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.

Saathoff, William

William Saathoff
March 29, 1884-October 22, 1954


William Saathoff, Prominent Businessman, Dies Today at 70

    William Saathoff, 70, of 1319 Hickory street, veteran Niles dairy operator and businessman, died at 12:08 a.m. today at Pawating Hospital after a nine-week illness.
    Owner and operator of United Dairies, he has been in the dairy business here since 1925.
    Born March 29, 1884 at Walshville, Ill., he came here from Staunton, Ill. March 29 1925, and purchased the Forburger Dairy.  The next year he purchased the Hunter Co. Dairy and operated them as City Dairy.
    In 1949, he purchased the Niles Creamery and the consolidated firms became the United Dairies.
    He was named a director of the First National Bank when it was re-organized in August, 1933.  Saathoff was one of the founders of the Niles Credit Assn. which was formed in 1927 and has been member of the association's board of directors since that time.
    He is a past president of the Chamber of Commerce and a member of the South Bend Milk Council for many years.
    Saathoff also is a past president of the local Lions Club and member of the St. Joseph Valley Free and Accepted Masons, Lodge No. 4, White Shrine, Masonic Consistory, Eastern Star, Niles-Cass Shrine Club, Grand Rapids Shrine and Niles BPO Elks Lodge.
    He married Lena Highlander in July, 1909.  She died in November, 1949. He married Betty Mallot in July, 1950.  She survives.
    Other survivors are a son Arthur Saathoff, of Niles; two step-daughters, Mrs. Ted Bakeman of Fort Riley, Kan., and Mrs. Kenneth Krichner, Elkhart, Ind.; five grandchildren; three brothers, Walter Saathoff of Niles, Henry Saathoff, Litchfield, Ill. and George Saathoff, Monrovia, Calif., and one sister, Mrs. Everett Lowe of Litchfield, Ill.
    [Illegible]  services at 3 p.m. Monday at the First Baptist Chruch.  Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.  Bearers will be employes of United Dairies.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Friday, October 22, 1954, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library)

Garnhart, Daniel R.

Daniel Garnhart
January 17, 1880-October 26, 1954


    Daniel Raymond Garnhart, 251 Bond street, died at 7:10 pm. Tuesday in Pawating Hospital. He was been ill since last February.
    Surviving are his wife, Mary; one daughter, Mrs. Harry W. Stover, of Marshall; one grandchild and two great-grandchildren; a brother, Samuel, of Stillman Valley, Ill., and one sister, Miss Katherine Garnhart, of Stillman.
    Garnhart was born on Jan. 17, 1889, in Duart, Pa., and came here from Holcomb, Ill., 30 years ago.
    Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, with the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, Presbyterian pastor, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, October 27, 1954, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library)

Malsch, Anna

Mrs. Anna Malsch
January 15, 1869-October 22, 1954


    Word has been received here of the death of Mrs. Anna Malsch, 85, of 520 1/2 Oak street, Kalamazoo, who died at 4 p.m. Friday at Borgess Hospital after a four-day illness.
    She was born in Germany Jan. 15, 1869 and had lived in this country 68 years.  She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church.
    Survivors are a daughter, Mrs. Augusta MacDonald of Kalamazoo; two sons, Rudolph Malsch, Niles, and Carl Malsch, Dowagiac; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.  Her husband, August, died in 1925.
    Prayer services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at the Trusdell Funeral Home, Kalamazoo. Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home after 1 p.m. Monday.  Services will be conducted at 2 p.m.. Tuesday at St. Paul's Lutheran Church by the Rev. Theodore Laesch.  Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

(Source:  Niles Daily Star, Saturday, October 23, 1954, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library)

Ray, Clara

Mrs. Clara Ray
April 9, 1891-October 23, 1954


    Mrs. Clara Ray, 63, of 1332 Eagle street, died at 3:30 p.m. Saturday at the home of her son, Edwin Ray, Kokomo, Ind., following an illness of two years.
    Mrs. Ray was born April 9, 1891, in Michigan City, Ind., and came to Niles in 1919.  She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.
    Surviving besides her son are: her husband, Norman; her stepmother, Mrs. Polly Trunk, Michigan City; a daughter, Mrs. Peter Ciula, South Bend; six grandchildren; one great grandchild, and three brothers, Frank, Carl and Ollie Trunk, all of Michigan City.
    Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday in St. Mary's Catholic Church with the Rev. Cletus Rose, pastor, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. The Rosary will be recited at 7:30 p.m today at the Kiger Funeral Home here, where friends may call.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Monday, October 25, 1954, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Johnson, Robert F.

Robert F. Johnson
March 30, 1918-February 11, 1983


Robert F. Johnson, 64, of 5858 Sheridan Rd., Chicago, Ill., died suddenly at 5:15 p.m. Friday at Henrotin Hospital in Chicago.
He was born on March 30, 1918 in Niles and had lived in the area all of his life. He was the Assistant Manager of the North Shore Hilton in Skokie, Ill. and was a Veteran of WW II with the rank of Captain in the US Army. He is survived by a sister, Mrs. Charles (Barbara) Ray of South Bend.
Services will be held at 11 a.m.  Wednesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with Rev. Mark D. Graham of Wesley United Methodist Church officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.  Memorials may be given to the Wesley United Methodist Church Memorial Fund.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 14, 1983, page 2, col. 5-6, microfilm Niles District Library)

Carter, Otto G.

Otto G. Carter
November 17, 1918-February 13, 1983


    Otto G. Carter, 64, of 2457 US-12 E., Niles, died at 5:45 p.m. Sunday at Pawating Hospital after an extended illness.
    He was born on November 17, 1918 in Adophos, Kentucky and came to the area in 1954 from Pollard, Ark.  He was retired from the French Paper Co. and the Niles Community Schools.
    On December 13, 1937 he married Edith E. Harmon in Piggott, Ark.  His wife survives.  He is also survived by a son, Dewayne Carter of Niles and a daughter, Mrs. Celestino (Geraldine) Echevarria of Niles.  A brother, Realus Carter of Rockford, Ill. also survives along with six grandchildren.
    Services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call from 2-4 and 7-9 Tuesday at Halbritter Funeral Home.  Memorials may be given to Ring Lardner School Library.

(Source: Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 14, 1983, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library)

Fuller, Anna Belle (Rosenberger)

Anna Belle Fuller
June 15, 1918-February 19, 2002


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, February 20, 2002, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

    Anna Belle Fuller, 83, of Matthew Road, Niles, died at 1:15 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19 at West Woods of Niles, following an extended illness.  Arrangements are pending and are being completed by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 23, 2002, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

    Graveside funeral services for Anna B. Fuller, 83, of 113 Mathew Road, Niles will be Wednesday, Feb. 27 at 1 p.m .at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.  Pastor Thomas Clabaugh of Huntly Memorial Baptist Church will be officiating.
    Fuller died Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 1:15 at West Woods of Niles, following an extended illness.
    Fuller was born June 15, 1918 in Bertrand to Byron Edgar Rosenberger and Alva Mae Shook. She lived in Bertrand most of her life.  She moved to Alabama in 1986, but returned to the area in 1992.  On March 19, 1935, she married Lloyd A. Meyers. On November 20, 1950, she married William T. Fuller in St. Joseph.  He preceded her in death on Oct. 16, 1990.  She had been employed by businesses local to Bertrand, including Shula's and the former Dixie Villa Motel.  She had also been employed by Howard Johnson of Roseland, Ind.
    Survivors include: three daughters, Jeannette Geer of Del Valle, Texas, Carol Compoe of Niles, and Shirley O'Bren of South Bend; eight grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; and one sister, E. Mae Roberts, of Niles.
    She was also preceded in death by one son, Lloyd Meyers, Jr., who died Jan. 24, 1948, and one brother, Edgar Rosenberger, who died Dec. 24, 1990.
    There will be no visitation.
    Memorial contributions may be made to ten Niles Community Library.
    Arrangements were made at Halbritter Funeral Home.