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.

Eisele, Elizabeth

Elizabeth EiseleElizabeth Eisele passes away at the home in Maple Street.Miss Elizabeth Eisele passed away at 8 o’clock Sunday morning at her home, 507 Maple Street, after a long illness. She was born in Bertrand Sept. 1, 1872 , daughter of Mrs. and Mrs. John Eisele, the father having passed away about 13 years ago.For many years she had been a patient suffer, although she always had a smile and pleasant word for everyone. She had many close friends all of whom loved her. There are many of who could take an example from her patient life. Her memory only forms another cord to draw her loved ones more closely to the thing above.She is survived by the mother, Mrs. Christina Eisele; a sister, Mrs. Clete Forrest and two brothers, George and Frank, all of this city.Miss Eisele was a member of the royal neighbors, carrying a policy of $1,000 for her mother. This order, in a body, will attend the funeral services which will be held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock from the house. Rev. R. A. Wright officiating. Interment at Silverbook Cemetery.

Ehninger, Catherine (Kneitives)

Catherine Ehninger (Kneitives)
1825-1930

Mrs. John Ehninger dies in Nebraska

Passed away at home of daughter at Arlington Thursday.

Mrs. Catherine Ehninger, 94, widow of John Ehninger, who resided on a farm four miles west of Niles toward Portage Prairie, for many years prior to Mr. Ehninger’s death, died this morning, April 3, 1930, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Henry Schoettger in Arlington, Neb.

The body will be brought to Niles.  The services will be held on Saturday Afternoon at 3 o’clock in the Troost and Augustine Chapel.  It is expected that the funeral party will reach Niles on Saturday morning. Mrs. Ehninger has resided in Arlington since the death of her son, Frank Ehninger 15 years ago.  She is survived by two sons, Henry Ehninger, Hooper, Neb., and William Ehinger of Lyons, Nev.  And by one daughter, Mrs. Henry Schcoettger of Arlington.  Among the surviving grandchildren are the following, Mrs. Lawrence  Ehninger Knox, wife of Jacob, residing west of Niles, Louis Ehinger and Fred Goldfuss of Niles, Clarence Ehninger of South Bend and Mrs. Irene Lister, wife of Joseph Lister of Detroit, other grandchildren reside in South Bend and other cities.  Mr. and Mrs. Ehinger were pioneer residents of the Portage Prairie section and have spent most of their married life on the farm where Mr. Ehninger died in 1907.

  Funeral Mrs. Ehninger

Funeral services for Mrs. Catherine Ehinger, widow of John Ehninger, whose body was brought to Niles this morning from Arlington, Nev, where she died on Thursday morning at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Henry Schoetiger, will be held at 3 o’clock this afternoon in the Troost and Augustine Chapel. T he Rev. D.O. Young pastor of the Evangelical church in west Niles will officiate. Burial will be made in the family lot in Silverbrook Cemetery. Mrs. Schoettiger and Henry Ehninger; a son, of the deceased of Hooper, Neb., came to Niles with the body. Among other relatives here for the funeral services are Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Lister of Detroit, and Mrs. Margaret Ehninger and son, Douglas of Michigan City, Mrs. Ehninger was 94 years of age. She was born in Germany.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Egbert, Roger Allen

Roger Allen Egbert
Aug. 4, 1940-Oct. 20, 1994

Roger Allen Egbert, 54, of 1327 Cass St., died at 7 a.m. Thursday Oct. 20, 1994, in his home of natural causes.  He was a baker at Demond's Super Value, Eastgate Shopping Center.  Mr. Egbert was born Aug. 4, 1940, in Blue Island, Ill.  He is survived by three sisters, Edith Crouch of Niles, Tyra Dean of El Paso, Texas, and Elizabeth Eason of McIntosh, Fla.; and a brother, Charles of Niles.

Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday in Silverbrook Cemetery. There will be no visitation. Pifer-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Edwards, James G.

James G. Edwards
Sept. 12, 1917-Dec. 25, 1994

James Glyn Edwards, 77, of 1328 Broadway, died at 2:45 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 25, 1994, in Pawating Hospital following an illness.  Mr. Edwards was a former employee of General Time in Peterborough, Ontario. He retired after 24 years from Montgomery Ward Co. in Niles.

He was born Sept. 12, 1917, in Penrhewceiber, Wales, and had resided in Niles since 1959, coming from Canada to Goshen in 1956. On Jan. 18, 1947, in Peterborough, he married Ada Jane Smith. She survives with a daughter, Linda Anderson of Flemington, N.J.; two grandchildren; and a sister, Catherine Hough of Peterborough.  He was an Air Force veteran of World War II and a member of American Legion Post 26.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday in Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery with a flag presentation. Friends may call from 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral home.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Edwards, Howard James

Howard Edwards
November 13, 1916-August 2, 2005

Mr. Howard James Edwards, 88, of Sioux Trail, Niles, Michigan, died following a brief illness at 12:30 a.m. Tuesday, August 2, 2005, in Hospice at Home "The Meadows."

Mr. Edwards was born November 13, 1916, in Maricopa, Arizona, to Herbert Potter and Mary Hazel (Thornton) Edwards. He was graduated from Niles High School in 1936 and attended Olivet (Michigan) College.

He was a lifelong sales representative in the paper products industry. He began in Niles, and followed his career to several other locations, retiring from the Union Camp Paper Corporation in 1985, and then returned to Niles.

He was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Niles, and its choir, and was a 50-year member of Saint Joseph Valley Lodge #4, F.&A.M., where he completed the 33rd degree. He was also a member of the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #2277, Niles, and the Orchard Hills Country Club. He was an avid golfer, and participated in area bowling leagues.

On November 29, 1940, in Niles, he was married to the former Gertrude Esther Sweet, who preceded him in death on March 14, 1986. He was also preceded in death by brothers, Robert Edwards and Thornton Edwards.

On December 27, 1986, in Niles, he was married to the former Eleanor N. (Pfister) Haslett, who survives. Also surviving are his daughters, Pamela A. Headley of Annandale, New Jersey, and Beverly Jane Mather of Ringwood, New Jersey; stepchildren, Stephen Haslett of Plainwell, Michigan, William Haslett and Marilyn Haslett of Niles, and Robert Haslett of Toledo, Ohio; 16 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; and his sister, Mary L. Martin of Henderson, Nevada.

The funeral service for Howard J. Edwards will be at 11 a.m. Monday, August 8, 2005, in First Presbyterian Church, Niles, with the Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman of the church officiating.

Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Masonic rites by Saint Joseph Valley Lodge #4 at 4 p.m.

Contributions in memory of Mr. Edwards may be made to Hospice at Home or to the American Cancer Society.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Edwards, Doris M. (Hendershott)

Doris Edwards
1925-May 6, 2002

Doris Mabel Edwards, 77, of 251 Cass St., died Thursday in her home of natural causes. Survivors include a daughter, Deborah Jenkins of Niles; a son, Robert of Baroda; five sisters, Mary Wikstorm, Dollie Richmond and Ruth Bedell, all of Niles, Shirley McKinley of Lafayette, Ind., and Anna M. Greichen of Dowagiac, and two brothers, Ralph Hendershott of Niles and Clyde Hendershott of St. Petersburg, Fla. Services will be at 10 am. Monday in Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, where friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Eden, Charles Clifford

Charles C. Eden
March 22, 1929-November 15, 1996

Charles Clifford Eden, 67, of Pencross Drive, Granger, Ind., passed away at 3:20 a.m. Friday, Nov. 15, 1996, in his residence after a year-long illness.

Mr. Eden was born March 22, 1929, in Niles, Mich. and graduated from Niles High School (1947) before achieving his bachelor and masters (MBA) degrees from the University of Michigan in 1951. He was a member and president of the Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity.

After graduation, he was given a direct commission to the U.S. Air Force for two years, then was employed by the Kawneer Company from 1953-1976, working in various locations. His accomplishments included retiring as the chief financial officer of Kawneer (1976), Amax Coal (1979) and Mastic-Alcoa in 1993.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Ruth and father, Clifford, who was the city engineer in Niles with the Broadway Bridge being named in his honor.

On Dec. 26, 1951, he married Dorothy Jane McCormick. She survives along with two sons, Donald of Niles and Bryan of Granger; three grandchildren, Derek, Kady and Brea, all of Niles. His sister, Rosemary Campbell lives in Strongsville, Ohio.

Mr. Eden was active with the United Way and Junior Achievement and also served as president of both the Niles School Board and YMCA in Niles. He enjoyed life and practically all sports, but actively participated in golf, skiing, dancing and fishing.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Monday at First Presbyterian Church, Niles. Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. today at Pifer-SMITH Funeral Home, Niles. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Leukemia Society of America or First Presbyterian Church Foundation.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown