiger chapel.

Mr. Forler shared honors with Mr. Henkel when the two were presented with life memberships in the Knights of Pythias in 1935.

Active casket bearers were R. Malcolm Hull, Jack Young, M.E. Klopfenstein, Cyrus Funk, Harry Fellas and C. Bernard Parsons.

Attending in groups were members of the organizations in which Mr. Henkel had been active.  Represented were members of the Elks lodge, the Knights of Pythias and the cemetery board.

The Rev. G.W. Simon officiated and burial was in Silverbrook.

 

Smith, Ada E.

Ada E. Smith
Dec. 14, 1862-Jan. 28, 1941


Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 31, 1941, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

SERVICE SATURDAY FOR MRS. ADA SMITH

 

Mrs. Ada E. Smith, who died Tuesday in St. Louis, will be buried in Silverbrook Saturday afternoon after services in the Price and Kiger chapel at 3:30.  The Rev. G.W. Simon will officiate.

Mrs. Smith was a former resident of Niles, having lived here many years prior to the death of her husband, Calvin Smith, in 1937.  She had made her home with two daughters in St. Louis since his death.

She was born in Assyria, Mich., Dec. 14 1862.  Surviving are her daughters, Mrs. Douglas Gunn and Mrs. Robert Peters, and two grandchildren, Jay and Jack Peters, all of St. Louis; also two sisters, Mrs. John Kaltz and Mrs. Peter Hargia, both of Kalamazoo.

She was a member of the Presbyterian church, and the Dowagiac unit of Royal Neighbors of America.

Friends are asked to call tonight at the Price and Kiger funeral home.


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 1, 1941, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Service Conducted for Mrs. Ada Smith

 

Services were conducted at 3:30 this afternoon in the Price and Kiger chapel for Mrs. Ada Smith, former Niles resident. Mrs. Smith died in St. Louis, Mo., where she had been living with her daughters, since the death of her husband, Calvin Smith, in 1937.

The Rev. G.W. Simon, officiating. Pall bearers were Carl Shouder, Fred Shouder, Henry Passig, Howard Passig, Elmer Weltzien and Robert Schrumpf.