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.

Eycleshymer, Arthur F.

Arthur F. Eycleshymer
Nov. 22, 1869-March 10, 1955


Niles Daily Star, Friday, March 11, 1955, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Arthur F. Eycleshymer, 85, of 222 North 13th Street, retired Niles Post Office clerk, died at 11:30 p.m. Thursday in the Sunny Brook Rest Home at Roseland, Ind.

Eycleshymer, who worked 29 years for the Post Office here before retiring 20 years ago, was born Nov. 22, 1869, in Hastings, Mich., and came to Niles 46 years ago from LaGrange, Ind.  He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the National Federation of Post Office Clerks and the First Presbyterian Church. His wife, Josephine, died Nov. 8, 1954.

Surviving are: a son, Harold D. Eycleshymer, of Niles; two daughters, Mrs. Fred Wedel, of Niles, and Mrs. Hazel Ritchey, of Ludington, Mich, five grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. Laura Baker, of Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Kiger Funeral Home here  with the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery with graveside rites performed by the Masonic Lodge. Friends may call at the funeral home.

 

Hurd, Thurston R.

Dr. Thurston R. Hurd
Aug. 24, 1892-March 19, 1955


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, March 19, 1955, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Dr. Thurston R. Hurd, 62, of 1306 Broadway, who practiced 40 years in the Niles and Berrien Springs areas, died at 3:10 a.m. today at Pawating Hospital following an illness of one year.

Dr. Hurd was born Aug. 24, 1892, in Clio, Mich., and came to Niles from Houghton, Mich., in 1919. He graduated from Kirksville College of Osteopathy in Kirksville, Mo., in 1915, and practiced for 25 years in Niles. He also practiced in the Berrien Springs area for 15 years. He was married Dec. 20, 1919, in Houghton to Miss Mabel Stoyle, who survives.

Also surviving are: a son, Frederick J. Hurd, of Baltimore, Md., and a brother, Mr. M.C. Hurd, of Punxsutawney, Pa.

Funeral services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Monday in the Kiger Funeral Home here with the Rev. John G. Carlton, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Dr. Hurd was a member of the American Legion and was a veteran of World War I.

 

Zukowski, Frank John

Frank John Zukowski
April 18, 1891-March 19, 1955


Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 21, 1955, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

BUCHANAN--Frank John Zukowski, 63, of Buchanan, died at 10 p.m. Saturday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Francis Huling, rural route two, Buchanan.

Zukowski was born April 18, 1891, in Lithuania, the son of Anthony and Constance Zukowski. He was married in 1913 in South Bend to Stella Stankovich, who died in 1923. He later married Mary Petkvich in 1927 in South Bend. She died in May, 1949.

Surviving besides his daughter are: a son, Victor, of rural route two, Buchanan; two brothers, John of South Bend and Stanley of Niles, and two sisters and a brother in Lithuania, Stella, Elizabeth and Cassimer.

Funeral services will be held at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Swem Funeral Home here with the Rev. Francis Sharpe, pastor of St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

 

Wetherby, Barron

Barron Wetherby
Feb. 23, 1881-March 24, 1955


Niles Daily Star, Friday, March 25, 1955, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Barron Wetherby, 75, former Niles city clerk, of 403 North Third Street, died at 11 p.m. Thruday night at Pawating Hospital after a 10-day illness.

He served as city clerk from 1913 to 1916 and had retired after being employed as a New York Central Railroad switchman.

Born here Feb. 23, 1881, he lived in the city all his life. He was a graduate of Niles High School and Michigan State College. He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church and the local BPO Elks Lodge.

His wife died in 1920. Survivors are a daughter, Mrs. Dorothea Johnson, and a son, William A. Wetherby, both of Detroit, and one grandson.

Friends may call beginning Saturday night at the Kiger Funeral Home where services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

Kitterer, Frank "Joe"

Frank (Joe) Kitterer
June 16, 1877-March 22, 1955


Niles Daily Star, Friday, March 25, 1955, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Frank (Joe) Kitterer, 76, died suddenly at 8:45 p.m. Tuesday at the Russell File home on M-140 North where he was residing.

Born June 16, 1877 in Bertrand Township, he spent all his life in the Niles area. He was a retired farmer.

Survivors are a sister, Mrs. Emma Cauffman of South Bend, three nieces and two nephews.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home where services will be conducted at 3:30 p.m. Saturday by the Rev. Orlen Njus. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

 

 

Coffinger, Erastus

Erastus Coffinger
1816-Jan. 10, 1879


Niles Democrat, Saturday, January 18, 1879, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

It becomes our painful duty again to chronicle the death of another of our most highly esteemed and honorable pioneer citizens, that Erastus Coffinger, which occurred on Friday evening last. Mr. Coffinger was widely known and has always sustained an irreproachable character for honesty and integrity in all his dealings with his fellow men; kind, peaceful and obliging to all with whom he cam in contact. His death will not only be keenly felt in the family circle, but throughout the entire community. His funeral was largely attended on Sunday last by his many friends and neighbors.

 

Coffinger, Sophia

Sophia Coffinger
Sept. 11, 1816-Aug. 10, 1887


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, August 11, 1887, page 3, col. 3, reprinted Niles Weekly Mirror, Wednesday, August 17, 1887, page 5, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Death of Mrs. Coffinger

 

Mrs. Sophia Coffinger, who has beeen a great sufferer for over two months, died yesterday at 5:45 p.m., aged 71 years the 11th of next September.  Mrs. C. was born in Cornwall, England, and came to America in 1834. She was married to Erastus Coffinger, at Edwardsburg, Cass county, September 14, 1842, and took up their permanent residence in this city. Her husband died Jan. 10, 1879,  Mrs. C. was one of the best of women, an indulgent and loving mother, over ready to visit and do for the sick and afflicted all around her, and her loss is deeply deplored by all who knew her. She leaves two sons and two daughters. Her funeral will take place to-morrow afternoon, at 2:30, from her late dwelling.