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.

Thomas, Wayne Robert 1955-1955

Wayne Robert Thomas
April 13, 1955-April 13, 1955

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, April 14, 1955, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

INFANT DIES

Wayne Robert Thomas, born Wednesday to Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Thomas, 1718 Cass Street, at Pawating Hospital, failed to survive.

Beside the parents, survivors are a sister, Shari, and a brother, William, both at home; the paternal grandmother, Mrs. C. Thomas of Niles, and maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William Roberts of Niles.

Committal services were conducted this afternoon at Silverbrook Cemetery by the Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor of the First Methodist Church.

Trockenbrod, Catherine (Kling) 1844-1929

Catherine Trockenbrod
Oct. 11, 1844-Sept. 28, 1929

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, September 30, 1929, page 1, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. TROCKENBROD DIES AFTER A LONG ILLNESS
Passes Away at Home at 411 Pokagon Saturday Evening

Mrs. Katherine Elizabeth Trockenbrod, a resident of Niles for 40 years, died on Saturday evening at 7:30 at 411 Pokagon street, the family home for the greater part of their residence in Niles. Mrs. Trockenbrod had been an invalid for two years and a half having been stricken with paralysis in April, 1927.

Mrs. Trockenbrod's maiden name was Katherine Elizabeth Kling. She was born in Hehiburg Housen, Saxony, Germany, on October 11, 1844. When she was 20 years of age she came to the United States and she had lived in Owosso, Detroit, Ypsilanti and Three Rivers before coming to Niles. Her husband, August Trockenbrod, Sr., died a number of years ago.

Mrs. Trockenbrod is survived by four sons and two daughters who are former Alderman August Trockenbrod and Mrs. Ann Shouder, wife of Carl Shouder, of Niles, Charles, of Reeder, N.D., William R., of Elkhart, Ind., Edward, of Niles, and Mrs. Bertha Tharp, wife of Ben Tharp, of Cassopolis. Four grandchildren, Fred and Kathryn Shouder, of Niles, and Bernice and Beatrice Tharp, of Cassopolis, also survive. Mr. and Mrs. Trockenbrod were parents of another son, Ernest, who death occurred in 1902.

For 35 years Mrs. Trockenbrod had been a faithful member of St. John's church and the pastor of that church, the Rev. G.W. Webbink, will conduct the funeral services on Wednesday afternoon. At 2 o'clock a service will be held in the home and at 2:30 in St. John's church. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery. Mrs. Trockenbrod was highly esteemed in the community and particularly in the neighborhood where she lived.

 

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

Niles News in Brief: FUNERAL SERVICES

Funeral services for Mrs. Katherine Trockenbrod were held this afternoon in St. John's Evangelical church. The Rev. G.W. Webbink officiated. The pallbearers were chosen from among rthe relatives of the deceased. Burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery.

Wickler, Henry 1882-1949

Henry Wickler
Aug. 6, 1882-Sept. 28, 1949

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, September 28, 1949, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Henry Wickler, 341 Fort street, died at 1:30 a.m. today at Pawating hospital, after an illness of six days.

Surviving besides his widow, Lena, are their children, Henry, Jr., of Niles, Mrs. Howard Hahnefeld, of Niles, Mrs. Russell Letcher, of South Bend, John, of Niles, and Mrs. Richard Bromley, of Niles. He also leaves 11 grandchildren.

Born in Germany on Aug. 6, 1882, he had lived here for the past 50 years. Wickler was a carpenter, and was a former first ward alderman.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday by the Rev. Cletus Rose, pastor of St. Mary Catholic church. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Winget, Casper S. 1887-1949

Casper S. Winget
Feb. 15, 1887-Sept. 17, 1949

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, September 21, 1949, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

WINGET RITES SET

Funeral services for Casper S. Winget, 62, of rural route three, who was fatally injured in an auto accident Saturday near Des Moines, Ia., will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the Kiger funeral.

The American Legion will have charge of full military rites. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

He is survived by his wife, Eleanor, who is still hospitalized in Des Moines as a result of the accident; a brother, Webster, of Des Moines; and two sisters, Mrs. Anna Murphy and Mrs. Emma Smith, both of Columbus, O.

Winget was born Feb. 15, 1887, in Pomeroy, O. He had lived in Niles 30 years, and was employed as a tank truck driver for the Sinclair Oil company here.

VETERANS TO MEET

The American Legion post today asked available veterans to meet at the Legion home at 1:30 p.m. Thursday to attend services and conduct military rites for the funeral of Casper Winget. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. at the Kiger funeral home.

Winquist, Paul 1881-1949

Paul Winquist
Jan 25, 1881-Sept. 9, 1949

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, September 10, 1949, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Paul Winquist, 120 South Fifth street, died at 2:36 p.m. Friday in Pawating hospital, after an illness of one year.

Surviving are his wife, Edith; two daughters, Mrs. Claude Huff and Mrs. Carlton Geary, of Niles; six grandchildren; and two sisters, Mrs. James Montgomery, of [illegible] man, of LaPorte, Ind.

Winquist was born in Sweden on Jan. 25, 1881, and came here from Logansport 36 years ago. He was retired from the New York Central Railroad company, and was a member of the International Association of Machinists.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday by the Rev. L. George Beacock, of the First Methodist church. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Montague, Helen I (Johnson) 1848-1929

Helen I. Montague
Aug. 11, 1849-Sept. 22, 1929

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, September 23, 1929, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH CLOSES LONG LIFE OF A PIONEER, MRS. H.I. MONTAGUE
Wife of Early Hardware Merchant and Mother of C.M. Montague Dies

Mrs. Helen I. Montague, mother of Charles M. Montague and a resident of Niles for the eighty years of her life passed away at her home at 317 North Fourth street Sunday afternoon after an illness lasting since May. Mrs. Montague's death removes another name from the thinning ranks of Niles pioneers and writes finis to the close of a life that has been actively connected with church, civic and social activities during the span of years that has brought many a marked changed in this community.

Mrs. Helen I (Johnson) Montague was born in Niles on August 11, 1849. Her father Alfred W. Johnson was one of the pioneer builders and contractors in Niles, locating here in the early '40s. In 1873 she was marred to John A. Montague, who had located in Niles as a hardware merchant and implement dealer at the close of the Civil war. One son, Charles M. Montague, survives his mother. Mr. Montague, survives his mother. Mr. Montague, since the death of his father in 1903, has continued the operation of the hardware store founded by his father in the late '60s first under the name of Kirk & Montague and under (Continued on Page Two) . . .the style of John A. Montague.

One sister Mrs. Orson McKay of Chicago and one brother, Charles A. Johnson also of Chicago survive Mrs. Montague. Alfred H. Johnson, purchasing agent of the National Standard company in Niles is a nephew and Mrs. Benjamin F. Bonslett of Chicago is a niece.

Funeral services will be held at the home at 317 N. Fourth street on Tuesday afternoon at 2 p.m. The Rev. W. Keith Chidester, rector of Trinity Episcopal church will conduct the services. Burial will be in the Montague family plot in Silver Brook cemetery.

Mrs. Montague was a member of the Niles chapter Order of Eastern Star and was the last charter member of the Ladies Reading club. She had been an active member of the Trinity Episcopal church and of the women's guilds of that church.

Mrs. Montague was in the Iroquois theater in Chicago in 1904 when the fire broke out [illegible] the theater and when several hundred people perished in the flames. Mrs. Montague was severely burned and for many weeks her condition was considered grave.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, September 24, 1929, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles News In Brief: FUNERAL MRS. MONTAGUE

Funeral services for Mrs. Helen I. Montague were held this afternoon in the home at 317 North Fourth street. The Rev. W. Keith Chidester read the ritualistic service of the Episcopal church, Mrs. Montague having been a life-long member of Trinity Episcopal church. The following were pallbearers: Harry l. Fox, Arthur G. Stone, Harold D. Laberteaux, B.F. Bird, Joseph Troost and S.B. White. Burial was made in the family lot in Silver Brook cemetery. Among the relatives from out of the city here for the services were Mr. and Mrs. Orsen McKay, Mr. and Mrs. M. Benjamin Bonslett and Mr. and Mrs. Charles A. Johnson of Chicago.

 

Montague, Jessie A. 1875-1955

Jessie A. Montague
Oct. 16, 1875-April 25, 1955

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, April 26, 1955, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Jessie A. Mnotague[sic], wife of the late C.M. Montague, Niles pioneer hardware merchant, was found dead in her home at 323 North Fourth Street late this morning.

Death was caused by a coronary condition and probably occurred Monday mroning[sic], Dr. Russell Vastine Jr., Berrien County coroner, said after an examination of the body. No investigation will be held, he said.

Friends living nearby called police when they were unable to enter the house. Police broke into the house and found the woman dead.

A neighbor woman said she had talked with Mrs. Montague at 8 a.m. Monday and believed this was the last time anyone had talked to her. Mrs. Montague had not been in good health for some time, she said.

The only known survivor is a niece, Mrs. Leona Beall of Shrewsbury, Mass., who was reported en route here after receiving word of her aunt's death. Mrs. Montague's' husband died in 1949.

Removal was made to the Pifer Funeral Home. Arrangements are incomplete.

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, April 26, 1955, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday in Trinity Episcopal Church here for Mrs. Jessie A. Montague, 79, of 323 North Fourth Street, who died Monday after suffering a coronary attack. The Rev. John G. Carlton, rector, will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mrs. Montague, wife of the late C.M. Montague, Niles pioneer hardware merchant, was born Oct. 16, 1875, in Holyoke, Mass., and come to Niles in 1905 from Detroit. She was a member of Trinity Church and St. Agnes Guild of the church.

Her only survivor is a niece, Mrs. Leona Beall of Shrewsbury, Mass. Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home.