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.

Murtishaw, Lucy

Lucy Murtishaw
1870-June 29, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 29, 1954, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Lucy Murtishaw, 81, 761 Cottage Grove avenue, South Bend, died at 2 a.m. Tuesday in the Westville, Ind., Hospital, after an illness of one month.

Surviving are one daughter, Mrs. Francis Hubbard of South Bend; one son, William Murtishaw of Detroit; four grandchildren and one sister, Mrs. Mary Ross, Detroit.

She was born in Union, S.C, and moved to South Bend from Detroit five years ago.

Friends may call starting Wednesday at the Kiger Funeral Home, where services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

Power, Ralph W.

Ralph W. Power
Oct. 2, 1902-July 23, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, July 24, 1954, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Heart Attack Takes Life of Ralph Power

Ralph W. Power, 51, 0f 901 Cedar street, operator of the E.H. Power Supply Company here, collapsed from a heart attack while removing his golf shoes at Plym Park clubhouse here at about 7:45 p.m.  Friday. He was pronounced dead upon arrival at Pawating Hospital.

A native of Niles, Power was the third generation of his family to operate the supply company. He was born on Oct. 2, 1902, in Niles and lived here all his life.

Power was a 32nd degree Mason, a member of the Lions Club, Elks Lodge, the First Methodist Church and Orchard Hills Country Club.

He had received his master's degree in economics and an A.B. Degree in business administration at the University of Michigan.

Surviving are his mother, Mrs. E.H. Power, of Niles; two sisters, Mrs. Arthur Wright, of Rutland, Vt., and Mrs. Edna Royce, of Kalamazoo.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home after 7 p.m.  today until 1:30 p.m Tuesday when the body will be taken to the church.  Services will be held at the First Methodist Church at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, with the Rev. L. George Beacock, pastor, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

 

 

Swartz, Harry T. Sr,

Harry T. Swartz, Sr.
Dec. 1, 1873-Dec. 19, 1950

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 19, 1950; page 2, col. 5, microfilm, Niles District Library

Harry T. Swartz, Sr., 216 Eagle (illegible text) a.m. today in (illegible text) an illness of 10 days.

Surviving are his widow, Frances, and their children, Howard, Harry, Jr., Jack, all of Niles, and Lyle, of Andrews, Ind., and 11 grandchildren.  He had no brothers or sisters.

Swartz was born Dec. 1, 1873, in Niles, and had lived here all his life.  He was a building mover.

Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday by the Rev. L. George Beacock, Methodist pastor. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Asmus, Charles C.

Charles C. Asmus
Feb. 4, 1876-July 7, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, July 8, 1954, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Charles C. Asmus, died at the home of his son, Clarence, 1527 North Twelfth street, at 11:40 p.m.  Wednesday. His wife did in January of 1953.

surviving are three sons, Alfred, DeVerne and Clarence, all of Niles; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, and two brothers, George, of Niles, and John Asmus, of Kalamazoo.

He was born on Feb. 4, 1876, in Niles, and has lived here all his life. He was a maintenance foreman for The Kawneer Company, where he had been employed for 33 years.

Asmus was a member of the 25-Year Club at The Kawneer Company, of the Brotherhood of St. John's Evangelical and Reformed Church and of the Maccabee Lodge.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home, where services will be held at 2 p.m Saturday. The . . .[illegible] . .

Anderson, Michael Lee

Michael Lee Anderson
August 16, 1954

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, August 17, 1954, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library

Michael Lee Anderson was stillborn to Mr. and Mrs. Richard Anderson, of Anderson road, Monday morning at Pawating Hospital.

Surviving are his gradnmothers[sic], Mrs. Mio Anderson and Mrs. Fern Tyson, both of Niles; two brothers, David and William, and one sister, Caroline, all at home.

Committal services were held at 3 p.m. Monday at Silverbrook Cemetery, with the Rev. John G. Carlton, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, officiating.

 

Bauer, Robert L.

Robert L. Bauer
May 23, 1920-Nov. 23, 1950

Niles Daily Star, Friday, November 24, 1950; page 1, col. 2, microfilm, Niles District Library

Robert L. Bauer, 30, 2235 North Fifth street, died at 3:53 a.m. yesterday in Pawating hospital.  He had been ill four days following an auto accident on M-40.

He was injured Sunday morning when the car he was driving missed a curve and struck a tree three miles north of Niles on M-40.  Hospital officials said he suffered fractured ribs and a broken leg in the crash.

Bauer was born in Niles May 23, 1920, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Bauer and lived here all of his life.  He was employed as a truck driver.  In 1938 he was married to Doris Hamrick in Rochester, Ind.  He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran church.

Surviving besides his wife are two sons, Robert Jr. and Richard Lee, at home; and a brother Donald L. Bauer, of Caro, Mich.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home where services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Saturday with the Rev. Theodore (illegible text) officiating (illegible text).

 

Brazo, Erickia Ann

Erickia Ann Brazo
Sept. 28, 1975-Oct. 21, 1975

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, October 22, 1975, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES- Erickia Ann Brazo, 23-day old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dean Brazo, 1433 Lawndale, died at 10:25 p.m. Tuesday at Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo.

Born Sept. 28, 1975 in Niles, the infant also is survived by her grandparents, Mr.and Mrs. Gilbert Brazo of Niles and Howard Knapp of Sarasota, Fla.; a great-grandfather, Ralph Walters of South Bend; and a sister, Jennifer Lynn, at home.

Graveside rites will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at Silverbrook Cemetery with the Rev. Karen S. Slager of Wesley United Methodist Church officiating.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by the Halbritter Funeral Home.