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.

Sanford, Henry L.

Henry L. Sanford
June 29, 1853-Aug. 24, 1931


Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 24, 1931, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Death of H.L. Sanford

 

Henry L. Sanford, 78, a former resident of the Bend of the River neighborhood, died this morning in the home of his son, Glen D. Sanford, 417 W. Front street, in Buchanan. Mr. Sanford was born in Oswego county, New york on June 29, 1853. He was married in Fulton to Miss Anna Belle DeMott on March 12, 1880. They moved to the farm of her father, John DeMott, in 1910 in the Bend of the River where Mrs. Sanford died in 1911.  In 1931 Mr. Sanford went to Buchanan to reside with his son, Glen. Mr. Sanford is survived by two sons, Floyd Sanford of Fulton, N.Y., and Glen D. Sanford of Buchanan, and by two daughters, Mrs. Fred Phillips of Niles, and Mrs. Dort Dutton of Spokane, Wash., who has been in Buchanan for several weeks. The funeral services will be held on Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock in the home of Mr. and Mrs .Glen Sanford. Burial will be made in Silver Brook cemetery in Niles.

 

Schmueser, Anna

Anna Schmueser
Feb. 20, 1884-April 22, 1947


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, April 23, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Anna Schmueser, 63, life-time resident of Niles, died yesterday at 2:50 p.m. at the Berrien county hospital, where she had been ill for seven months.

Born in Niles Feb. 20, 1884, she was married to August Schmueser, who survives.  She lived at 631 North Fifth street. She was a member of the Salvation Army.

Besides her husband, she leaves six children: Miss Ida Schmueser, Niles; Joseph Schmueser, Crawfordsville, Ind.; Jack Ruttschow, California; Harold Ruttschow, Fremont, O.; Pvt. Lewis E. Ruttschow, Japan; and Mrs. Betty Barker, Belleview, O.; and a brother, William McGuirk, Niles.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home, where Capt. Herbert Jensen of the Salvaton Army will conduct services tentatively set for Friday at 2 p.m.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Final arrangements await word from the son in Japan.

 

Smith, Charles "Carlie" G.

Charles G. "Carlie" Smith
May 31, 1866-Nov. 3, 1923


Niles Daily Star-Sun, Monday, November 5, 1923, page 1, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Carlie Smith Dies In Chicago Today

 

Carlie Smith, a former resident of Niles, died at his home in Chicago this morning after a brief illness. In a telephone message to Mrs.H.E. Price today, Mrs. Smith stated that the body will be brought to Niles on Monday afternoon and will be taken to the Presbyterian church where Rev.H.T. Scherer will conduct the funeral services at 3 o'clock. Burial will take place in Silver Brook cemetery.

Mr. Smith was born in Niles. He was a son of Charles and Margaret Smith, both deceased. He is survived by his widow and one daughter, Mrs. Harvey Rostizer, of South Bend. Mrs. Rostizer was in Chicago when her father passed away.

 

Sorenson, Chris

Chris Sorenson
June 10, 1886-Dec. 25, 1953


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, December 26, 1953, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Chris Sorenson, 67, died suddenly at his room at the Powell Hotel at 2 p.m. Dec. 25.

Sorenson was born in Independence, Ia., on June 19, 1886. He came to Niles from Moberly, Mo., in 1923. He was a retired boilermaker for the New York Central railroad.

Surviving are five sons, Walter, Archie, Clifford, Eugene and Marvin, all of Niles; two grandchildren; [illegible]; and two sisters, Mrs. Michael Sorenson of Missouri Valley and Mrs. Lena Johnson of California.

Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home where services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Sorenson, Marvin

Marvin Sorenson
Jan. 5, 1918-Oct. 12, 1987


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, October 13, 1987, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Marvin Sorenson, 69, 19682 State Line Road, South Bend, Ind., died at 2 a.m. Oct. 12 at his home following a brief illness.

The retired chemist was a member of the South Bend (Ind.) Presbyterian Players.

Born Jan.5, 1918 in Moberly, Mo., he lived to South Bend since 1953, coming from Niles.

One May 26, 1953 in Plymouth, Ind., he married Martha Sexton Morse who survives.

Surviving are a stepson, John Morse of Anaheim Hills, Calif.; two stepdaughters, Patricia DeVoider of South Bend and Anita Morse of Madison, Wis.; a brother, Eugene Sorenson of Naples, Fla.; 10 grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter.

Services are 3 p.m. Wednesday at Halbritter Funeral Home with Rev. William O. {illegible] of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will be at Silverbook Cemetery.

Arrangements were handled by Halbritter.

Memorials be made to the donors' choice.

 

Thompson, Mildred (Geltz)

Mildred Geltz Thompson
abt 1903-Aug. 16, 1931


Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 17, 1931, page 4, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

DEATH OF MRS. GLENN THOMPSON

 

Mrs. Mildred Geltz Thompson, 28, wife of Glenn Thompson, of Roseland, Ind., died on Sunday evening at 10:30 in Logansport, Ind. The body was brought to Niles this morning and the funeral services will be held on Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock in the . . .[illegible]. .will be made in Silver Brook cemetery. Mrs. Thompson was born in . .[illegible]. . ton Geltz who survives her and Mrs. Clara Young Geltz who died 26 years ago.  When she was a little girl the family moved to a farm on Yankee street, and she grew a young womanhood there. She is survived by her husband, one dauther, her father, Clinton Geltz of Roseland,and one sister, Miss Muriel Geltz of Roseland.


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, August 19, 1931, page 4, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

FUNERAL MRS. THOMPSON

Funeral services for Mrs. Mildred Geltz Thompson, wife of Glenn Thompson of Roseland, Ind., who died on Sunday in Longansport[sic], Ind., were held in NIles this afternoon. The Rev. A.C. Shaw, pastor of the First Church of Christ, conducted the services. Burial was made in Silver Brook cemetery. Mrs. Thompson, who was a daughter of Clinton Geltz, now of Roseland, and Mrs. Clara Young Geltz, deceased, formerly lived on M-60 west of Niles for the greater part of her life. Besides her husband, one child, her father and one sister, Miss Muriel Geltz, of Roseland, survives also.

 

Thurston, Ethelyn Alice (Foster)

Ethelyn Alice Thurston
July 4, 1915-Jan. 10, 1978


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 12, 1978, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles--Ehtelyn[sic] Alice Thurston, 62, of 68 Marmont St.., died at 8:30 p.m Tuesday at the Johnson County Memorial Hospital in Franklin, Ind.

She was born July 4, 1915 in LaPorte County, Ind., and was a homemaker.

On June 13, 1936 in LaPorte County, she married James Thurston, who survives.

Also surviving are her mother, Mrs. Hazel B. Payne of Niles; four daughters, Mrs. Alice Hoskin and Mrs. Virginia Radka, both of Niles, Mrs. Rosalie Simpson of Cassopolis,and Mrs. Gloria Davis of Franklin, Ind.; three brothers, Lowell Foster of Niles, Ray Foster of Galien and Glen Foster of Michigan City, Ind.; a sister, Mrs. Olive Hughes of Edwardsburg; and nine grandchildren.

Mrs. Thurston was a member of the First Church of God.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Pifer Chapel of the Swem-Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. Robert Younts of the First Church of God officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 4 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to the First Church of God building fund.