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.

Thompson, Robert A. 1887-1952

Robert A. Thompson
May 15, 1887-July 4, 1952

 

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 5, 1952; page 2, col. 5, microfilm, Niles District Library

Cassopolis, July 5 – Robert Thompson, of Diamond lake, Cassopolis, died at 10 p.m. Friday in Billings hospital, Chicago, after a short illness.

Surviving are his mother, Mrs. A.E. Thompson, of Sebring, Fla.; his wife, Marguerite; one daughter, Mrs. Charles Rettich, of Kansas City, Mo., and two sisters, Mrs. E. C. Brimmer, of Washington D.C., and Mrs. Basil Hobbs, of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Thompson was born in Cleveland, Oh., but his birth date is unknown.  He was the retired manager of the Fruit Belt Rural Electrification Administration in Cassopolis.

The body is at the Pifer funeral home. Private services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Trinity Episcopal church, with the Rev. John G. Carlton as officiant.  Burial place has not been decided.

 

Pierce, Nancy G. 1916-1997

Nancy G. Pierce
July 24, 1916-Feb. 6, 1997

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Monday, February 10, 1997, Niles District Library biographical files

Funeral services for Nancy G. Pierce, 80, of 515 Hawthorne Lane, Niles, will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the First Presbyterian Church by the Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mrs. Pierce died at 7:45 p.m. Thursday at Regency Place Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, South Bend, Ind., following an extended illness.

She was born July 24, 1916 in Niles and was a lifetime resident.

On Oct. 14, 1939 in Niles, she married Charles S. Pierce, who preceded her in death March 24, 1973.

She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church and its choir, the Pawating Hospital Auxiliary, and was a Bridge enthusiast.

Survivors include, a daughter, Catherine Marshall of Glendale, Ariz., a son Robert C. Pierce of Ann Arbor; five grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.

Russell, Lester W. 1905-1989

Lester W. Russell
Aug 28, 1905-Sept. 20, 1989

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Friday, September 22, 1989, page 2

Lester W. Russell, 84, of 1011 Cass St., Niles, died at 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday in his home following a brief illness.

Mr. Russell was a retired employee of the City of Niles Department of Public Works. He was born on Aug. 28, 1905 in Baroda and has lived in the Niles area all his life. On November 11, 1928, Mr. Russell married Irene L. Young in LaPorte, In, who preceded him in death on July 6, 1980.

Survivors include three daughters, Janet Walters of Mishawaka, In., Phyllis Kater of Three Rivers and Marjorie Mercia of Niles; eight grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; one sister Louise Randt of Lansing; and three brothers Louis Russell of Hastings, Alve Russell of Baroda, and Nelson Russell of Stevensville.

Services are at 11 a.m. Monday at Halbritter Funeral Home with Rev. Morton J. Hempel of the Church of God Full Gospel officiating. Burial is at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to Niles Community Library.

 

Sarley, James W. 1916-1997

James W. Sarley
April 17, 1916-Feb. 9, 1997

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Monday, February 10, 1997, Niles District Library biographical files

Funeral services for James W. Sarley, 80, formerly of 955 Tomahawk Lane, Niles, will be held 11 a.m. Thursday at Halbritter Funeral Home by the Rev. Nolan R. Williams of Wesley United Methodist church.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mr. Sarley died at 3:30 a.m. Sunday at Riveridge Manor following an extended illness.

He was born April 17, 1916 in Chicago, Ill. He moved to Niles from there in 1932.

On April 3, 1947 in Niles, he married Aldona Algmin, who preceded him in death June 16, 1977.

Sarley was a member of the St. Joseph Valley Lodge No. 4, F.&A.M., Saladin Temple, Niles Shrine club and the Royal Order of Jesters. He was an avid golfer and bowler.

He was the owner of Sarley Heating and Air Conditioning and retired in 1978.

Survivors include, a daughter, Karen L. Sarley of Eureka, Calif.; a son, Robert E. Sarley of Niles; a daughter-in-law, Marge Merica of Niles; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; a sister, Virginia Sarley of Eureka, Calif.; two brothers, Warren “Bud” Sarley of Rochester, N.Y. and Willard Sarley of San Francisco, Calif.

Friends may call at the funeral home from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriner's Hospital for Children, Chicago Unit, or the Niles Community Schools Sarley Family Scholarship Fund.

Stone, Barbara Ann (Schneider) 1937-1996

Barbara Ann Stone
Aug. 21, 1937-Jan. 23, 1996

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Wednesday, January 24, 1996, page 2, col. 1-3, Niles District Library biography files

Funeral services for Barbara A. Sone, 58, of 1004 Tomahawk, Niles will be Friday at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Niles.

Mrs. Stone died at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Ind.

She was born Aug. 21, 1937, in Marquette.

On Nov. 24, 1962, in Marquette, as Barbara A. Schneider, she married Donald P. Stone. He survives.

Mrs. Stone was a school teacher int eh Niles Community Schools for 15 years.

She graduated from Michigan State University in 1959 with a bachelor of science degree. She received her master's degree in education at Northern Michigan University in 1964.

Mrs. Stone was a Girl Scout leader; past president of Lawyers Wives of Berrien county; former member of Michigan Education Association; member Psi Iota Xi Sorority; past president Monday Reading Club; and member of First Presbyterian Chruch.

In addition to her husband, survivors include two daughters, Kimberly Ann Knoll of Niles and Sandra Jane Runstadler of Deerfield; a son, Paul Christian Stone of Niles; a grandson, Pierce Christian Knoll of Niles; her mother, Zada Christian Schneider of Marquette' and a brother, James Christian Schneider of Marquette.

Her father, William Henry Schneider, and brother, William Henry Schneider preceded her in death.

Friends may call at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home in Niles on Thursday from 5-8 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Barbara A. Stone Scholarship Fund Niles Community Schools.

 

Taylor, Lola Elizabeth (King) 1942-2014

Lola Elizabeth Taylor
Feb. 20, 1942-July 4, 2014

 

Kane County Chronicle  (St. Charles, Illinios), Tuesday, July 8, 2014, page 12

GENEVA: Lola Elizabeth Taylor (King), 72, of Geneva, died at 1:52 a.m Friday, July 4, 2014, at Geneva Nursing and Rehabilitation, Geneva. Ms. Taylor was born Feb. 20, 1942, in Nashville, to Lonan King and Thelma Pauline (Caldwell) King. She married and divorced Charles E. Taylor.

Survivors include three daughters, Crystal S. Taylor of Oswego, Tina L. Taylor of Rochelle and Tammy E. Taylor (Dawn Etchason) of Bolingbrook; six grandchildren, Michael S. Robbins of Paducah, Kentucky, Billy Robbins Jr. and LaSalle, Jessica Foxworthy of Terra Haute, Indiana; Kristofer Manasco of Salem, Bailey Jarvis-Taylor of Bolingbrook and Celsea Taylor of Oswego; and four great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by two sisters; Dorthea J. King and Shirley Deranek; one son, Dwayne E. Taylor; one daughter, Annette Davis; and one grandson, Joseph Robbins.

She was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church of Downers Grove.

Let it be said, Lola was proud of her heritage as an Appalachian mountain woman. She spent her life raising children and tending to the ill and misfortunate. She loved dogs and other animals, especially those save from imminent danger. She loved gospel music and was a healer of our Great Mother Earth. Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 13, at Seventh Day Adventist Church in Downers Grove. Pastor Joe Arner will officiate. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, please forward a contribution in Lola's name to one of the two: seventh Day Adventist Church of Downers Grove, IL 60616, 630-968-4446; or A Dogs Day Rescue, P.O. Box 18073, Chicago, IL 60618

To leave online condolence or remembrance to the family, visit the funeral home's obituary page at www.yursfuneralhomes.com.

Thackray, David G. 1930-2000

David G. Thackray
Dec. 27, 1930-Aug. 2, 2000

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Friday, August 2, 2000, page 2

Funeral services for David G. Thackray, D.D.S., of 565 W. Main Street, Niles, will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday at First Presbyterian Church, Niles, by the Rev. Ronald H. Wakeman.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Thackray passed away at 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, at his home, after batting[sic] Parkinson's Disease.

He was born on Dec. 27, 1930 at Waupun, Wis. to Glenn H. Thackray and Gladys M. Melvin. Dr. Thackray had lived in Niles since 1960, coming from Minneapolis.

On Dec. 27, 1958, he married Carol Bisarek in Madison, Wis., who survives.

He is also survived by his four sons, John (Ann) Thackray of Southlake, Texas, Glenn (Alison) Thackray of Pocatello, Idaho, James Thackray of Niles, Andrew Thackray of Chicago;; five grandchildren; two sisters, Shirley Norton of St. Peter, Minn., Lois Caldwell of Holland Patent, N.Y.; brother, Keith Thackray of Spokane, Wash.

Thackray was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Niles, and served as a Deacon, Elder and Trustee. Dr. Thackray was a veteran of the Korean Conflict, serving with the U.S. Army. He graduated from Waupun High School in 1948, Ripon (Wis.) College in 1952 with a bachelor of science in biology and the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in 1960. Dr. Thackray had worked during he summers with the National Park Service at King's Canyon Park, Calif. and Glacier Park, Mont. He was a member of the Lakeland Valley Dental Association, Michigan Dental Association, American Dental Association, Niles Jaycees, Niles Airport Board and the Niles Club of Toastmasters International.

He retired in 1990 from his dental practice in Niles which he had opened in 1960.

Friends may call at Halbritter Funeral Home from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday.