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.

Mitchell, Margaret (Nieb) Conrad 1870-1955

Margaret Mitchell
July 7, 1870-April 11, 1955

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, April 11, 1955, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Margaret Mitchell, 84 a lifetime resident of Niles, died at 1 a.m. today at her home, 526 Howard Street, following an illness of several years.

Mrs. Mitchell was born on July 7, 1870, in a log cabin on the site of what is now the Morris Farm. She was a member of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church, of St. john's Church Guild, and of the Community, Michigan State and National Granges.

She was married to Andrew Mitchell on Jan. 28, 1943, in Niles.

Besides her husband, she is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Fred Sumption, Rock Island, Ill., and Mrs. Howard Beardslee, of Niles; two step-daughters, Mrs. Cyril Rose, South Bend, and Mrs. Frank Wigent, Milford; three step-sons, Stanley Mitchell, South Bend, Lawrence Mitchell, Niles, and Marion Mitchell, Buchanan; 12 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Also, a sister, Mrs. Elliott Straehty, Burr Oak, and a brother, Charles Nieb, of Niles.

Services will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday at St. John's Church with the Rev. Herbert Meussling officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home.

Statler, Melvin 1870-1930

Melvin Statler
June 23, 1870-Aug. 23, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co, MI), Monday, August 25, 1930, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: DEATH MELVIN STATLER

Melvin Statler, 60, 114 1/2 Main street, died at University hospital in Ann Arbor, yesterday morning after a prolonged illness. He as born near Riverside on June 23, 1870. He was married in Benton Harbor Oct. 12, 1898 to Miss Mary Hipshire, who survives him as do four children. They are Alonzo, Walter, Roscoe and Iva, all of Niles. One brother, Albert Statler, of Watervliet, also survives him. Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at Troost and Augustine chapel and burial will take place at Silver Brook cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co, MI), Tuesday, August 26, 1930, page 4, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: FUNERAL MELVIN STATLER

Funeral services for Melvin Statler, who died on Saturday in the University hospital in Ann Arbor, were held this afternoon. The services were conducted by the Rev. Nathan Stoner, a Seventh Day Adventist minister from Indiana. Burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery. Mr. Statler's home was at 114 1/2 Main street.

Walter, Helen (Schliebe) 1878-1930

Helen Walter (Schliebe)
Dec. 20, 1878-Aug. 22, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co, MI), Friday, August 22, 1930, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. FRED WALTER DIES AT 12TH STREET HOME
Illness of More Than Years Ends in Death This Morning

Mrs. Helen Walter, a resident of Niles for more than 30 years, and wife of Fred Walter, died this morning in their home 1507 N. Twelfth street after . .[illegible]. .from a complication of diseases for between two and three years. She had been confined to her bed for the last five weeks.

Mrs. Walter was born in Berlin, Germany on Dec. 20, 1878. She was brought to the United States when she was two years old by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Schliebe who located in South Bend, Ind. When she was a young [woman] she came to Niles to live. She was maried[sic] here to Mr. Walter on Oct. 20, 1897. The three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Walter survive with the husband. They are Mrs. Arley Meeker, Mrs. Allene Marshall, widow of Lloyd Marshall, and Mrs. Roy Mattiford, all of Niles.

Mrs. Walter was a member of the auxiliary to the Switchmen's Union of North American and of Niles Hive, No. 39, of the Maccabees.

It is planned to hold the funeral services on Monday afternoon at 2:30 in the home. The Rev. W.G. Webbink, pastor of St. John's church of which she was a member for many years, will officiate. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co, MI), Monday, August 25, 1930, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: FUNERAL MRS. FRED WALTER

Funeral services for Mrs. Fred Walter, 1507 N. Twelfth street, were conducted this afternoon by the Rev. G.W. Webbink, pastor of St. John's Evangelical church. Burial was made in Silver Brook Cemetery. Mrs. Walter died on Friday morning after being in ill health for several years.

Antisdel, Eleanor 1913-1929

Eleanor Antisdel
July 6, 1913-Sept. 25, 1929

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, September 25, 1929, page 1, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

MISS ELEANOR ANTISDEL DIES AT ANN ARBOR
Passes Away at University Hospital After Long Illness

Miss Eleanor Antisdel, 16, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Glen Antisdel, 506 Vine street, died this morning about 7:30 in University hospital in Ann Arbor, where she had been a patient for two weeks. Miss Antisdel was a student in the Niles high school, a member of the sophomore class last year but during the spring vacation she became ill and eventually suffered a nervous collapse and throughout the summer her condition had caused grave concern.

The body will be brought to Niles late this afternoon. The funeral arrangements have not been completed pending the return of Mrs. Antisdel from Ann Arbor.

Miss Antisdel is survived by her parents and by her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Bachman, of Niles, and Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Antisdel, of Dowagiac. The girl was born in Niles and except for a brief residence in Dowagiac the family had lived here during her entire lifetime.

Mr. Antisdel and Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Fisher, the latter a sister of Mrs. Antisdel, were in Ann Arbor on Monday and Mr. Fisher and Asa Durren, the later of Kalamazoo, returned to Ann Arbor yesterday afternoon when word was received that the girl's death was momentarily expected. Mrs. Durren is also a sister of Mrs. Antisdel and has been in Ann Arbor with Mrs. Antisdel and their mother has been in charge of her home in Kalamazoo.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, September 26, 1929, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

News in Brief: FUNERAL MISS ANTISDEL

Funeral services for Miss Eleanor Anstidel[sic], daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Glen Antisdel who died on Wednesday morning in Ann Arbor, will be held tomorrow afternoon. The body was taken to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Fisher, 921 N. Third street this afternoon and a service will be held there at 1:30 and at 2 o'clock a service will be held in the Presbyterian church. The Rev. G.W. Simon will officiate: Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery. Mrs. Fisher is a sister of Mrs. Antisdel.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Friday, September 27, 1929, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

News in Brief: FUNERAL MISS ANTISDEL

Funeral services for Miss Eleanor Antisdel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Glen Antisdel were held this afternoon in the Presbyterian church with the Rev. G.W. Simon officiating. Mr. and Mrs. Rex Leach sang. The following acted as pell[sic] bearers, Earl Sheeley and Bonnell Bridges, of Kalamazoo; Maurice Trowbridge, Robert Tuttle, Rodney Evans and Mary Miller. Burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery. Among those from out of the city who attended the services were Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Antisdel, Clyde Antisdel, Mr. and Mrs. Dick Antisdel and Wallace Antisdel, of Dowagiac, and Paul Antisdel, of South Bend.

 

Bailey, Harry E. 1873-1930

Harry Bailey
Nov. 17, 1873-June 1, 1930

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, June 2, 1930, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

HARRY BAILEY DIES VICTIM OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENT SATURDAY
Skull Fractured when Run Down on Lake Street at Night; Dies Hour Later

Struck by an auto driven by Henry Smith, 1436 Powers court, Saturday night, Harry Bailey, 56, of 924 Hickory street sustained a fractured skull from the effects of which he died at the Pawating hospital at 12:15 a..m. Sunday. He was brought to the hospital at 11:30 p.m. shortly after the accident.

Bailey had left his home about 10:30 p.m., going in the direction of the terminal. He was run down by Smith on Lake street near the airport as Smith was on his way to work at the terminal. Smith stated he had passed by another car and did not see Bailey, who was said to have been walking in the middle of the road. Smith took the injured man to the hospital following the accident.

The deceased was born Nov. 17, 1873, at Marshall, Mich. He came to Niles from Kalamazoo eight years ago and was employed until 21 months ago as boiler foreman at the Michigan Central terminal. Since he gave up this employment, he had been in ill health as a result of a sunstroke.

Mr. Bailey was a member of Fidelity lodge, No. 513, F. and A.M. Of Kalamazoo. Funeral services will be conducted for him by the Niles Masonic lodge in behalf of the Kalamazoo lodge at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Rutherford Funeral home. The Rev. W.W. Slee, pastor of the Methodist church here, will conduct the services. Burial will be in Silver Brook cemetery.

The deceased is survived by his widow and three children, Homer, Harry, Jr., and Hetty Bailey, 924 North Hickory street, Niles.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, June 3, 1930, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News in Brief: FUNERAL HARRY BAILEY

Funeral services for Harry Bailey, Sr., 924 Hickory street, were conducted this afternoon by the Rev. W.W. Slee, pastor of the Methodist church. The services at Silver Brook cemetery, where the body was buried, were in charge of the Niles lodge of Masons representing the Fidelity lodge of Masons in Kalamazoo. Mr. Bailey died early Sunday morning from injuries received when he was struck by an automobile as he was walking on Lake street Saturday night.

 

Bach, Christ 1901-1978

Christ Bach
March 12, 1901-Nov. 11, 1978

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, November 13, 1978, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles – Christ Bach, 77, of 152 Briar Crest Lane, died at 4:45 p.m. Saturday at Pawating Hospital, following an illness of four years.

A retired research and experimental worker with the Kawneer co., Mr. Bach was born March 12 1901 in Homburg, Germany. He came to Niles in 1938 from Chicago.

On July 22, 1922 in Chicago, he married Katie Schwartz, who survives.

Also surviving is a sister, Mrs. Jacob (Elizabeth) Mueller of Niles.

Mr. Christ was a member of the 25 Year club and Foreman's Club at Kawneer.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 4 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Officiating at funeral services will be the Rev. Theodore Laesch of St. Paul's Lutheran Church.

Bernahl, Mildred Charwood 1890-1949

Mildred Charwood Bernahl
Dec. 17, 1890-Aug. 28, 1949

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, August 29, 1949, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

SOUTH BEND, Aug. 29―Mrs. Mildred Charwood Bernahl, aged 59, died at 5:30 p.m. yesterday at the Jones nursing home here after several years illness.

Born in Altoona, Pa., Dec. 17, 1890, she came to South Bend from Niles 12 years ago. Her husband, Alfred, of South Bend, survives, as does a grandson, John Clark, of the navy.

Funeral services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Thursday in South Bend, with burial in Silverbrook cemetery, Niles.