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.

Bowerman, Arthur Earl

editor Obituaries

Arthur Earl Bowerman
Sept. 14, 1923-Oct. 6,1926

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, October 7, 1926, page 1, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Child Stricken by Poison, Thought Sprayed on Fruit


Stricken with convulsions Tuesday afternoon, Arthur Earl Bowerman, three, son of Mr.and Mrs. Harold Bowerman, 633 Woodruff street, died last evening at 7 o'clock. The diagnosis of one of the attending physiicans[sic] is that the child died of strychnine poisoning..  It is thought that poison was of a spray used on grapes which the child ate on Sunday. Other children ate from the same vines but none of them became ill.  Arthur appeared in his usual health until after he awakened from his nap Tuesday afternoon and complained of illness.
The child was born in Niles on September 14, 1923.  He is survived by his parents and by a brother.  Mrs. Bowerman was formerly Miss Martha Bunch, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Freeman Bunch, and Mr. Bowerman is a son  of Mr. and Mrs. Freeman Bowerman, 646 Lincoln avenue.
The funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Bunch, 26 N. Lincoln avenue.


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, October 9, 1926, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

HOLD FUNERAL SERVICE

Numerous relatives from out of the city came to Niles today to attend the funeral services for little Arthur Earl Bowerman, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Bowerman, 633 Woodruff street.  The services will be held this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the home of Mrs. Bowerman's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Freeman Bunch, 26 N. Lincoln avenue. Rev. John Schurman will officiate. Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 11, 1926, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

HERE FOR FUNERAL

Among those from out of the city who attended the funeral services on Saturday for the little son of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Bowerman, West Niles, were Mrs. Elizabeth Bowerman, great grandmother of the child, George Sherer, Owen Wetzel and daughter, Ruby, of South Whitely, Ind., Mr. and Mrs. Hovey Harrington and children, Mr. and Mrs. Lean Layser and children, of Elkhart, Ind., Leo Williams, South Bend, Teddy Tees, Buchanan; Mr. and Mrs. George Morehouse and children, Mrs. William Morehouse and Hershel Anders, of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. William Harbaugh and children, Jennie and Ralph, of Plymouth, Ind.

Wilkinson, Kenneth Lee

editor Obituaries

Kenneth Lee Wilkinson
July 18, 1938-March 20, 1993

Niles Daily Star, Friday, March 19, 1993, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library.

Kenneth L. Wilkinson
1938-1993
Retired from Peerless Pattern

Funeral services for Kenneth Lee Wilkinson, 54, of 2818 U.S. 31 North, Niles, were scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at Halbritter Funeral home with the Rev. Nolan R. Williams of Wesley United Methodist Church, officiating.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Wilkinson died at 2:50 p.m. Thursday at St. Joseph's Medical Center in South Bend following an extended illness.

Born July 18, 1938, in Rockford, Ill., he moved to Niles in 1976, coming from Three Oaks.

On Feb. 4, 1978, he married the former Nancy L. Boyd, who survives.

He was retired from Peerless Pattern Works in South Bend.

He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church and the Pattern Maker's Union. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was active in establishing the Volunteer Ambulance Service in Three Oaks.

Friends may call from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 22, 1993, page 2, col. 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library.

Funeral services for Kenneth Lee Wilkinson, 54, of 2818 U.S. 31 North, Niles, were scheduled for 11 a.m. today with the Rev. Nolan R. Williams of Wesley United Methodist Church, officiating.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Wilkinson died at 2:50 p.m. Thursday at St. Joseph's Medical Center in South Bend following an extended illness.

Born July 18, 1938, in Rockford, Ill., he moved to Niles in 1976, coming from Three Oaks.

He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church and the Pattern Maker's Union.  He served in the U.S. Marine Corps, and was active in establishing the Volunteer Ambulance Service in Three Oaks.

On Feb. 4, 1978, he married the former Nancy L. Boyd, who survives.

He was retired from Peerless Pattern Works in South Bend.

Other survivors include a daughter, Brenda Page, of Battle Creek; a son, Brian Wilkinson of Marshall, Ill.; a step-son, Jim McLalin of Three Oaks; two step-daughters, Kathy Heimbuch of Three Oaks and Sandy Blasko of Mishawaka; 11 grandchildren and a sister, Shirley Walker of Indianapolis.

Friends may call from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church.

 

Mark, Jeff Cory

editor Obituaries

Jeff Cory Mark
June 14, 1974-June 15, 1974

NILES--Jeff Cory Mark, one-day-old son of Mr.a nd Mrs. Roy L. Mark, 2826 S. 13th St., died at 5:45 p.m. Saturday in Unity Hospital, Buchanan.

In addition to his parents, the baby is survived by three brothers, Roy Jr., Trent and Troy, all at home; a sister, Beth Brancine, at home; his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy Mark and Mrs. Gentry Evans, all of Niles, Walter Miller of Smithville, Tenn. and his great-grandfather, George Crips of Smithville.

Graveside services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday in Silverbrook Cemetery, with the Rev. Fred T. Smith of the South Niles Community Church officiating.

Funeral arrangements were made by the Halbritter Funeral Home.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, June 17, 1974, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library

Hamilton, Pearl M.

editor Obituaries

Mrs. Pearl Hamilton
March 24, 1895-June 14, 1974

NILES--Mrs. Pearl M. Hamilton, 79, of 2330 East Main St., died at 2:40 p.m. Friday in the Michigan Skilled Care Center, after an illness of three years.

Born March 24, 1895, in Chicago, Mrs. Hamilton had lived here since 1952, coming from Jackson, Mich. Her husband, Ralph, died in 1952.

Survivors include a son, Ralph of Jackson; two daughters, Mrs. Lee (Norma) Cox and Mrs. Clarnece[sic] (Helen) Holcomb, both of Niles; 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, with Rev. Donald Cozadd of the Grace United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. Sunday in the Halbritter Funeral Home.


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, June 15, 1974, page 2, col. 7-8, microfilm Niles District Library

Williams, Arthur

editor Obituaries

Arthur Williams
Aug. 4, 1890-June 11, 1974

NILES--Arthur Williams, 83, of Dixie Moore, Ill., died at 3 a.m. Tuesday in Anglemoore Hospital, Harvey, Ill. after an illness of two weeks.

Mr. Williams was born Aug. 4, 1890, in Sunflower, Miss.  His first wife, the former Mary Smith, preceded him in death. He married the former Luella Tutson, who survives, on Dec. 24, 1938, in Alligator, Miss.

Mr. Williams was a member of the Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church of Niles.

Surviving, in addition to his wife, are two sons, Roosevelt and James Williams, both of Chicago, two daughters, Mrs. Ethel Smith of Dixie Moore and Mrs. Arthur Mary Durnett of Memphis, Tenn.; four stepsons, Dave Tutson of Niles, Robert and Sam Tutson of Buchanan and John Tutson of Chicago; a stepdaughter, Mrs. Lucy Mae Hubbard of Buchanan; two brothers, M.C. Williams of Niles and J.D. Williams of Kalamazoo, 18 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be  held at 1:30 pm. Saturday in the Mount Calvary Baptist Church with the Rev.James Ridley and the Rev. W.L. Daniel officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 p.m. Thursday in the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home.


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, June 12, 1974, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Williams, Pierce

editor Obituaries

Pierce Williams, 75
June 3, 1935 — March 20, 2011

Pierce Richard “Skeeter” Williams, 75, of Silverbrook Avenue, Niles, died Sunday morning, March 20, 2011 in Niles.

Pierce Williams, 75

He was born June 3, 1935 in Niles to Richard C. and Roberta P. (Pierce) Williams and lived in Niles all of his life. He graduated from Niles High School in 1953 and attended Michigan State University. He served in the United States Army Reserve.

Skeeter was owner and president of Williams Home Centers, Niles until his retirement in 1989. He also owned Wilco Distributing of Niles.

He was a member of First Presbyterian Church. He was formerly an elected member and past president of the Niles Community Schools Board of Education; a former member and past president of the Niles-Buchanan Club of Rotary International; and a member of B.P.O. of Niles Elks 1322.

He was an avid fisherman, loved boating and hunted for 50 years before bagging his first buck. He enjoyed family and friends with whom he shared fish fries and holidays, but his greatest accomplishment was his family whom he loved and who loved him.

On Aug. 6, 1955 in Niles he married the former Doretta Wiseman, with whom he celebrated his 55th wedding anniversary.

He is survived by his wife, Doretta, and their children, Kimberly (Steven) Hanson of Toledo, Ohio, Kathleen (Marc) Edenzon of Belle Mead, N.J., David Williams of Traverse City, Mich.; grandchildren, Alexander Prior, Jacob Lenz, Alexandra, Michael and Zachary Edenzon, Sean Williams and Matthew and Laurel Hanson; Skeeter’s brother, Chris E. (Rebecca) Williams of Niles; sister-in-law, Sharon (Mrs. Larry) Williams of Naples, Fla.; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Karen Michelle Williams; his parents, R.C. and “Bo” Williams; and his brother, Larry C. Williams.

The funeral service for Pierce R. Williams will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 23 at First Presbyterian Church, Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of the church officiating.

Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Contributions in memory of Skeeter may be made to The Foundation of First Presbyterian Church or to the Special Olympics of New Jersey.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 10:22pm Monday, March 21, 2011; print Tuesday, March 23, 2011.

Hull, Dale

editor Obituaries

Dale Hull
Oct. 27, 1883-April 11, 1964

Dale Hull, 80, of 636 N. 7th St., was pronounced dead on arrival at Pawating Hospital at 6:30 a.m. today.  His death was unexpected.

Mr. Hull was born Oct. 27, 1883, in Lock Springs, Ind. He came to Niles from Greensburg, Ind.,, in 1926.

Survivors include his widow, Dora; two daughters, Mrs. James Reed and Mrs. Fred Lacey, both of Niles; four grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

He was a member of the First Methodist church, and the Men's Fellowship Class of the church.

Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Pifer Funeral Home. Dr. Maurice McKean, pastor of his church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, April 11, 1964, page 2, col 6, microfilm Niles District Library

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