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.

French, Natalie (Bonine) 1890-1978

Natalie Bonine French
1890-April 3, 1978

 

Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan), Wednesday, April 5, 1978, page 46

FRENCH, Natalie B. (nee Natalie Bonine), April 3, 1978, San Pedro, Calif., age 88, (Widow of Willard S. French, deceased 1959, former President of Brooke, Smith, French and Dorrance, Detroit Advertising Agency.) Survived by a son Sherwin B. French and daughter Mrs. Jack Bennett (Millicent); four grandchildren. Mrs. French was born in Niles, Michigan and lived in Detroit for mnay years until 1977. Body shown Thursday, April 6, 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. Halbritter Funeral Home, 615 East Main, Niles. Funeral service Friday, April 7, 10 a.m. Trinity Episcopal

Bonine, Viva Millicent (Thomas) 1866-1956

Viva T. Bonine
July 1866-Sept. 30, 1956

 

The Herald-Press (St. Joseph, Michigan), Tuesday, October 2, 1956, page 10

NILES―Mrs. Viva Bonine, 90, widow of Dr. Fred Bonine, famed eye specialist of Niles, died Sunday morning in Jennings hospital, Detroit. Mrs. Bonine had been making her home in Detroit with her daughter, Mrs. Willard S. French, 2239 Burns ave.

Mrs. Bonine was born in July of 1866 in Newark, N.J. Dr Bonine died Aug. 22, 1941. Mrs. Bonine resided in Niles several years after her husband's death before moving to Detroit.

Mrs. Bonine is survived by her daughter, Mrs. French; two grandchildren, Sherwin Bonine French and Mrs. Millicent French Prescott, both of Detroit; five great-grandchildren and a sister, Mrs. H. M. Baldwin of Santa Barbara, Calif.

Committal services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the mausoleum in Silverbrook cemetery, Niles. The Rev. John Carlton, rector of Trinity Episcopal church, will officiate.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home beginning this evening.

 

Detroit Free Press (Detroit, Michigan), Monday, October 1, 1956, page 9

 

MRS. VIVA T. BONINE―Mrs. Bonine, 90, widow of Dr. F.N. Bonine of Niles, died Sunday.

A native of Newark, N.J., Mrs. Bonine lived the last several years with a daughter, Mrs. Willard S. French, of 2239 Burns.

Services will be in Niles, the time to be determined. The body is at the William R. Hamilton Co., 3975 Cass.

Also surviving is a sister, Mrs. H.M. Baldwin, of Santa Barbara, Calif.; two grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

Bonine, James E. 1924-1995

James E. Bonine
Jan. 24, 1924-Sept. 28, 1995

 

South Bend Tribune (South Bend, Indiana), Thursday, October 19, 1995, page 26

CASSOPOLIS: James E. Bonine, 71, of El Segundo, Calif., formerly of Vandalia and Cassopolis, died Sept. 28 in Daniel Freeman Hospital, El Segundo. Mr. Bonine was a former engineer in the engineering administration group at Bendix Missile Division, Mishawaka, and Emerson Electric Division, St. Louis. He was born Jan. 24, 1924, in Vandalia. His father, the late G. Elwood Bonine, was a state senator from 1943 to 1953, state director of eh Farmers Home Administration and director of the Michigan Legislative Services Bureau from 1961 to 1965. For four generations, the Bonine family has owned Elk Park Farm in Vandalia, which was a station on the Underground Railroad. Surviving are a daughter, Jane Reilly of St. Charles, Mo.; two sons, James E. III of Stamford, Conn., and William R. of Kahoka, Mo.; four grandsons, and a sister, Mary Charlotte Roberts of Bell, Fla. Mr. Bonine was a graduate of Howe Military Academy and Michigan state University. He was an Army veteran of World War II.

A memorial service will be later in St. Charles. Cremation has taken place. Baue Funeral Home, St. Charles, is in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

 

Bonine, Ruth A. (Morse) 1901-1980

Ruth Morse Bonine
1901-May 4, 1980

 

Florida Today (Coons, Florida), Thursday, May 8, 1980, page 9B

No services are scheduled for Ruth Morse Bonine, 79, 1525 S. Fiske Blvd., Rockledge.

A homemaker and Brevard resident for 3 ½ years, Mrs. Bonine died Sunday at Wuesthoff Memorial Hospital in Rockledge.

Survivors include a son Jame[sic] of Rockledge; a daughter, Mary Charlotte Binkowski of Rockledge; a sister living outside the state; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Wylie-Baxley Funeral Home in Rockledge is in charge of arrangements.

 

Bonine, Gordon Elwood 1896-1976

Gordon Elwood Bonine
Dec. 21, 1896-Dec. 6, 1976

 

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, MI), Tuesday, December 7, 1976, page 6, col. 5

Mr. Bonine, age 79, died at a local hospital Dec. 6, 1976. He had been a resident of Lansing since 1953, coming from Cass County Mich. He was State Senator from Cass County from 1942 to 1952. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church. He was a Life Member of Backus Lodge #55, F. & A.M., DeWitt Clinton Consistory, Saladin Temple, Life Member of the Elks Lodge in Dowagiac, Mich. He farmed the Elk Park Farms which had been in his family from 1837 to 1953. He was Former Director of the Federal Farmers Home Administration from 1953 to 1961 for the State of Michigan. He was Former Director of the Legislative Service Bureau, retiring several years ago. He graduated from Michigan State University. Surviving are: Wife, Ruth Morse Bonine of Lansing; 1 son James E. of Lansing; 1 daughter, Mrs. Mary Charlotte Binkowski of Rockledge, Florida; 8 grandchildren; 1 brother James G. Bonine of Utah; 2 sisters, Mrs. Margaret Fox and Mrs. Sarah Balyeat, both of Athens, Georgia. Memorial services will be announced later by the Estes-Leadley Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to the Michigan Rural Rehabilitation Corp., P.O. Box 188, Marhsall[sic], Mich. 49068.

Schmidt, Karl B. 1884-1952

Karl B. Schmidt
Sept. 8, 1884-July 23, 1952

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Wednesday, July 23, 1952, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Karl Schmidt Dies at Home

Karl B. Schmidt, 67, chairman of the Board of Public works, vice-president and founder of the Schmidt Packing company and former first ward alderman, died at 9:15 a.m. today in his home at 618 North Fourth street. He had been ill one month.

Born Sept. 8, 1884, Schmidt spent his entire life in Niles. He was a life member of Elks and Masonic lodges here. A Democratic alderman in 1926027 and 1929-20, Schmidt was a Democratic candidate for mayor in 1940. He has been a member of the Board of Public Works since 1936, and has been chairman for the past 11 years.

Schmidt is survived by two children, Martin Schmidt and Mrs. Sheridan Cook, both of Niles; four sisters, Mrs. George Vetter and Mrs. Jack Young, of Niles, Mrs. Bion East, of Washington, D.C. and Mrs. Don Noble, of Detroit, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Friends may call Thursday evening at the Kiger funeral home. The Rev. John. G. Carlton, of Trinity Episcopal Church, will conduct services at the funeral home at 2 p.m. Friday. The family has asked that flowers not be sent.

Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery where Niles Masons will have charge of graveside rites.

Doudt, Gerada M. 1910-1955

Gerada M. Doudt
June 1, 1910-July 15, 1955

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Friday, July 15, 1955, page 2, col 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Gerada M. Doudt, 45, of 1219 Rose Drive, died at 3:30 a.m. today in St. Joseph Hospital at South Bend following an illness of nine weeks.

Mrs. Doudt was born June 1, 1910, in Ashland, Ky., and came to Niles about nine years ago.  She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.

Surviving are:  her husband, Max L.; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Tierney, of Ashland, Ky., and a brother, Edward J. Tierney, of Westfield, J.H.

Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. Monday in St. Mary's Catholic Church with Rev. Lawrence Davis, assistant pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. The Rosary will be recited at 8 p.m. Sunday in the Kiger Funeral Home where friends may call.