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.

Thompson, Elton

Elton Thompson
Sept. 4, 1907-May 11, 1968


Niles Daily Star, Monday, May 13, 1968, page 12, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Elton Thompson, 60, of 1518 Sheffield St., died at 6:45 a.m., Saturday in Pawating Hospital, following a six-month's illness.

A printer employed by Tyler Refrigeration, International, Mr. Thompson was born Sept. 4, 1907 in Three Oaks. He was a lifetime resident of this area.

On May 12, 1940, he married Helen E. Hardebeck in St. Joseph, who survives.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his mother, Mrs. Lennie Thompson of Niles, a daughter, Mrs. Frank Zavitz of Niles; two sons, Gary Thompson of Niles; and Lt. Tommy E. Thompson of Ft. Hood, Tex., US Army; two sisters, Mrs. Ward Conrad of Niles; Mrs. Dick Fernwalt of Battle Creek; two brothers, Harold Thompson and Everett Thompson, both of Niles, and two grandchildren.

He was a member of the Niles Auxiliary Police.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday in the Halbritter-Swem Funeral Home with the Rev. Francis E. Timmons officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home.

 

Odle, Sarah Evelena

Sarah Evelena Odle
Dec. 8, 1911-Oct. 14, 1994


Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 17, 1994, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Sarah Evelena Odle
1911-1994
homemaker

There will be no services for Sarah Evelena Odle, 82, of 1621 Clarendon St., Niles.

Mrs. Odle died at 9:30 p.m. Friday, at her home.

She was born Dec. 8, 1911, in Miles City, Mont., and had lived in Niles 3 years, coming from Arkansas.

On Sept. 18, 1934, at Rensselaer, Ind., she married Jesse Odle, who survives.

Mrs. Odle was a homemaker.

Other survivors include three daughters, Betty Ramsey of Batesville, Ark., Shirley Callahan of Michigan City, Ind., and Phyllis Leonard of Niles; four sons, Johns Wiora of Michigan City, Harry Wiora of Brazil, Ind. and Ken Odle and Phillip Odle, both of Niles; twenty-one grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren.

Hoven Funeral Home at Buchanan was in charge of arrangements.

 

 

Hahn, Helen Alta

Helen Alta Hahn
Dec. 19, 1913-Dec. 5, 1986


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, December 6, 1986, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Helen Alta Hahn, 72, formerly of 1720 Sycamore St., Niles, died Friday at 9 a.m. at Pawating Hospital following a long illness.

She was born Dec. 19,1913 in Solon Springs, Wis. She married Earle Hahn Jan. 23, 1932 in Niles. He died in 1945. She retired in 1979 from the Central Supply Department of Pawating Hospital.

Survivors include three daughters, Joyce Low of Niles, Nancy Larson of Naples, Fla. and Betty Opfer of Niles; a brother, Charlie Robbins of Niles; five sisters, Alice Farrell, Frances Newman, Edna Siderits and Minnie Wiggins, all of Niles; and Vivian Ferris of Buchanan; 15 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

Services are Monday at 1:30 p.m. at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home. Rev. Ralph Pletcher of Coulters Chapel Church of God will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday.

 

Jann, Charles

Charles G. Jann
March 2, 1920-Dec. 3, 1986


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, December 4, 1986, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Charles G. Jann Jr., 66, 41 S. Third St., Apt. 2, Niles, died at 2  a.m. Wednesday at his home following an extended illness.

A retired taxi cab driver, Jann was born March 2, 1920 in Logansport, Ind.  He lived in the Niles area since 1939.

Surviving are one daughter, Delores Forest of Buchanan; two sons Charles Jann of Salt Lake City, Utah and William Jann of Walkerton, Ind.; two sisters, Barbara Okerbloom of Niles and Emma Bea Schram of Niles; 15 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Services are at 11 a.m. Friday at Halbritter Funeral Home, with Rev. Ray Cunningham officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call one hour prior to the services.


Williams, Doris L.

Doris Williams
Nov. 30, 1915-Nov. 30, 1986


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 2, 1986, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Doris L. Williams, 71, 17 N. Seventh St., Apt. 316, Niles, died at 10:45 p.m. Sunday at Pawating Hospital.

She was born Nov. 30, 1915 in Pipestone Township and was a lifetime area resident. She was a member of the American Association of Retired Persons and V.F.W. Fruitbelt Auxiliary Post 1137. She was a retired employee of Mark's Tavern.

On June 4, 1950, she married Sheldon Williams who died in 1977. Surviving are two daughters, Rita Hartley of Berrien Springs and Rhonda Williams of Niles; one sister, Shirley Arnt of Benton Harbor; five grandchildren.

Services are 11 a.m. Wednesday at Halbritter Funeral Home. Rev. Arnold D. Schaap officiating.  Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. today.

 

Snyder, Irene L.

Irene L. Snyder
April 17, 1917-Dec. 19, 1986


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, December 20, 1986, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Irene L. Snyder, 69, of 2889 Beebe Road, Niles, died Friday at Pawating Hospital at 4:30 a.m., following a six-month illness.

She was born April 17, 1917 in Whitley County, Indiana and had been a Niles resident since 1938 coming here from Mishawaka, Ind. On Jan. 1, 1936 she married Leonard Snyder in Mishawaka. He survives.

She was a retired secretary of the Leonard Snyder Real Estate office and a member of the Edwardsburg Church of God and the Order of the Eastern Star.

Other survivors include: a son, George of Datona[sic] Beach, Fla.; a brother, Gilbert Zion of Mishawaka; four sisters, Lulu Pope of Bradenton,Fla., Alice Goheen of Cocoa, Fla. Alene Endicotte of California and Virgina Doty of Mishawaka; and five grandchildren.

Services are Monday at 11 a.m. at the Halbritter Funeral Home. Rev. Irvin L. Bame of the Edwardsburg Church of God will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call Sunday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the Edwardsburg Church of God.

 

Wadel, Mary

Mary Wadel
June 3, 1875-April 22, 1968


Niles Daily Star, Monday, April 22, 1968, Page 14, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

SOUTH BEND--Mrs. Mary Wadel, 92, of 21435 Cleveland Road, South Bend, died at 1:40 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital, following a three-year illness.

Living in the Niles area most of her life, Mrs. Wadel was born in Niles, June 3, 1875. Her husband, William H., died in 1911.

She is survived by a son, William and two daughters, the Misses Kathleen and Thira Jan Mays, all of South Bend.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., EST, at the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. James Dickey, pastor of the Portage Chapel Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m., today.


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, April 23, 1968, Page 10, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

SOUTH BEND--Mrs. Mary Wadel, 92, of 21435 Cleveland Road, South Bend, died at 1:40 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital, following a three-year illness.

Living in the Niles area most of her life, Mrs. Wadel was born in Niles, June 3, 1875. Her husband, William H., died in 1911.

She was a member of the Olive Chapter, 396, and a member of the Order of Eastern Star.

Her survivors include a son, Leslie Wadel of South Bend; and two granddaughters.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., EST, at the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. James Dickey, pastor of the Portage Chapel Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.