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.

Rose, Florence 1885-1975

Florence Rose
Aug 25, 1885-Nov. 27, 1975

Niles Daily Star(Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, December 1, 1975, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES—Graveside services were held at Silverbrook Cemetery today for Florence Rose, 90, who died Thursday at Florida Lutheran Retirement Home at DeLand, Fla. A retired nurse at Kalamazoo State Hospital, she was born Aug. 25, 1885, at Vandalia. She moved to DeLand seven years ago.

Mrs. Rose's husband, John, died Feb. 15, 1969. She is survived by a daughter, Dorothy McLean of Ferndale, Mich., a daughter-in-law, Ernestine Rose of DeLand, a sister, Sally Welburn of Three Rivers, seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

The Rev. Vincent Anderson, pastor of Trinity Episcopal Church, officiated at the graveside services and local arrangements were made by the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home.

Runnion, Barbara June 1930-1930

Barbara June Runnion
Aug. 12, 1930-Aug. 12, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, August 14, 1930, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: FUNERAL BABY RUNNION

The Rev. W.W. Slee conducted the funeral services this afternoon for the baby daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Runnion, 1242 S. Thirteenth street. Burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery.

Schrump, Julia E. (Fleischauer) 1878-1960

Julia E. Schrump 
April 12, 1878-Dec. 22, 1960

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, December 22, 1960, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Julia E. Schrump, 82, 615 Howard st., died at 12:20 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital where she been a patient since Dec. 19. She had been in failing health for two years, and had been admitted to Pawating after suffering a broken hip and arm in a fall.

Mrs. Schrump was born April 12, 1878, in Niles and had lived all of her life in this community. She was married on Dec. 21, 1898, in Niles to Henry E. Schrump. The couple celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary Wednesday.

Surviving besides her husband are: two sons, Oscar Schrump, Niles and Henry A. Schrump, Grand Rapids; three grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m Saturday in the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. Richard Fraser, pastor of St. John's United Church of Christ (Evangelical and Reformed) of which she had been a life member, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the funeral home.

Shell, Viva K. 1907-1975

Viva K. Shell
Feb. 15, 1907-Dec. 2, 1975

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Friday, December 4, 1975, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES—Miss Viva K. Shell, 68, of Rio Rancho, N.M., died Tuesday in Albuquerque, N.M., following an extended illness.

She was born Feb. 15, 1907, in Wisconsin and was a teacher at Grand Haven for 40 years before retiring. She moved to Rio Rancho Aug. 18. She is survived by a brother, Francis “Red” Shell of Rio Rancho.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. William A. Zoerner of the First Presbyterian Church of Grand Haven, officiating.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Grand Haven.

Mark, John G. 1845-1929

John G. Mark
Sept. 12, 1845-Oct. 25, 1929

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, October 26, 1929, page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

JOHN G. MARK DIES AT PLATT STREET RESIDENCE

John G. Mark, 84, died last evening at 11 o'clock at his home, 529 Platt street. He had been confined to his bed for two years with illness.

Mr. Mark was born in Carroll county, Illinois, on Sept, 12, 1845. He was married in Carroll county in 1868 to Miss Evaline Yontz, who died in Niles in Febraury[sic], 1920. Of the six children born to them, three survive their father. They are miss Laura and harry Mark, of Niles,and Miss Cora Mark of Chicago. The latter has been in Niles for a week on account of her father's serious condition. Besides the daughters and son, Mr. Mark is survived by three grandchildren, the daughters of his son, Roscoe L. Mark, who died in 1917. Also a half sister, Mrs. Martha Wood, of Mt. Carroll, Ill.

Mr. Mark engaged in the lumber business both as a retail merchant and as a traveling salesman for the greater part of his life. Upon coming to Niles 19 years ago he was employed as a traveling salesman for a lumber company and continued to travel for the company for several years after he came to Niles. Mr. Mark was particularly interested in horticulture and the culture of flowers and his own gardens in West Niles were a source of delight to him.

Fraternally the deceased was a member of the Masonic order and of the Shriners in Illinois.

The body is at the Troost and Augustine chapel and friends may call there to view the body until the hour of the funeral services. The services will be held at 3:30 tomorrow afternoon in the chapel. The Rev. O/P. Miles, pastor of the First Baptist church where the family has been prominently connected, will officiate. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery in the family lot.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, October 28, 1929, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

News in Brief: FUNERAL J.G. MARK

Funeral services for John G. Mark, 5229 Platt street, who died on Friday evening, were held on Sunday afternoon. The Rev. O.P. Miles, pastor of the First Baptist church, officiated. Burial was made in the family lot in Silver Brook cemetery. Among those from out of the city who attended the services were Mrs. Martha Wood, of Mt. Carroll, Ill.; Mrs. R.L. Mark and Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Stafford, of Chicago; Mr. and Mrs. F.P. Puterbaugh, Lanark, Ill., and Mr. and Mrs. Frank Watkins, of Plymouth, Ind. Miss Cora Mark, who came to Niles a week ago on account of her father's illness, will return to Chicago this evening.

McCrory, Laura C. 1899-1955

Laura C. McCrory
May 23 1899-April 24, 1955

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, April 25, 1955, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Laura C. McCrory, 55, of 1433 Sheffield Avenue, died Sunday morning at Memorial Hospital in South Bend following an illness of six years.

Mrs. McCrory was born May 23, 1899, in Michigan City, Ind., and came to Niles in 1921 from Trenton, N.J. She was a member of the Lady Elks.

Surviving are: her husband, Charles J., three sons, Charles L., James M. and Louis P., all of Niles, and two grandchildren.

Private funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the Pifer Funeral Home here with the Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor of the First Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

McKenzie, William M. 1874-1930

William M. McKenzie
Nov. 1, 1874-Aug. 8, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, August 9, 1930, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

M.C. RY. INSPECTOR DIES OF INJURIES
William McKinzie Passes Away at Hospital Friday Evening

Injuries received by William McKenzie, 54, 1352 Sheridan avenue on Thursday night, proved fatal and he died last evening about 6:30 in Pawating hospital without having regained consciousness.

Mr. McKenzie, who was a Michigan Central car inspector, had found a broken brake hanger under a freight car and had crawled under the car to repair it. While he was under the car, the train of which the car was a part, was set in motion and before Mr. McKenzie could get to safety, wheels of the car had gone over him.

Although fellow workmen came at once to his assistance he suffered greatly from loss of blood before he reached the hospital and from the first, grave fears for his recovery were held an account of the apparent injuries and from evident internal injuries.

Mr. McKenzie was born on Nov. 1, 1874, at Mattoon, Ill. He moved to Niles with his family in August, 1923, from Mattoon where he had been employed for 20 years in the railroad service. He is survived by a widow, Mrs. Myrtle McKenzie, by three sons, Ray McKenzie, Mattoon, Ill., George and Oscar McKenzie, of Niles, two daughters, Mrs. J.C. Edmonds, of Villa Grove, Ill., and Miss Mary Frances McKenzie, of Niles. One grandson, Gueldon Edmonds, also survives. George McKenzie, one of the three surviving sons, was graduated in June from the Niles high school.

The funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon. A service will be held at 2 o'clock in the home, 1352 Sheridan avenue, and at 2:30 in the First Baptist church. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery. 

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, August 11, 1929, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: FUNERAL WILLIAM McKENZIE

Funeral services for William McKenzie, 1329 Sheridan avenue, who was fatally injured last Thursday night while in the discharge of his duties as a Michigan Central car inspector, were held on Sunday in the First Baptist church. The Rev. O.P. Miles, the pastor, conducted the services. The pallbearers were railroad employes as follows: Charles Sayer, Earl Clark, William Guirk, Carl Schmitt, Oliver Burton and Frank Wise. Burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery. Among those from out of the city who attended the services were J.C. Edmonds of Villa Grove, Ill., and Lawrence Walters, Mattoon, Ill., William McKenzie, Frank Anderson and j. Black, of Terre Haute, Ind. Mr. McKenzie was the last member of his family since the death on June 23 of the brother in Mattoon.