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.

Blackmun, Harold C. 1895-1985

Harold C. Blackman
Oct. 21, 1895-Feb. 28, 1985

 

Niles Daily Star, Friday, March 1, 1985; page 2, col. 2, cont. col. 3, microfilm, Niles District Library

Harold C. Blackmun, 89, 2371 Yankee Street, Niles, died at 12:55 p.m. Thursday at the Cass County Medical Care Facility following an extended illness.

Born Oct. 21, 1895, in Lake Township, Berrien County, he was a retired employee of the Herald-Palladium newspaper, and member of the Disabled American Veterans, Sons of the American Revolution Michigan Chapter, Mayflower Organization, First Presbyterian Church and was a World War I Army veteran.  On Nov. 1, 1919, in Bloomington, Ind., he married Ruth C. Carnes, who survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Robert C. Blackmun of Hilton, N.Y. and William H. Blackmun of Niles; one daughter, Mrs. Mary E. Crouch of South Bend; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Services are 3:30 p.m. Sunday at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Rev. William J. Fuerstenau of the First Presbyterian Church officiating.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

 

Boucree, Edward N. 1904-1974

Edward N. Boucree
March 6, 1904-Nov. 14, 1974

 

Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 15, 1974; page 2, col.  3, microfilm, Niles District Library

NILES – Edward Boucree, 70, of 2846 Detroit Rd., died at 2:30 p.m. Thursday in South Bend Osteopathic Hospital.

Funeral arrangements are incomplete at the Swem Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home in Buchanan.

  

Also,

 

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, November 16, 1974; page 2, col.  5, microfilm, Niles District Library

NILES – Services for Edward N. Boucree, 70, of 2846 Detroit Rd., who died at 2:30 p.m. Thursday will be held Monday at Mark’s Catholic Church.  The Rev. Julius L. Hengebach will officiate.   Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

The rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Pifer Chapel, Swem-Smith Funeral Home.  Military rites will be conducted at graveside by Members of the LaRue Messenger Post No.26, American Legion.

Friends may call after 5 p.m. Sunday at the Pifer Chapel, Swem-Smith Funeral home.

Burns, Robert Bartrum 1907-1927

Robert Bartrum Burns
June 28, 1907-April 18, 1927

 

Benton Harbor News Palladium, April 19, 1927; page 15, col. 1, www.newspaperarchives.com

CLAIMS BODY OF HIS DEAD SON

No Motive Apparent for Suicide of Robert Burns At Centre College

(Special to the News-Palladium) 

NILES, April 19 – Accompanied by his father, Attorney Wilber N. Burns, the body of Robert Burns, 19-year old Niles boy who was a student at Centre college, Danville, Ky., will be brought home Wednesday for burial.

According to advices received here young Burns shot himself to death in the presence of his bride at their apartment in Danville Monday noon.

No Motive Apparent

The family here could give no motive for the young man’s act. So far as they knew the young couple, who were both attending Centre college, were happy and contented.

It is understood, however, that young Burns was of a moody disposition and it is surmised that in a fit of despondency he took his life.

Attorney Burns, the father, prominently known here and in the county at large, left yesterday afternoon for Danville. He drove by auto and was accompanied by Dr. Robert Henderson and Charles Smith.

Miss Mary Burns, only daughter of the Burns and a sophomore at the University of Michigan, was about to return to school Monday afternoon when news of the tragedy came.

Well Known Athlete

Bob Burns was one of the graduating class of 1925 from the Niles high school where he was a leader in school activities and an athlete of exceptional ability. He was the two-mile runner on the Niles track team, which won the state championship, with which team he won first place in this event and was considered one of the most promising athletes in the state at that time.  At Centre college he had continued his athletic work.  Bob also had made quite a record as a student during his two years at the college.

Young Burns was married last June to Miss Loy Neiman, of Louisville, Ky. He brought his bride here for a visit at the home of his parents on Oak street during the Christmas holidays. Mrs. Burns visited with her son and his wife at Danville but a few days ago.

 

Bowers, Arlie P. 1904-1974

Arlie P. Bowers
Dec. 31, 1904-Dec. 18, 1974

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 18, 1974; page 2, col. 2, cont. col. 3, microfilm, Niles District Library

NILES – Mrs. Arlie P. Bowers, 69, of 1328 Park Ln. died at 7:04 a.m. today in Memorial Hospital in South Bend after an extended illness.

Born Dec. 31, 1904 in Niles, she lived her lifetime here.  On March 22, 1948 in Angola, Ind., she married William M. Bowers, who survives.

Also surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Clarence (Jean) Beasecker of Niles; a sister, Mrs. Harold Treesh of Niles and two grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the Halbritter Funeral Home with the Rev. Donald Cozadd of Grace United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 4pm. Thursday at the funeral home.

Capers, Patrick 1962-2010

Patrick Capers
June 13, 1962 - April 13, 2010

 

South Bend Tribune, Sunday, April 18, 2010, Obituary Section, free-source, St. Joseph County Public Library

SOUTH BEND - Mr. Patrick Capers, 47, beloved father, son and brother who resided on North Patty Lane, South Bend, Indiana, passed away on Tuesday, April 13, 2010, in his residence following an illness.

Patrick was born to the union of Artice and Pearl (Seawood) Capers on June 13, 1962, in South Bend, Indiana. He was a graduate of John Adams High School in 1981. He worked as a cook for the South Bend Community School Corporation, Nicola's and Popeye's. He was a member of First A.M.E. Church. He loved being around his family, especially his beloved mother.

Patrick was preceded in death by his father, Artice Capers.

Survivors left to cherish his memory include one daughter, Liza Capers; a son, Patrick Capers Jr.; his beloved mother, Pearl Capers; one sister, Leslie (Robert) Henry, all of South Bend; three brothers, Tony (Elizabeth) Briggs of Buchanan, Michigan, Artice Capers of Margate, Florida, and Robert (Margerite) Johnson of Tacoma, Washington; along with a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services for Patrick Capers will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, April 19, 2010, in Alford's Mortuary. Viewing will occur from noon to 1:00 p.m. in the chapel.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Alford's Mortuary where messages of bereavement may be e-mailed to Alfordsmortuary@comcast.net, c/o the Capers family.

Bybee, Walter Ward 1883-1959

Walter Ward Bybee
Nov. 23, 1883-June 25, 1959

Logansport Press, Wednesday, July 1, 1959; page 4, col. 2, www.newspapersarchives.com

Mrs. Ed Lowe, East 18th street, has been informed of the death of her brother Walter Bybee, in Potowin hospital, Niles, Mich. Bybee,73, a resident of South Borden, Mich., was visiting friends in Niles when he came ill June 19 and died last Thursday.

Funeral services and burial were conducted in Niles.

Bybee was born Nov. 23, 1885 in Newcastle township, the son of Wallace and Ella Haimbaugh Bybee.

 

Chase, Ethel Anna (Sandars) 1883-1972

Ethel Anna Sandars Chase
March 25, 1883-July 26, 1972

Chicago Homewood Flossmoor Star, Sunday, July 30, 1972; page A-6, col. 1, Newspaperarchives.com

Funeral services were held yesterday for Mrs. Ethel Case, 343 Marquette, Park Forest, who died Wednesday in Four Seasons nursing home, Joliet.

The Rev. Fred Smith III officiated, and burial was in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, Mich.

Mrs. Chase was born March 25, 1883, in England and had lived in the area 18 months. She was formerly of Broadview, Ill.

She is survived by two daughters, Muriel Thompson of Park Forest and Barbara McColl of Broadview; nine grandchildren; a sister Winifred Fewell of Texas, and a brother, Harold Sandars of Texas.