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.

Stewart, Bruce 1945-1988

Bruce Stewart
Jan. 4, 1945-Sept. 9, 1988

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Friday, September 9, 1988, page 2, col. 3-4

Bruce Stewart, 43, 1001 N. 15th St., Niles, died today at 4:14 a.m. at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Ind.

He was born Jan. 4, 1945 in Austin, Texas, and lived in Niles for 14 years coming from Texas. Stewart was a Niles High School counselor and a 1967 graduate of Kalamazoo College. He received his master's degree from Western Michigan University in 1970.

He married the former Merle Rickles in 1967 in Massachusetts. She survives.

Survivors also include his parents, Powell and Mary Stewart of Austin; and two sons, Michael and Alan at home.

Graveside services are today at 3:30 p.m. at Silverbrook Cemetery. Forest G. Hay Funeral Home in South Bend, Ind., handled arrangements.

Memorials may be made to the Bruce Stewart Scholarship Fund in care of Niles Community Schools.

Stuckey, Harry R. Sr. 1925-1991

Harry R. Stucky, Sr.
Oct. 27, 1925-May 23, 1991

 

South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Indiana), Saturday, May 25, 1991

Niles―Harry B. Stucky Sr., 65, of 880 Beechwood Drive, died at 4:20 p.m. Thursday in his home after an illness. Mr. Stucky was a retired engineer with Allied Signal, Inc.  He was born Oct. 27, 1925 in Lansing, living in Niles since 1954, coming from Japan.  On Jan. 2, 1953 in Fukuoka, Japan, he married Olive P. Cravens.  She survives with two daughters, Kathleen S. Bracken of Mount Pleasant, Mich., and Marjorie P. Burdine of Powder Springs, Ga.; a son, H. Bart Stucky Jr. of Kalamazoo; seven grandchildren; his mother, Juliette C. Stucky of East Lansing; three sisters, Susan Griffin of Ann Arbor, Juliette Foster of Rockford, Ill., and Betsy Harrington of Napa, Calif.; and a brother, George Stucky of Mill Valley, Calif. He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church, Bendix Management Club and the U.S. Naval Reserve of South Bend. He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean war. He was a former precinct captain, 1st Ward, 2nd Precinct of Niles, and served as Niles city assessor from 1969-1971 and the 4th Ward supervisor in 1972.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Trinity Episcopal Church. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Halbritter Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church or Hospice.

Swinehart, Lena Van (VanEtten) 1907-1990

Lena Van Swinehart
June 9, 1907-Sept. 20, 1990

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Friday, September 20, 1990

Funeral services for Mrs. L. Van Swinehart, 83, of 623 Topinabee Road, Niles, are Monday at 11 a.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church by the Rev. Lloyd A. Phillips, pastor of the church.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Mrs. Swinehart died Thursday at 1:05 p.m. at Riveridge Manor, Niles, following an extended illness.

On June 9, 1907, she was born in Easton, Ill. She moved to Niles in 1946.

On April 20, 1940, she married Leo G. Swinehart, who survives.

Mrs. Swinehart was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church, was a past member of the board of directors of Pawating Hospital Auxiliary, was a member of the Seepewa Ladies Club and the Signal Point Club.

Other survivors include a brother, E.G. VanEtten of Springfield; a sister, Ollie Leachner of Fort Scott, Kan.; and several nieces and nephews.

Friends may call Sunday from 20 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the charity of the donor's choice.

 

Swinehart, Leo G. 1911-1999

Leo G. Swinehart
Jan. 4, 1911-Aug. 31, 1999

 

South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Indiana), Thursday, September 2, 1999, page 40, col. 3, @newspapers.com

Mr. Leo G. Swinehart, 88, of 623 Topinabee Road, Niles, Mich., died following an extended illness at 8:55 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 31, in Regency Place Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, South Bend, Ind.

He was born on Jan 4, 1911 in Cooksville, Ill. to Samuel E. and Bertha M. (Hutchinson) Swinehart. In 1946, he moved to Niles from Chicago.

Mr. Swinehart was a retired Corporate Secretary for the Kawneer Company and was also a Certified Public Accountant. He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles, the Niles Lions Club, The former Pickwick Club, Signal Point Club, and the B.P.O. Of Niles Elks lodge #1322. He was a graduate of the University of Illinois, where he played varsity basketball.

On April 20, 1940 in Springfield Ill., he married the former L. Van VanEtten, who died on Sept 20, 1990.

Funeral services for Leo G. Swinehart will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 3, in Wesley United Methodist Church, Niles, with the Rev. Nolan R. Williams of the church officiating. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. today in the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Contributions in memory of Mr. Swinehart may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church or to the donor's choice.

 

Thornton, Ward W. 1915-1981

Ward W. Thornton
Jan. 4, 1915-July 31, 1981

 

South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Indiana), Friday, August 1, 1981, page 13, col. 3

NILES—Services for Ward W. (Bill) Thornton, 66, of 1653 Cass St., who died at 6:45 a.m. Friday at the Iron county General Hospital, Iron River, Mich., following a brief illness, will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, in the Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call after 2 p.m., Monday, in the funeral home. Full Masonic rites by St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4, F&AM will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday. Memorial contributions may be given to the local Tuberculosis and Emphysema Association of Berrien County.

He was born Jan. 4, 1915, in Niles and was a lifetime resident. On June 17, 1939, in Niles, he married Pauline R. Lillie, who survives. Also surviving are three daughters, Mrs. James (JoAnne) Wagley of Niles, Mrs. Wanda Huffman of Niles, Mrs. Timothy (Judy) Plevin of Sterling Heights, Mich.; two sons, Robert of Las Vegas,Nev., and Michael of Niles; nine grandchildren; a sister, Mrs. James (Nancy Evans of Olympia, Wash.; three brothers, Lee, Gerald and Jack Thornton all of Niles. He retired in 1979 as an electrician with Thornton Electric, Inc. He was a member of St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4, F&AM and a past master and a member of the Niles Shrine Club.

 

 

Unley, Frank 1908-1987

Frank Unley
May 15, 1908-March 21, 1987

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Monday, March 23, 1987, page 2, col. 2-3

Frank Unley, 78, 1120 Ferry St., Niles, died at 8:31 p.m. Saturday at Pawating Hospital.

He was born May 15, 1908 in Niles and was a retired party store owner. On March 29, 1952 he married Ethel Buchanan who survives.

Also surviving are one son, Jack Unley of Goshen, Ind.; one daughter, Barbara Yoder of Goshen; two stepdaughters, Faye Kalmus of Niles and Beverly Bolton of Kalamazoo; two sisters, Nevada Rosson and Margaret Taylor, both of Niles; four grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Services are at 11 a.m. Tuesday at Halbritter Funeral Home with Rev. Arnold O. Schaap officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call 6-9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the Niles Community Library.

 

 

Lee, Oliver D. 1901-1987

Oliver D. Lee
March 13, 1901-Sept. 17, 1987

 

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 18, 1987, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Graveside committal services for Oliver D. Lee, 1615 North Fifth St., Niles, who died Sept. 17, will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Rev. Lou Schweppe of St. John's United Church of Christ in Niles will officiate. Halbritter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Lee is survived by a sister, Loreta M. Maynard of Niles.

 also

The Herald-Palladium (St. Joseph, Michigan), Saturday, September 19, 1987, page 13, col. 5

NILES—Oliver D. Lee, 86, of 1615 N. Fifth St., Niles, died at 8:08 p.m. Thursday in Pawating Hospital, Niles, after a brief illness.

Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday in St. John's United Church of Christ, Niles, of which he was a member. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. There will be no visitation at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, which is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be made to the church.

Mr. Lee was born March 13, 1901, in Niles and moved back to Niles in 1981 from Onekama, Mich. He was retired from Simplicity Pattern Co.

Survivors include a daughter, Loreta Maynard of Niles. He was preceded in death by his wife, the former Eleanor Poor, on Feb. 27, 1978.