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.

Gage, Henrietta (Wood) 1857-1927

Henrietta Gage
Oct. 9, 1857-July 27, 1927

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, July 27, 1927, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH CLAIMS MRS. ARZA GAGE WHILE VISITING DAUGHTER

Many Niles friends were shocked and grieved this morning to learn of the at Champion, Mich., of Mrs. Nettie Gage, wife of Arza G. Gage, 116 S. Fourth street. The message announcing her death was received by Mrs. Lena Wood, widow of Charles Wood, who was a brother of Mrs. Gage. The message further stated that the body would be brought to Miles on the Michigan Central train arriving in Niles about noon Thursday.

Mr. and Mrs. Gage left last Friday for Champion to visit their son-in-law and daughter, Dr. and Mrs. Paul Van Riper. Mrs. Gage had long been in ill health and during the last winter was alarmingly ill with heart disease. However, of late her condition had shown a marked improvement, and her death was quite unexpected. While particulars were not given in the message sent by Mr. Gage is is thought her death was due to heart affliction.

Mrs. Gage was born in New York state, a daughter of Charles L. and Cordelia Wood. When she was a little girl she came to Niles with her parents and she had since resided here. Her only brother Charles L. Wood, died suddenly of apoplexy on September 25, 1926. Mrs. Gage is survived by her husband, and by one daughter, Mrs. Van Riper.

Plans for the funeral will not be completed until Mr. Gage reaches Niles. Mrs. Gage was a member of active worker in the Presbyterian church of Niles and was a member for many years of the Ladies Reading club.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, July 28, 1927, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

News in Brief: FUNERAL SERVICES FRIDAY

Funeral services for Mrs. Arga[sic] will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 in the afternoon at the home, 116 South Fourth street. Rev. H.T. Scherer will officiate. Burial will take place in the family lot in Silver Brook cemetery. The body arrived in Niles on Michigan Central train due at 11 o'clock this morning, from Champion, Michigan, accompanied by Mr. Gage and Dr. and Mrs. Paul Van Riper, the latter a daughter of the deceased.

Hargreaves, Harriet (Buckle) 1871-1930

Harriet Hargreaves
Oct. 1, 1871-Aug. 9, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, August 9, 1930, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. HARGREAVES DIES AFTER LONG ILLNESS
Passes Away Early Today at Her Eighth Street Residence

Mrs. Harriett Hargreaves, 59, wife of Abraham Hargreaves, 415 N. Eighth street, a native of England, died this morning at 7 o'clock in their home. She had been ill for three years. She had an operation two years ago and had since been in failing health.

Mrs. Hargreaves' maiden name was Harriett Buckle. She was born in Leeds, England, and grew to young womanhood there. She was married in Leeds to Mr. Hargreaves, who also was born in that city. They were married in 1889. In 1906 they set sail for the United States and came directly to Niles where Mrs. Hargreaves' mother then lived. She died 17 years ago.

Of the two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Hargreaves. Both survive their mother with the husband. The children are James and John Hargreaves, both of Niles. Four grandchildren also survived and two brothers and a sister. One brother, Edward Buckle, lives in Niles and the other brother and the sister live in England.

Mrs. Hargreaves was a member of the Episcopal church. The services will be held in that church on Tuesday but the hour could not be announced today until, in the absence of a rector in the Niles church, an Episcopal rector could be consulted.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, August 11, 1930, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: FUNERAL TOMORROW

Rev. W. Keith Chidester, of St. Johns, Mich., formerly rector of Trinity Episcopal church in Niles, will come to Niles tomorrow to conduct the funeral services for Mrs. Abraham Hargreaves. The funeral services will be held at two o'clock in the home at 415 N. Eighth street and at 2:30 in Trinity church. Burial will be made at Silver Brook cemetery. Mrs. James Payne, of Three Oaks, a step-sister of the deceased is among those from out of the city here on account of Mrs. Hargreaves's death.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, August 12, 1927, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: FUNERAL MRS. HARGREAVES

Funeral services for Mrs. Abraham Hargreaves were held this afternoon in Trinity Episcopal church after a brief service had been held also in the home at 415 N. Eighth street. The Rev. W. Keith Chidester, of St. Johns, former rector of the Niles Episcopal church, came to Niles today to conduct the services. Burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery. Mrs. Hargreaves died on Saturday morning in her home after about three years of illness.

Jones, Glenadine May 1925-1925

Glenadine May Jones
10/21/1925-10/21/1925

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, October 22, 1925, page 4, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

News in Brief: INFANT DIES

The child born to Mr. and Mrs. Glen Jones, 12 N. St. Joseph avenue, born yesterday morning lived but a few hours.

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.