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.

Hipshear, Wallace L.

Wallace Hipshear
Sept. 9, 1925 — Nov, 30, 2011

Niles Daily Star, Published online 7:41pm Friday, December 2, 2011; print Saturday, December 3, 2011, page 2, col. 1

Wallace L. “Wally” Hipshear, 86, formerly of Mayflower Road in Niles, died at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2011, at Morningside Nursing Home in South Bend following

Hipshear

an illness.

Mr. Hipshear was born Sept. 9, 1925, in Niles to William Frederick and Frances J. (Siebert) Hipshear. He graduated from Niles High School and lived in Niles all his life. He retired after 46 years of service from Simplicity Pattern Co. in Niles.

Wallace was a veteran of World War II, having served in the U.S. Army. While serving, he earned the Purple Heart with one Oak Leaf Cluster. He was a member of the American Legion Post 26 and the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 55, both in Niles.

He was a member of the Southwestern Michigan Running Club and Bend in the River Conservation Club. He enjoyed farming, woodworking in his shop and was an avid hunter. When his children were young, he was an adult volunteer leader for the Happy Three 4-H Club.

On March 27, 1946, at Greencastle, Ind., he married the former Patricia Joan Wallace, who survives.
They were the proud parents of Sharon (Thomas) Prusinski of South Bend, Debra (Dewayne) Proctor of Union and Bruce (Suzanne) Hipshear of Buchanan; grandparents of  Sandra Perez, Sgt. Todd Kizer, U.S. Army, Trent Kizer, Tabatha Hipshear and Chelsea Hipshear; great-grandparents of Payton, Breanna, Thorin, Dakota and Mia Kizer.

Wally is survived by his sister, John Savage of Escanaba, Mich., and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Harold Hipshear, who died April 8, 2009.

Funeral services for Wallace L. Hipshear will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 6, at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Chaplain Joseph Emmerth of Southern Care Hospice officiating.

Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and will conclude with full military honors by the U.S. Army Honor Guard and American Legion Post 51, Buchanan.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Wallace may be made to Southern Care Hospice or Alzheimer’s and Associated Disorders Association.

Hydorn, Betty Elizabeth

Betty Hydorn, 93

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:10pm Monday, October 31, 2011

Betty Elizabeth Hydorn, 93, of Berrien Center, passed away on Friday, Oct. 28, 2011, at Lakeland Specialty Hospital in Berrien Center.

Her family will gather with friends at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. for a memorial service at Yazel & Clark Chapel led by Father Dan Sneid.  S

he will be laid to rest in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Please sign her guestbook and leave a memory of Betty at www.yazel-clark.com.

Harris, Pearlie

Pearlie Harris, 87

Niles Daily Star, Published online  7:30pm Monday, November

Pearlie Harris, 87, of Niles, passed away Monday, Nov. 7, 2011, at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph. A graveside service will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home.

Warner, Joan M.

Joan Warner, 84

Niles Daily Star, Published online 5:11pm Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Joan M. Warner, 84, of South 13th Street, Niles, died at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, at her home of a brief illness. Her complete obituary was published at the time of her death.

A graveside service fro Joan M. Warner will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 25, at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Wegner, Dorothy R. (Welsher)

Dorothy Wegner, 85
March 24, 1926 — Nov. 23, 2011

Niles Daily Star, Published online 5:44pm Friday, November 25, 2011

Dorothy R. “Dot” Wegner, 85, of Evergreen Road in Niles, died at 8:28 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2011, at her home following a brief illness.

Wegner

Mrs. Wegner was born March 24, 1926, in Pontiac, Mich. to Delsey Royle and Jessie May (Asmus) Welsher. She graduated from Niles High School in 1944, and lived here most of her life. She was a secretary in the executive offices of several area firms, including the former Electro-Voice of Buchanan and National-Standard Co.

Dorothy was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Niles. She was also active in her high school class reunion committee. She enjoyed dancing to big bands; and was an accomplished artist, painting and sketching in all media, carving and burning wood and gourds; and textile sewing.

On Sept. 7, 1946 in Niles, she married John R. Wegner, who preceded her in death on May 14, 2011.

She is survived by their daughters, Stacey A. (Robert Evans) Wegner and Vicki L. Podjan, both of Niles; grandchildren, Heather (Billy) Zimmerman, Jamie L. (Jamie L.) Zimmerman, Joshua E. Weaver, Sarah (Casey) Gowen, Ben Evans, Jenny (Holli) Evans and Jessica (Nathan) Tonkin; 10 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Barbara Smallwood of Niles.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her great-granddaughter, Ava Zimmerman; father, Delsey R. Welsher; mother and stepfather, Jessie M. and Edward Behm; brothers, William and Jack Welsher; and sister, Margaret Bash.

The funeral service for Dorothy R. Wegner will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 28, at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence officiating, assisted by Elder Ray Fulbright, both of First Presbyterian Church in Niles.

Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Dorothy may be made to Hospice at Home.

Marston, Edward Warren

Edward Warren Marston
Sept. 11, 1882-Jan. 12, 1940


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, January 13, 1940, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Two Brothers, Ex-Residents of Niles, Stricken

 

E.W. Marston, native and former resident of Niles, died at Pine Crest sanitarium at Oshtemo Friday. He was 59 years.. [illegible].. services will be held in the Sumpton Funeral home at Kalamazoo Monday afternoon at 2.

D.S. Marston, Niles, his brother, was called to Kalamazoo Friday where he arranged for the funeral. Committal services and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery Tuesday morning.

While in Kalamazoo Mr. Marston received word of the death Wednesday of another brother, J.C. Marston, 61, in Los Angeles. He was born and had lived in Niles until about 25 years ago when he left for the Pacific coast.  He had returned to Niles several times for visits to relatives.

A coincidence in connection with the events of Friday was mentioned by Mr. Marston this morning. The death of one brother, news of the death of another occured[sic] on the birthday of his niece, Adena Shaw Marston.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 15, 1940, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Edward Marston Committal Rites Tuesday Morning

 

Services for Edward Marston, who died at Pine Crest sanitarium Friday were held this afternoon at 3 in Kalamazoo.

The body will be brought to Niles to the Price and Kiger funeral home where friends of the family may call between 7 and 9 o'clock. Commital[sic] services will be Tuesday morning at 10 in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Nelson, Peter

Peter Nelson a/k/a Neilson
Nov. 29, 1856-April 23, 1914


Niles Daily Sun, Friday, April 24, 1914, page 1, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH OF PETER NELSON

 

Peter Nelson died last evening at 7:30 p.m. at his home on north Thirteenth street after a prolonged illness with dropsy. The deceased was 58 years of age. He was born in Denmark. He came to Niles from Chicago five years ago and until his health failed he was employed by the Garden City Fan company. He is survived by a widow who is a sister of Bert Tennyson.


Niles Daily Star, Friday, April 24, 1914, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

PETER NELSON PASSED AWAY LAST EVENING

 

Peter Nelson died at his home in Thirteenth street at about 6 o'clock last evening after a year's illness with dropsy. He became seriously ill only a week ago.

Deceased was born in Denmark, Nov. 29, 1856, coming to America at an early date and to Niles 13 years ago with the Garden City Fan Works, by which company he was employed as an iron moulder.

The only surviving relative in America is the widow, Mrs. Minnie Tennyson Nelson and the funeral services will take place from the home of her brother, Bert Tennyson, 308 north Fifth street, Sunday afternoon.

 

Note:  Last name is spelled as "Nelson" in both obituaries and on the gravestone.  The Death record spells last name as as "Neilson".