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.

Hofmeister, Christian Sr. 1832-1910

Christian Hofmeister, Sr.
1832-Jan. 17, 1910

Niles Daily Sun (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, January 17, 1910, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Additional Local News

Christian Hofmeister, Sr., passed away today at 11 o'clock at the home of his son, Christian on Regent street, at the age of 78. Mr. and Mrs. Hofmeister, Sr., came to Niles with their son and his family from Cincinnati last august. The deceased had been ill for several months with a complication of diseases. The widow and the one son, who is employed as an artist at the National Printing and Engraving plant, are the only surviving relatives. The funeral will be held Wednesday at an hour yet to be decided.

Pointer, Dorsey L. 1933-1989

Dorsey L. Pointer
Jan 31, 1933-April 1, 1989

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, April 4, 1989, page 2 col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Dorsey L. Pointer, 66, 607 Valley View Dr., Henderson, Nev. died Saturday, April 1 at his home following an extended illness.

Born Jan. 31, 1933 in Parma, Mo., he served in the U.S. Army in Korea and was a restaurant manager. He married Vivian Geishirt Feb. 21, 1953 in South Bend, Ind. She survives.

Other survivors include: his mother, Lettie Pointer of Niles; three sons, Ricky, Rodney and Timothy Pointer of Niles; a daughter Shelly Pointer of Henderson, Nev.; two sisters, Wanda Stevens of Niles and Pat Stover of Allegan; two brothers, Jack Pointer of Buchanan and Gaines Pointer of Niles; and eight grandchildren.

Services are 2 p.m. April 6 at Bethel Tabernacle Church with Rev. John Bair. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.

Memorials may be given to the Berrien County Cancer Service or the Bethel Tabernacle Church Fund.

Robbins, Mabel S. 1908-1989

Mabel S. Robbins
May 20, 1908-March 2, 1989

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, March 4, 1989, page 5, col.6, microfilm Niles District Library

Mabel S. Robbins, 80, 401 Bluff St., Joliet, Ill., died Thursday in her home.

Born May 20, 1908, she retired after 38 years as a clerk at Walgreen Drug Store in Joliet.

On Aug. 30, 1926, she married Robert Robbins in Joliet. He preceded her in death.

She is survived by four siblings, all of Niles. They are Isabelle Dittmar, Helen Kline, Franklin Robbins and Floyd Robbins. Other survivors include a son, Robert of Joliet; three grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be held Monday at 3:30 p.m. at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home in Niles. The Rev. Larry Clanch of the Seventh Day Adventist church in Joliet will officiate. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends by[sic] from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Carlson Funeral Home in Joliet, or at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home an hour prior to the funeral.

Waldron, Stephen L. 1941-1989

Stephen L. Waldron
July 28, 1941-March 2, 1989

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, March 4, 1989, page 2, col.1, microfilm Niles District Library

Capt. Stephen L. Waldron

Stephen L. Waldron, 47, 2931 S. Fourteenth St., Niles, died Thursday, March 2. He was pronounced dead at 9:02 a.m. at Pawating Hospital, after collapsing at the Niles Fire Station where he worked.

Waldron, a graduate of Washington High School in South Bend, Ind., was formerly with the Clay Township Inidana[sic] Fire Department, the Niles Township Volunteer Fire Department, and a member of the Niles Moose Lodge.

He was born July 28,1 1941, in Illinois. He moved to Niles in 1966, coming from South Bend.

He is survived by three sons, William of Chattanooga, Tenn., Stephen of Eastridge, Tenn., and Edward of Mishawaka, Ind.; his parents, Hendrick and Josephine of Niles; a brother, Rick, of South Bend; and one grandson.

Services will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in South Bend. Friends may call at the funeral home one hour prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Michigan Firemen's Memorial Fund in care of Halbritter Funeral Home.

 

Note: Burial was at Silverbrook not South Bend as stated above.

Augustine, Louis 1837-1924

Louis Augustine
May 9, 1837-Sept. 17, 1924

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, September 17, 1924, page 4, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH CLAIMS L. AUGUSTINE

UNTIL HE RETIRED THREE YEARS AGO WAS OLDEST BARBER IN COUNTRY

Death claimed one of Niles oldest citizens this morning at 2 o'clock when Louis Augustine, 87, passed away at his home, 402 Grant street. For the last two months he had been suffering from the infirmities attendant upon advanced years, but for six weeks he had been confined to his bed. Until the last illness, Mr. Augustine afforded a remarkable example of physical and mental vigor for one if[sic] his age.

Mr. Augustine was born in Germany, May 9, 1837. He came to the United States when a youth of 14 years. A few years after the Civil war he came to Niles from Chicago, and had since resided here continuously. Early in his youth he learned the trade of a barber, and upon coming to Niles opened a shop, and until three years ago had continued in that business. He was for several years preceding his retirement, the oldest active barber in the United States. He made many friends during his long residence in Niles, and was highly esteemed as a citizen.

Mr. Augustine is survived by a widow, Mrs. Caroline Augustine, and by two sons, Lewis E. and Edwin V. Augustine, both of Niles.

Fraternally Mr. Augustine was identified with the Maccabees and with the German Workingmen's Benevolent society.

The funeral services will be held on Thursday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the home. Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, September 18, 1924, page 4, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral Services

Funeral services will be held on Friday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock for Lewis Augustine at the home, 402 Grant street. Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.

Bierbauer, Julia 1861-1927

Julia Bierbauer
Sept. 23, 1861-July 21, 1927

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co, MI), Saturday, July 22, 1927, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

News in Brief: TO BRING BODY TO NILES

The body of Mrs. Louis H. Bierbauer, 60, who died on Thursday at her home in St. Louis, Mo., will be brought to Niles on Monday for burial, after funeral services have been held at the home of Mrs. W.A. Rosenberger, 1104 North Adams street, in South Bend. Mrs. Rosenberger was formerly Miss Henrietta Bierbauer, a sister of Lewis.[sic] They were the son and daughter to Mr. and Mrs. Simon Bierbauer, whose family home was for many years near the Indiana and Michigan state line. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bierbauer were buried in Silver Brook cemetery, and both their son's wives will be buried there also.

Bailey, Robert Lee 1927-1927

Robert Lee Bailey
July 7, 1927-July 7, 1927

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co, MI), Friday, July 8, 1927, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

News in Brief: INFANT DIES

Committal services were conducted at Silver Brook cemetery this afternoon for Robert Lee Baily, born on Thursday to Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Baily, 314 E. Fort street.