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.

Childress, Thomas G. 1870-1962

Thomas G. Childress
Jan. 6, 1870-Sept. 22, 1962

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Monday, September 24, 1962, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Thomas G. Childress, 92, route one, Pokagon, who died Saturday at 5:40 p.m. at his home, will be conducted Wednesday at 1 p.m. at the Kiger Funeral Home. The Rev. Moses Dickinson of Chicago will officiate with burial in Silverbrook Cemetery.

He had been ill one year.

Mr. Childress was born Jan. 6, 1879[sic], in South Carolina. He married Jennie Johnson on May 14, 1895 in Pine Bluff, Ark. Following his retirement from the Department of Interior, Indian Affairs, in 1938, he came here from Chicago in 1939, and spent the remainder of his life.

Survivors include his widow; two daughters, Mrs. William I. Gough and Mrs. Marie Lewis, both of Chicago; five grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

Note: Both Death Record and cemetery record show date of birth as 1870 which is consistent with age 92 as stated in obit.  Therefore, it is assumed that the year of birth stated by newspaper in obit is typo.

Hiatt, Howard N. 1889-1955

Howard N. Hiatt
brDec. 23, 1889-July 23, 1955

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Monday, July 25, 1955, page 2, col. 4-5, microfilm Niles

Howard N. Hiatt, 65, of 525 Huron Street, died at 9:55 p.m. July 23, at his residence after a four months illness.

Mr. Hiatt was born in Richmond, Ind., on December 30, 1889. He came to Niles from Pittsburgh, Pa., about 10 years ago, working as a store clerk for the New York Central Railroad. Mr. Hiatt was a veteran of World War I.

Survivors include his wife, Aletha, a sister, Mrs. Georgia Anderson, Cincinnati, O., and two brothers, Francis, of South Bend, and Willard of Cleveland.

Funeral services will be held at the Kiger Funeral Home on Tuesday at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Mr. Richard Alexander officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

Neuens, Frank J.

Frank J. Neuens
1899-Sept. 13, 1962

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Friday, September 14, 1962, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Frank J. Neuens, 63, 114 S. 4th St., who died Thursday, will be conducted Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Pifer Funeral Home, with Dr. Maurice McKean, pastor of the First Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

 

South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Indiana), Friday, September 14, 1962, page 5.

NILES—Frank J. Neuens, 63, of 114 S. 5th St., died at 6 a.m Thursday in the Berrien County Hospital, Berrien Center. He is survived by his widow, Ruth; a son, Gordon, Kalamazoo; and two daughters, Alice and Penney Sue, both at home; his mother, Mrs. Treas Neuens, Homewood, Ill.; four sisters, Mrs. Margaret Swanson, Homewood; Mrs. Agnes Carlson, Chicago, Mrs. William Downey, Homewood, and Sister Pirrie, Milwaukee; and by three brothers, Anthony, Flint, Mich., Michael, Homewood, and Theodore, Tampa, Fla. He was born June 16, 1899, in Chicago. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday n the Pifer Funeral Home with Rev. Maurice McKean, D.D., pastor of the First Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Piper, Carroll J. 1904-1962

Carroll J. Piper
July 8, 1904-Sept 18, 1962

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Wednesday, September 19, 1962, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

BENTON HARBOR―Carroll J. Piper, 58, of 1230 Jennings St., died Tuesday at 7:05 a.m. In Mercy Hospital. He had been ill two weeks.

Mr. Piper was born July 8, 1904, in Lima, Ohio. He later moved here and lived most of his life in this area.

Survivors include two sons, Stewart and Dennis, both of Seattle, Wash.; a brother, Varus, Niles; and two grandchildren.

He was retired from the Bendix Corp. Lake Shore Division, St. Joseph, and was a member of Elks Lodge No. 544 here.

Funeral services will be conducted Friday at 2 p.m. at the Pifer Funeral Home, Niles, with Dr. Maurice D. McKean, pastor of the First Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends are being received at the funeral home.

Pretz, Madge 1895-1962

Madge Pretz
June 4, 1895-Sept. 4, 1962

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Wednesday, September 5, 1962, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Madge Pretz, 67, 1007 Edwards St., died Tuesday at 4 p.m. in Pawating Hospital, where she had been a patient seven days. She had been ill two weeks.

Mrs. Pretz was born June 4, 1895, in Avilla, Ind. She came to Niles from Rome City, Ind., and had been a resident here since 1941.

Survivors include her husband, Christian Pretz Jr.; a daughter, Mrs. Allen Lutin, Niles; a sister, Mrs. Edward Shutt, Brimfield, Ind.; a brother, Cecil Welburn, also of Brimfield; and five grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 11 a.m. At the Kiger Funeral Home. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends will be received at the funeral home after 7 p.m. Thursday.

Prince, Eugene T. 1888-1962

Eugene T. Prince
May 4, 1888-Sept. 18, 1962

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Tuesday, September 18, 1962, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Eugene T. Prince, 74, of 1125 Wayne St., died today at 7:30 a.m. in St. Joseph Hospital, South Bend, where he had been a patient a week. He had been ill three months.

Mr. Prince was born May 4, 1888 in Winamac, Ind. He married Della Overmyer there Dec. 25, 1912. She survives.

Other survivors include two sons, Donald and Charles, both of Niles; a daughter, Mrs. Kenneth Uldin, South Bend; a brother, George of Niles; two sisters, Mrs. Gladys Reish, Elkhart, and Mrs. Edith Overmyer, Kewanna, Ind.; and five grandchildren.

He came to Niles in 1925 from Elkhart. In 1929, he founded the Prince Grocery and Market. At the time of his death, he was still active in the business, after forming a partnership with his sons 20 years ago.

He was a member of the First Methodist Church, the Niles Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons, the Tall Cedars of Lebanon, and was a past member of the Safety Board.

Funeral services will be conducted Thursday at 2 p.m. at the First Methodist Church, with the Rev. Maurice McKean, pastor, officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

West, Glen A. 1890-1962

Glen A. West
June 18, 1890-Sept. 25, 1962

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Tuesday, September 25, 1962, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Glen A. West, 72, of 1416 Bell Road, died about 4:30 a.m. today in Pawating Hospital, where he had been a patient three weeks. He had bee ill since last Nov. 15.

Mr. West, a retired garage owner, was born June 18, 1890, in Oscela[sic] County. He came to Niles from Leroy in 1932.

Survivors include his widow, Estella; a son, Jesse, and three daughters, Mrs. Philip De Meuienaere, Mrs. Victor Bella, and Mrs. Charles Boose, all of Niles; a sister, Mrs. Grace Hater, Cadillac; 21 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

He was a member of the Niles Eagles Aerie and a life member of the Elks Lodge at Cadillac.

Funeral services will be conducted Thursday at 2 p.m. at the Pifer Funeral Home, with Dr. Maurice McKean, pastor of the First Methodist Church, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.