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.

Clark, John P.

John P. Clark
Feb. 9, 1839-November 28, 1912


Niles Daily Sun, Friday, November 29, 1912, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

JOHN P. CLARK DIED IN NIGHT

Well Known Barron Lake Citizen passed away before a doctor could be called.


John P. Clark, a highly esteemed citizen of Howard township, residing on a 15 acre farm near Barron Lake, died rather suddenly early Wednesday morning.
Mr. Clark has been in poor health for several years but had been able to be around and was in the city a day or two before his death.
He had been subject to heart attacks and had several of them last year and his neighbor, S.B. Codding had always been called in at such times.
The fatal attack occurred between 4 and 5 o'clock Wednesday morning and ended in death before Mr. Codding or a physician could be summoned.
The deceased was born in Cincinnati in 1839.
He came to Niles about fourteen years ago and made his home on the farm where he died ever since.
He is survived by his widow to whom he was married in 1869 and six children as follows: Joseph, of Kansas City, Mo., Mrs. Agnes Ford, Chicago; Mrs. George Kerr, Detroit; Mrs. Jane Ramsay, Ann Arbor; Miss Margaret Clark, Washington, D.C.; Will E. Clark, Chicago.
Mr. Clark was a member of the Masonic fraternity also of the Easter Star Chapter of Niles.
The funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the residence with burial at Silver Brook cemetery this city under Masonic auspicies[sic].
Members of St. Joseph Lodge No. 4 will meet the funeral cortege at the Fifth street viaduct and will act as escort to the cemetery.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 29, 1912, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH REMOVES JOHN T.[SIC] CLARK

Was a Mason and Member of the Eastern Star.

 

John T.[sic] Clark, 72, died at the home, Barren[sic] Lake, Thanksgiving morning at 4 o'clock.  He had been ill for some time with a complication of diseases.

Deceased was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, and there attended College Hill school. Mr. Clark had resided in this vicinity many years, and he was ever held in the highest of esteem.

Besides the widow, six children remain, as follows: Rev. Jos. Clark of Kansas City, Mo.; Mrs. Agnes Ford and Will G. Clark of Chicago; Miss Margaret of Washington, D.C. Mrs. J.D. Ransay[sic] of Ann Arbor and Mrs. Geo Kerr of Pittsburg.

Mr. Clark was a member of the Masonic fraternity of Niles, also of the Eastern Star.  Funeral from the house at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon, Rev. W.R. Yonker of the Presbyterian church, officiating.  Burial at Silver Brook cemetery. At the grave, Masons will conduct retualistic[sic] services.

 

Note: Death record states name as John P. Clark and informant as Mrs. J.P. Clark and date of death as November 28, 1912.

 

Richardson, William D.

William D. Richardson
Nov. 24, 1876-Jan. 14, 1936


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 16, 1936, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

W.D. Richardson, Chicago, Will Be Buried in Niles

William D. Richardson, a former resident of Niles, died Tuesday at his home, 4215 Prairie avenue, Chicago. Funeral services are being held there this afternoon and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery, Niles, Friday.

The body will arrive in Niles at 11:25 in the morning on the Michigan Central. It will be taken to the cemetery where the comital[sic] service will be read by the Rev. Harry L. Nicholson, of Trinity Episcopal church.

Mr. Richardson spent his boyhood in Niles, leaving about 40 years ago. He has revisited his friends here frequently since he left to make his home in Chicago. He was a cousin of Mrs. Walter Parkin. Mr. Parkin is in Chicago today attending the funeral service.

Mr. Richardson leaves his wife, Flora; his father, W.L. Richardson, and a sister, Miss Genevieve Richardson, all of Chicago.


Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 17, 1936, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

RICHARDSON BURIAL TODAY


Brief services were conducted in Silverbrook cemetery today at the burial of William D. Richardson, former Niles resident, and cousin of Mrs.Walter Parkin. Mr. Richardson died Tuesday at his home in Chicago. The Rev. Harry L. Nicholson conducted the service at the cemetery.

VanDyke, Albert

Albert VanDyke
Aug. 16, 1857-Jan. 16, 1936

PIONEER MERCHANT IS TAKEN BY DEATH

Albert Van Dyke, 78, Meat Dealer 53 Years, Dies After Long Illness


Albert Van Dyke, a pioneer Niles business man who had conducted a meat market at 213 North Second street for 53 years, died at 5:45 o'clock Thursday afternoon at his home, 213 1/2 North Second street.
Mr. Van Dyke, who was 78 years old, came to Niles 53 years ago from Paw Paw.  He established the market which he had conducted continuously since that time.  He had been ill about a year.
Mr. Van Dyke was born in Kalamazoo Aug. 16, 1857. he leaves his wife, Christina, two daughters, Mrs. Emma Merson, Niles, and Mrs. Lydia Perkins, Detroit, and one step-son, Car Hartman, Niles, also a sister Mrs. Maude Beach, Lawton.
The Rev. Theo Eisen will officiate at the funeral services Sunday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock in the Price and Kiger funeral home.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Friends of the family are asked to call at the Price and Kiger funeral home until the hour of the services.

Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 17, 1936, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library.

Tatman, William M.

William M. Tatman
Nov. 5, 1864-July 15, 1948


William M. Tatman, 83, formerly of 923 Regent street, Niles, died at 7:10 p.m. Saturday at the state hospital in Kalamazoo. He had been ill four years.

Born in Rensselaer, Ind. on Nov. 5, 1864, he came to Niles 35 years ago, He was retired.

His wife, Rosanna, preceded him in death on March 16, 1944. Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Lillian Mitchell, Niles, and Mrs. Fairy Whitney, Willoughby, O.; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a sister, Mrs. Mary Clark, of Chicago.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Pifer funeral home, with the Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor of the First Methodist church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 17, 1948, page 2 col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library.

Smith, Byron

Byron Smith
Oct. 24, 1851-Nov. 22, 1912


Niles Daily Sun, Monday, November 25, 1912, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH OF BYRON SMITH

Niles Resident found dead in bed at Sodus

 

The remains of Byron Smith were brought to Niles from Sodus, Mich., today and funeral services were held from the home of his daughter, Mrs. Percy Wright, 1101 Regent street this morning at 11 o'clock.

Rev. W.R. Yonker of the Presbyterian church conducted the service, Interment occurred at Silver Brook cemetery.

Mr. Smith passed away Thursday afternoon at the home of his daughter, Mrs. May Moore in Pipestone township, Mr. Smith was found dead in bed.

He has been ill for some time with heart trouble, and was 61 years of age.  He is survived by three daughters, Mrs. May Moore of Pipestone and Mrs. Percy Wright and Mrs. Carl Wedel of Niles, also two sons, William and Byron Smith, who are on the railroad.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 25, 1912, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

OBITUARY


Byron E. Smith, 63, died at home of his daughter, Mrs. W.E. Moore, near Sodus, Friday evening of heart disease. The body was brought here this morning and funeral services were held at 11 o'clock from the home of his daughter, Mrs. P.L. Wright, Rev. W.R. Yonker officiating. Interment was at Silver brook cemetery.
Deceased is survived by three daughters, Mrs. P.L. Wright and Mrs. Carl Wedel of this city and Mrs. W.E. Moore of Sodus, and two sons, Byron E. of Detroit and William of Benton Harbor.
Mr. Smith had been a resident of Niles for many years, leaving here 18 months ago to  make his home with his daughter, soon after the death of Mrs. Smith.

Baxter, Wayne J.

Wayne Baxter, 85
Aug. 23, 1925 — March 8, 2011

Wayne J. Baxter, 85, of Cherry Street in Niles, died at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at his home following an extended illness.

He was born Aug. 23, 1925 in Angola, Ind. to Harley Baxter and Nellie (Gaffney) Baxter. He lived most of his life in Niles.

He was a CB radio enthusiast and enjoyed listening to police scanners. He loved to feed the birds and squirrels.

He married Marjorie L. (Shriner) Baxter on Oct. 28, 1950. She died March 21, 1989.

Surviving family includes his sons, Danny (Ruth Ann) Baxter, Jack (Anne) Baxter of Niles and Dick (Betty) Baxter of Mishawaka, Ind.; daughters, Linda (Paul) Hess of Niles, Betty (Roland) Arndt of Mishawaka and Rose Mitchell of New Carlisle, Ind.; 23 grandchildren; and 25 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Patty Willard, who died May 9, 2005; two brothers and two sisters.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, March 11, 2011 at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Pastor Scott Labbe, chaplain of Lakeland Hospice, officiating.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Friends may call one hour prior to services at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the donor’s choice.

Niles Daily Star, Published online  11:34pm Thursday, March 10, 2011, paper Friday, March 11, 2011, page 2

Heckelsberg, Richard

Richard Heckelsberg, 74
Feb. 1, 1937 — March 11, 2011

Richard Heckelsberg, 74, of Niles, passed away on Friday, March 11, 2011 at his residence with his family by his side.

Services will be held on Tuesday, March 15, 2011 at 1:00 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home with a time of visitation two hours prior. Pastor Allan Poage will officiate the service. An interment will follow the services at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home, 4025 Health Park Lane, St. Joseph, MI 49085 or Pet Refuge, 2300 W. 6th Street, Mishawaka, IN 46544.

Condolences, photos, and memories may be left for the family at www.brownfuneralhomeniles.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 3:59pm Sunday, March 13, 2011; paper March 14, 2011, page 2