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.

Copp, Edgar M.

Edgar M. Copp
Dec. 16, 1859-Jan. 10, 1935

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 10, 1935, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Lifelong Resident of Niles Stricken

Edgar M. Copp, 76, died this morning at Pawating hospital. Mr. Copp, whose home was two miles southwest of here, had lived in or near Niles all his life. He was formerly a bridge contractor but in his later years had joined his brother, Charels L. Copp, in conducting the farm near Bertrand.

Besides the brother, Charles L., with whom he made his home, he leaves two other brothers, Frank, of Crocker, Mo., and John, of Niles. Funeral services will be held Saturday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Price and Kiger funeral home. The Rev. R.E. Meader will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Roe, Minnie R. (Reinhardt)

Minnie R. Roe
Oct. 6, 1859-March 21, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, March 22, 1947, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. ROE, BUCHANAN, DIES

BUCHANAN, March 22--[Special]--Mrs. Minnie R. Roe, 87, passed away Friday at 2:30 p.m. in the home of her brother-in-law, Abner Glover, after an illness of almost two years.

Mrs. Roe was born on Oct. 6, 1859, in Matteson, Ill., and was married to Arthur Howard Roe on Jan. 15, 1879, in Buchanan. She lived with her husband in Chicago for 14 years, and returned to Buchanan in 1910.  She was a member of the Christian Science society, and was a reader for 13 years.  She held a life membership in Sylvia chapter No. 74 of the Order of Eastern Star.

She leaves two children, Mrs. Ada Armbruster and George S. Roe, both of Buchanan; a sister Mrs. Rebecca Ellis, and a brother, William Reinhardt, both of Racine, Wis.

Funeral services will be Monday at 2 p.m. in the Swem funeral home, with Mrs. William Beardsley, reader of the Christian Science society, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home.

 

Wanko, Larry George

Larry George Wanko
March 19, 1947-March 19, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 19, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

SERVICES FOR INFANT

Services were held at 2 p.m., today at the Pifer funeral home for the infant of Mr. and Mrs. George Wanko, 1011 Cedar street, which was stillborn at 1:30 a.m., today, at Pawating hospital.

Besides the parents, the child is survived by two sisters, Beatrice and Katherine.  Burial was made in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

 

 

Van Sandt, Taylor

Taylor Van Sandt
July 4, 1878-February 7, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Friday, February 7, 1947, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

TAYLOR VAN SANDT DIES

Taylor Van Sandt, 68, of rural route five, died at 6 a.m. today in the Berrien county hospital following a four-day illness.

Funeral arrangements are pending, but friends may call tomorrow at the Kiger funeral home where the body will lie in state.

Van Sandt, carpenter and contractor, lived on Bell School road. He was born July 4, 1878, in Lockwood, Cal.

Surviving are his wife Nancy and the following children: Eugene, Gerald, Taylor, Jr., Vernon, Rex and Richard, all at home; a daughter, Mrs. Walter Bybee, Rapid City, and three stepsons, John Cecil and William Sallee, at home.

 

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, February 8, 1947, page 2, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

SET VAN SANDT FUNERAL

The Rev. J.W. Hyink, of the Bertrand Community church, will conduct services on Monday for Taylor Van Sandt, who died on Friday following a brief illness.  Rites will be held at 2 p.m. at the Kiger funeral home. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Brown, Hector A.

Hector A. Brown
Aug. 2, 1886-March 27, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Friday, March 28, 1947, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

DIES AT JOLIET

Hector A. Brown, Sr., former Niles resident, died Thursday at Joliet, Ill., as a result of head injuries received in a fall earlier this week.

The body was brought to Niles today and friends may call at the Pifer funeral home. Funeral arrangements are pending.

Brown was born Aug. 2, 1886, in Belfast, Ireland.  He was a resident of Niles for 23 years as an employe of the New York Central railroad.  Later, he was transferred to Joliet, Ill., where he has lived for two years.

He is survived by his widow, Mae, and three sons, Hector, Jr., and William, both of Niles, and Donald, employed in Japan, and three grandchildren.  Also three sisters, Mrs. R.K. Armstrong and Mrs. Marshall Taylor, of Canada, and Mrs. Wallace Banner, Omaha, Neb.

 

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, March 29, 1947, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

BROWN RITES MONDAY

Services for Hector A. Brown, Sr., 61, will be held Monday at 3 p.m., in the First Presbyterian church with the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe officiating.  Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home until 1 p.m. when the body will be taken to the church. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

The Masonic lodge will be in charge of committal services. Brown was a member of the Michigan City, Ind., lodge.

Brown died Thursday in Joliet, Ill., from head injuries received in a fall earlier in the week.

 

Thomson, Julia H.

Julia H. Thomson
Sept. 26, 1858-March 24, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 24, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. THOMSON SUCCUMBS

Mrs. Julia H. Thompson[sic], 88, rural route four, died at 3 a.m. this morning in the Quick Convalescent home after two years' illness.

She was the widow of the late James B. Thomson who died in 1939, a former Berrrien county supervisor and a member of the sate legislature for one term.

Mrs. Thomson, a lifelong resident of this community, was born in Bertrand township Sept. 26, 1858. She was a member of the First Presbyterian church.

One son, Thomas H. Thomson, rural route four, survives.

Services will be held Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. at the Kiger funeral home with the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.

 

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, March 27, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

THOMSON FUNERAL HELD

Services were held yesterday at the Kiger funeral home for Mrs. Julia H. Thomson, rural route four, who died early Monday morning.

Pallbearers were Charlie Cochran, Elmer Cochran, John Pfeil, F.J. Viets, Harry Grissin, and Cleve H. Moyer. The Rev. T.M. Greenhoe officiated at the services and burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

 

Bidwell, Mary Belle (Coffinger)

Mary Belle Bidwell
Nov. 13, 1892-March 25, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, March 26, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

MRS. BIDWELL SUCCUMBS

Mrs. Mary Belle Bidwell, 54, of 636 North Twelfth street, succumbed yesterday at 2:40 p.m. at Pawating hospital, where she had been ill for three months.

A lifelong resident of Niles, she was born here Nov. 13, 1892. She was employed at the bindery department of the Simplicity Pattern company.

Surviving is a son, Edward Bidwell, Niles, and three brothers and sisters, Mrs. Walter Beckner, Grand Rapids; Ralph Coffinger, Niles, and Albert Coffinger, Niles.

Rites will be conducted Friday at 2 p.m. at the Kiger funeral home, where friends may call until the hour of services. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.