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.

Riley, Orvilla Mae (Hack)

Mrs. Orvilla Riley
June 25, 1898-Oct. 3, 1950


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, October 4, 1950, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Orvilla Mae Riley, 24 Parkway, died at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Pawating hospital after being in poor health for the past two years.

She is survived by her husband, John; their children, Harold, of Mishawaka, Ind.; and Donald, Mrs. Bob Frazier, John, Norma and Beverly, of Niles and six grandchildren.

Also surviving are her brothers, Roy, Albert, Edward, Howard and Norman Hack, all of Michigan City, Ind., and two sisters, Mrs. Ruth Hart, of Indianapolis, and Mrs. Jack Moore, of Maxeys, Ga.

Mrs. Riley was born in Michigan City on June 25, 1898, and came to Niles from there in 1920. She was a member of the Lady Maccabees, the American Legion auxiliary, Navy Mothers, Mothers of Marines, Daughters of America, Mothers of World War II and the auxiliary to the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home. The service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday by the Rev. L. George Beacock at the First Methodist church. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Members of Daughters of America are asked to meet at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Pifer funeral home to hold a memorial service and also at 1:45 p.m. Friday at the church to attend the funeral service.


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, October 5, 1950, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles hive 39, Lady Maccabees and Navy Mothers are requested to meet in front of the First Methodist church {illegible} Friday to attend funeral services for Orvilla Riley.

 

Reading, Clara (Burke)

Mrs. E.M. (Clara Burke) Reading
Sept. 13, 1867-Oct. 3, 1950


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, October 4, 1950, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. E.M. Reading, 83, died yesterday in a Michigan City, Ind. hospital according to a sister-in-law, Mrs. E.F. Burke, of Niles.  She had been ill for several years. Mrs. Reading was born in Niles, Sept. 13, 1867, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Burke, who were pioneer residents of Berrien county. Niles was her home until her illness.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Carlyle Funeral home in Michigan City. Burial will be in the Silverbrook cemetery in Niles.

 

 

Woske, Marcia (Herrick)

Marcia (Herrick) Woske
1924-Oct. 1, 1950


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, October 3, 1950, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Memorial funeral services for [illegible] Brooklyn, N.Y., the daughter of Mr.and Mrs. Myron C. Herrick, of Niles, will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the First Presbyterian church.  The Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, pastor, will officiate.  Private committal services will be held at Silverbrook cemetery.

Mrs. Woske died Sunday in Brooklyn after being stricken with polio on Sept. 28.

 

Appleby, Fred W.

Fred W. Appleby
May 1, 1887-Oct. 2, 1950


Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 2, 1950, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Fred W. Appleby, 5 South Eleventh street, well-known Niles businessman, died at 12:45 a.m. today in his home, after being ill since April 10 of this year.

He is survived by his widow, Eunice Appleby, who was born in Kalamazoo on May 1, 1887, and came here from Dowagiac 28 years ago, and was proprietor of a repair shop and sporting goods store.

He was a member of the St. Joseph Valley Free and Accepted Masons, the White shrine, Knights Templar, [illegible].

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday by the Rev. Percy D. Jones, rector of Trinity Episcopal church. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.



Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, October 5, 1950, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Services for Fred W. Appleby, who died early Monday morning will be held at Trinity Episcopal church at 2 p.m. Wednesday, rather than in Pifers funeral home, it was announced today. The body will be moved from the funeral home at noon tomorrow.

Members of Niles Hive 39, Maccabees, are requested to meet in front of Trinity church at 1:45 p.m. tomorrow, before attending services for Appleby.

NOTE:  This burial is not in the Cemetery records.  Per grave photos and info on FAG, it appears that burial was at Watervliet Cemetery.

Gibson, Elsie

Elsie Gibson
1887-Nov. 27, 1950


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, November 28, 1950, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. L.C. Gibson,  formerly of Niles, died Monday at the Union  Printers' home in Colorado Springs, Colo. She died the widow of the late Fred Gibson.

Surviving are a son, John Gibson, of Evanston, Ill., two sisters, Mrs. George Claypool, of Berrien Springs, and Mrs. Leslie Dohn, of Berrien Springs, and a brother, T.W. Howard, of Niles. Mrs. Gibson was born in 1887 in Niles.

Graveside services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday at Silverbrook cemetery. Arrangements are being made by the Pifer funeral home, and further details will be announced later.


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, November 30, 1950, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Details of funeral services for Mrs. Elsie Gibson, rather than Mrs. L.C. Gibson as erroneously reported previously, have been completed.

The service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday at the Pifer funeral home by the Rev. Percy D. Jones, Episcopal rector. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Brubaker, John P.

John P. Brubaker
Sept. 13, 1873*-Nov. 30, 1950


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, November 30, 1950, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

John P. Brubaker, formerly of Benton Harbor, died this morning at the Berrien Center hospital. He had been ill for about a year and a half.

Surviving are his children, Mrs. Byron Lewark of South Bend, F. E. Brubaker and Fred Brubaker, of Bertrand, and Mrs. Herman Schohknickt, of Benton Harbor; 16 grandchildren, and one brother, Brant Brubaker of Marion, Ind.

Brubaker was born in Somerset, Ind., on Sept. 13, 1873, and came here from Benton Harbor about two years ago.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 4 pm. Saturday by the Rev. C.K. Graham, Baptist pastor, Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

*Dates on gravemarker are Jan. 1, 1873-Nov. 30, 1950.

Kirk, Charles L.

Pvt. Charles L. Kirk
Feb. 6, 1906-March 6, 1944


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, November 25, 1950, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

The body of Pvt. Charles L. Kirk, formerly of 240 North State street, who was killed March 6, 1944, in the Admiralty islands, will be returned here on Friday, Dec. 1.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2, by the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, Presbyterian pastor. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Surviving are Mr. and Mrs. Hudson Kirk, of Niles, his parents, and his wife, now Mrs. Richard Jones, of Niles. Also surviving are his two brothers, Thomas, of Mishawaka, Ind., and Lee Kirk, of Detroit, and four sisters, Mrs. George Worm and Mrs. Ray Elliott, of NIles, Mrs. Edwin Hoffman, of Battle Creek, and Mrs. Coleman Jinkens, St. Joseph.

Pvt. Kirk was born Feb. 6, 1906, and was 38 years of age at the time of his death. He came here from St. Joseph and had lived here for about 30 years. He was a member of the First Presbyterian church and a charter member of the former DeMolay chapter here.