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.

Pierson, Franklin Marsden

Franklyn Marsden Pierson
Nov. 10, 1862-Jan. 9, 1948

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, January 10, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Franklyn Marsden Pierson, 224 North Fourth street, passed away at 4:25 p.m. on Jan. 9 in Pawating hospital, after an illness of one week.

Pierson, who was born Nov. 10, 1862, in Batavia, N.Y., had lived here since childhood, and leaves survivng him his widow, Jessica Wickham Pierson. For the past several years, he had been retired from his duties as general salesman for the state of Michigan for Carson, Pirie, Scott and company, Chicago.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home. Services will be conducted by Thomas Garvin, reader of Church of Christ, Scientist, at 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Radewald, Edwin A.

Edwin A. Radewald
Aug. 19, 1891-Dec. 23, 1947


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, December 24, 1947, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Edwin A. Radewald, 56, prominent Niles fruit farmer, died suddenly at 11 a.m. Tuesday at his home on rural route three. He had lived here all his life.

Mr. Radewald was born Aug. 19, 1891, in St. Joseph. On Dec. 1, 1923, he was married to Florence Knott at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Knott. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Thomas Rice, of Schoolcraft.

Besides his wife he leaves two children, Edwin, Jr., and Stanley, both at home, and four sisters: Mrs. Fred Foster, Mrs. Ray Foster, Mrs. Adolph Knott, all of Niles, and Mrs. Fred Lochinaw, of Berrien Springs.

Services will be conducted at the St. John's Evangelical and Reformed church of which he was a member, at 2 p.m. Friday by the Rev. Thomas Rice. Friends  may call at the Kiger funeral home this evening, at the residence until noon Friday, and at the church until time of the service. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mr. Radewald was a member of the Berrien county Farm Bureau and the Michigan Horticultural society.

 

Rhea, Dora Ann

Dora Ann Rhea
Nov. 5, 1882-Jan. 10, 1948


Niles Daily Star, Monday, January 12, 1948, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Dora Ann Rhea, 65, 1285 South Thirteenth street, died at 6 p.m. Saturday in her home of a heart attack. She was the widow of James Rhea.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Kiger funeral home with Sister Ruth Lynch and Elder Charles Johnson of the South Niles Pentecostal church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

Mrs. Rhea was born Nov. 5, 1882 in Coffee county, Tenn., and came her from Sumnerville, Tenn., in 1919.

Surviving are two sons, Elmore W., Brockford, and Herbert W., Niles;  four grandchildren, and a brother, James Hobbs, Tennessee.

 

 

Shafer, Ida M.

Ida M. Shafer
1883-Dec. 1947

Niles Daily Star, Friday, December 12, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

SHAFER RITES SATURDAY

Funeral services will be conducted for Mrs. Ida Shafer at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Hay funeral home, South Bend, according to word received by the decedent's sister, Mrs. O.J. Cooke, 221 Bond street. Interment will be at Silverbrook cemetery. Niles.

Walker, Mary

Mary Walker
April 1, 1875-Jan. 8, 1948


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 8, 1948, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Mary Walker, 72, died at her residence, 103 North Third street at 8:10 a.m. today after a five-day illness.

Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Pifer funeral home with the rev. L. George Beacock, pastor of the First Methodist church, officiating.  Interment will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home.

Surviving are a son George Masten, Monico, Wis.; a daughter, Mrs. W.A. Beatey, South Bend; 11 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Mrs. Nora Thursby, Elkhart.

Mrs. Walker was born in Adamsville, April 1, 1875. She lived most of her life near Niles. She formerly lived at 725 Cushing street, South Bend.

 

Utter, Jack L.

Jack L. Utter
Jan. 21, 1899-Dec. 28, 1947


Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 29, 1947, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Jack L. Utter, 48, rural route one, passed away yesterday morning in Pawating hospital after an illness of one year.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home where funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday. The Rev. Anthony J. Martin, pastor of Coulters chapel, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mr. Utter, who was employed as a stock clerk at the National-Standard company, was born Jan. 21, 1899 in Lawrence. He came to Niles from Benton Harbor 18 years ago.

Surviving are his widow, Norma, two sons, Charles, Dowagiac; William at home; four sisters, Mrs. Jeff Lancaster, Puyullap, Wash., Mrs. Fred Nye, Dowagiac, Mrs. Ralph Dobson, Decatur, Mrs. Roe Johnson, Gobles; two brothers, Everette, Benton Harbor, and Riley, Lawrence.

 

VanEvera, Louise

Louise Van Evera
Feb. 1, 1873-Jan. 12, 1948


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, January 13, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

South Bend, Jan. 13--Louise Van Evera, 69, lifetime resident of Niles and South Bend, died at 3 p.m. yesterday at the Jones Nursing Home here. She had been in ill health for several years.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home where services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday. The Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Miss Van Evera had been employed by the Michigan Bell Telephone company for a number of years. Later she was employed by the Indiana Bell company.  She was born Feb. 1, 1873 in Niles.

Survivors include two sisters, Mrs. Kitty Stowe, Niles and Mrs. Carrie M. Toms, Toledo, Ore., and a nephew, John F. Stowe, Niles.