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.

Dougan, Fred J.

Fred J. Dougan
June 8, 1863-July 7, 1897


OBITUARY

 

Fred J. Dougan died at the residence of his parents Mr. and Mrs. R.F. Dougan in West Niles, July 7, 1897. He was born in Niles June 8, 1863.  In November, 1878 he was employed as fireman in the Michigan Central railroad yards at Chicago; from there he went to firing on the Cincinnati, Wabash & Michigan in 1882. In December, 1885, he was promoted to the position of engineer with the same company and remained in their employ until July, 1887, when he decided to go west and in August 1887, he went to work for the Atchison & Santa Fe railroad, and ran the construction train while they were building their road through the Indian Territory. From there he run from Spury to Englewood, Kansas, for the same company until his health began to fail and he went south in September, 1888, and commenced working for the Kansas City, Memphis & Burmingham railroad, and remained in their employ until December, 1896, when his health again failed him and the company gave him one year's leave of absence. Hoping he could regain his health he went to Denver, Colorado.  He seemed to improve for a time, but later began having hemorrhages, and losing strength, he decided to return home. He was home just eight weeks when death relieved him of his sufferings.

He was married May 20, 1885 to Miss Pearl Brown of Benton Harbor, Mich.  There were three children born to them, one of which died in March, 1893. He leaves a wife, a little daughter and an infant son; mother and father and two brothers to mourn his loss.

He was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, a Knight of Pythias, an Odd Fellow and a member of the Ancient Eccenic[sic] Order, of Aberdeen, Mississippi.


Niles Weekly Mirror, Wednesday, July 21, 1897, page 1, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Whitehead, Marian Jean

Marian Jean Whitehead
Oct. 5, 1934-Nov. 1, 1995


Obituaries

Marian Jean Whitehead

1934-1995

child abuse and neglect volunteer

 

Graveside services for Marian Jean Whitehead, 61, of 2534 Bond St., Niles, will be Friday at 2 p.m. at Silverbrook Cemetery by the Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg.

Mrs. Whitehead died at 7:40 p.m. Wednesday, at Lakeland Medical Center-Niles, following a brief illness.

She was born Oct. 5, 1934, in Calumet City, Ill., and had lived in Niles most of her life.

On Feb. 15, 1956, in Falmouth, Mass., she married William G. Whitehead, who died Dec. 18, 1980.

Mrs. Whitehead was legal secretary at Legal Debt Relief in Niles. She had also served 12 years as clerk and manager of Golden Eagle Motel in Niles.

She was a member of Michiana First Assembly of God, Niles, and a student at Southwestern Michigan College; a member of American Association of Retired Persons; and served as a volunteer for Prevention and Treatment of Child Abuse and Neglect, Cass County DSS.

Survivors include two daughters, Cynthia Snavely of Niles, and Wanda Gerold of Bridgman; a son, James Whitehead of Bridgman; eight grandchildren; and a brother, George Carr of South Bend, Ind. One sister and one brother preceded her in death.

There will be no visitation.

Memorial contributions may be made to LeSea Global Feed the Hungry.

Arrangements were completed by Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, November 2, 1995, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Milburn, Rosemary H.

Rosemary H. Milburn
Feb. 17, 1936-Nov. 2, 1995

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, November 4, 1995, page 2, col. 1, microfllm Niles District Library

Obituaries
Rosemary H. Milburn
1936-1995
enjoyed gardening, knitting

 

Funeral services for Rosemary H. Milburn, 59, of 628 Northfield Drive, Niles, are Monday at 2 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, by the Rev. Lowell Black of the First church of Christ-Christian.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Mrs. Milburn died Thursday at 5:40 p.m. at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Ind., following a brief illness.

She was born Feb. 17, 1936, in Liverpool, England. She had lived in Niles since 1974, coming here from New Jersey.

Mrs. Milburn was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Niles and was formerly active in Cub Scouts and enjoyed neighborhood clubs, gardening and knitting.

Survivors include a son, Craig Milburn of Marietta, Ga.; her former husband, Kenneth S. Milburn of Niles; and close family members in England.

Friends may call Sunday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 pm. at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Salvation Army.

 

 


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, November 4, 1995, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Dumond, Emma E.

Emma E. Dumond
July 17, 1925-Nov. 3, 1995


Obituaries

Emma E. Dumond

1925-1995

retired waitress supervisor

 

Funeral services for Emma E. Dumond, 70, of 4955 W. U.S. 12, Buchanan, were today at 10:30 a.m. at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home in Niles by Dr. Ron Wakeman of First Presbyterian Church, Niles.

Burial followed at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Mrs. Dumond died at 10:25 p.m. Friday at Silverbrook Manor in Niles.

She was born July 17, 1925 in Bedford, Ind.

On June 25, 1949, in Niles she married Wm. Robert Dumond, Sr. who survives.

Mrs. Dumond was a retired waitress supervisor at the former Franky's Restaurant in Niles.

In addition to her husband, survivors include one daughter, Sue Wolkins of Galien; one son, Wm. Robert Dumond, Jr. of Algonac; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. A brother, Robert Hardwick, died in 1975.

Memorial contributions may be made to Arthritis Foundation.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 6, 1995, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Batey, Gladys I.

Gladys I. Batey
June 18, 1899-Nov. 10, 1995


Obituaries


Gladys I. Batey

1899-1995

retired insurance agent

 

Graveside services for Gladys I. Batey, 96, 1555 Ferndale, Niles are planned for 11 a.m. Monday at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Burial will follow, with arrangements to be handled by Pifer-Smith Funeral HOme, Niles.

Miss Batey died at 11 :40 a.m. Friday at home of natural causes.

She was born June 18, 1899 in Cass County, and was a longtime area resident.

Miss Batey retired from the John Hancock Insurance Co., in 1964, for whom she worked as an insurance agent.

She is survived by seven nieces and two nephews.

There is no visitation.


Niles Daily Star, Saturday, November 11, 1995, page 2, col. 5-6, microfilm Niles District Library


Vose, Carrie M.

Carrie M. Vose
Oct. 28, 1879-Feb. 27, 1955


Mrs. Carrie M. Vose, 75, 0f 1715 North Fifth Street, died at 3:20 a.m. Sunday in Pawating Hospital where she was admitted Saturday. She had been ill for about one year.

Mrs. Vose was born Oct. 28, 1879, in Monterey,Mich., and came here from Michigan City, Ind., in 1920. She was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, the Ladies Auxiliary of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, the Order of Railway Conductors of America, the United Spanish War Veterans' Auxiliary of the E.L. Hamilton Post and the Best Friends Club.

Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Lawrence Abbott and Mrs. Marjorie Hill, both of Niles; four grandchildren, and a sister, Mrs. Harrison Kibby, of Grand Rapids. Her husband preceded her in death.

Funeral services will be held at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Pifer Funeral Home here with the Rev. Theodore Greenhoe, pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.


Niles Daily Star, Monday, February 28, 1955, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Villwock, Paul E.

Paul E. Villwock
March 28, 1916-Nov. 27, 1995

Paul E. Villwock

1916-1995

retired lifetime farmer

 

Funeral services for Paul E. Villwock, 79, of 1734 Howard St., Niles, will be Wednesday at 2 p.m., at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles by the Rev. Al Bastin of St. John's United Church of Christ.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Mr. Villwock died at 12:20 p.m. Monday, at Lakeland Medical Center-Niles, following a brief illness.

He was born March 28, 1916, in Niles, and was a lifetime resident here.

Mr. Villwock was a retired lifetime farmer who owned a farm on M-140 north of Niles.

He was a member of the American Guernesey Association.

Survivors include a sister, Lydia M. Freeman of Goodlettsville, Tenn.; eight nieces and nephews; and a sister-in-law, Amethyst Villwock of Niles. He was preceded in death by a brother, Clarence H. Villwock.

Visitation will be at the funeral home on Wednesday, one hour prior to services.

Memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor's choice.


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, November 28, 1995, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library