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.

Swain, Florence (Lambert)

Florence Lambert Swain
Aug. 29, 1865-May 19, 1952


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, May 22, 1952, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Florence Lambert Swain, 514 Washburn avenue, Kalamazoo, a former Niles resident, died at 8 p.m. Monday in Kalamazoo.

Mrs. Swain was born in Niles on Aug. 29, 1865, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Lambert.  Her husband, Tyler A. Swain, died in 1921.  Surviving is a sister Mrs. N. Barbar, of Richland.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home here Wednesday evening and Thursday until funeral services are held at 2 p.m. in the funeral home. The Rev. John G. Carlton, rector of Trinity Episcopal church, will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

Vetter, Catherine

Mrs. Catherine Vetter, 90
March 7, 1862-May 14, 1952


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 15, 1952, page 2, col 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Catherine Vetter, 90, a resident in the Niles vicinity for 77 years, died at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at the home of a daughter on rural route four. She was been ill four months.

Funeral services will be held from the Kiger funeral home Friday at 2 p.m., with the Rev. T. M. Greenhoe, of the First Presbyterian church, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mrs. Vetter was born in Richfield, Pa., on March 7, 1862. Surviving besides the daughter are six grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren.

Her husband, Fred, died in 1938; a son, Albert, died in 1925; and another son, Dr. George I. Vetter, died on April 27th.


Niles Daily Star, Friday, May 16, 1952, page 2, col 2, microfilm Niles District Library

ADDITIONAL SURVIVORS

Among the survivors of Mrs. Catherine Vetter, 90, who died Wednesday, is a daughter, Mrs. Iva Weaver, with whom Mrs. Vetter was making her home at the time of death.  Mrs. Weaver's name was unintentionally omitted from the list of survivors in Thursday's Daily Star.

Stratton, William J.

William J. Stratton
March 4, 1873-June 7, 1952


William Joseph Stratton, of 1635 Silverbrook avenue, was found dead at the Original Cabinet company, where he is employed as a night watchman, by William Denney, an employe, at about 6:30 a.m. today.

Surviving are his widow, Addie; two daughters, Mrs. Ralph Coffinger, of Niles, and Mrs. Lloyd Bielsky, of Michigan City, Ind.; two sons, Thomas, of Edwardsburg, and James Stratton, of Niles; six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

Stratton was born March 4, 1873, in New Buffalo, and came here from Sumnerville 40 years ago.

Friends may call at the Kiger funeral home, where services will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. Monday by the Rev. T.M. Greenhoe, Presbyterian pastor. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, June 7, 1952, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Frizzell, Sherma Lou

Sherma Lou Frizzell
May 30, 1952-June 3, 1952


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 3, 1952, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Sherma Lou Frizzell, infant daughter of Mr.and Mrs. Sherman Frizzell of 1254 East Main street, died at 3 a.m. today at Pawating hosptial where she was born prematurely on Friday.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 2 pm. in the Kiger funeral home, with the Rev. L. George Beacock officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Other survivors are: a sister, Teresa Sue, at home; paternal of Niles; and maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Al Runyan, also of Niles.


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, June 4, 1952, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

List Survivor

Another survivor of Sherma Lou Frizzell, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Sherman Frizzell, of 1254 East Main street, who died Tuesday morning at Pawating hospital is the maternal grandmother, Mrs. Ruth Frizzell, of Niles.  Mrs. Frizzell's name was inadvertently omitted in Tuesday's Niles Daily Star.

Duff, Eva May

Eva May Duff
Nov. 23, 1880-June 3, 1952


EVA MAY DUFF, 75

Eva May Duff, 71, of 701 Regent street, died at 7 a.m. today at the Bundy Nursing home following a seven-year illness.  Funeral services will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. in the Kiger funeral home with the Rev. Homer Steffens officiating.

Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

Mrs. Duff was born in Chicago on Nov. 23, 1880, and came to Niles 12 years ago. She was a member of the Presbyterian church and the order of Eastern Star.

Surviving is her husband, Orva S. Duff.


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 3, 1952, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Wisler, Karen Lee

Karen Lee Wisler
May 31, 1952-June 2, 1952

Funeral services were held today at the Kiger funeral home for Karen Lee Wisler, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Donald Wisler of 1730 Cass street, who died at Pawating hospital Monday.

Karen was one of a pair of twins, born May 31 at Pawating. Bruce Bryant Wisler, the twin brother, survives and remains at the hospital.

Other survivors include: a sister, Kathleen, at home; paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Oren Wisler of South Bend; maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert Rosselit, of South Bend.

Burial was in Silverbrook cemetery.


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, June 3, 1952, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Crumpler, Jane L. Losensky (Druif)

Jane Crumpler, 80
Dec. 18, 1930 — May 22, 2011

Jane L. Crumpler, 80, of Zumbrota, Minn. and previously of Niles, passed away on Sunday evening, May 22, 2011.

Jane was born Dec. 18, 1930 to the late Isaac and Elsie (Millard) Druif in Muskegon, Mich. She was one of three children growing up in the Druif household.

She graduated from Muskegon High School and went on to graduate from St. Luke’s Nursing College. She wed Charles Losensky in May 1954 and they began their life together in St. Cloud, Minn. They later moved to Niles to raise their family. Charles passed away in 1977 and Jane married Thomas Crumpler in November 1980.

Jane worked at the old Pawating Hospital as a registered nurse; after her retirement she spent a number of years as a hospice caregiver and nurse. Thomas passed away in 1997 and Jane moved to Zumbrota, Minn. in 2000 to live with her daughter, son-in-law and three grandchildren.

Jane became a resident of Zumbrota Health Services in July 2010. She was a member of St. Paul’s Catholic Church. Always on the go, Jane enjoyed quilting, knitting, gardening and traveling. She was a very caring person and always had a smile for everyone. One of her greatest joys was her family.

Jane is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Charles Losensky; husband, Thomas Crumpler; brother, Arthur Druif; and sister, Eleanor Druif.

She is survived by her children, Paul (Arzetta) Losensky of Bloomington, Ind., Ike Losensky of Bloomington, Ind. and Ruth (John) Sheets of Zumbrota, Minn.; and her three grandchildren, Joshua, Jacob and Hannah Sheets.

Memorial donations may be made in Jane’s memory to the American Cancer Society.

Funeral services will be held Thursday, May 26 at Brown Funeral Home in Niles at 1 p.m. with a time of visitation one hour prior.  Jane will be laid to rest at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Those wishing to leave a message for the family, upload a photo or write a letter of condolence may do so on our website at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or on our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 6:22am Wednesday, May 25, 2011