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.

Quick, Jack L.

Jack Quick, 59
May 25, 1951 — July 22, 2010

Jack L. Quick, 59, of Niles died at 6:06 p.m. Thursday, July 22, 2010 at his home following an extended illness.

He was born May 25, 1951 in Niles to Gordon C. and Virginia E. (Ovington) Quick. He graduated from Buchanan High School in 1970, and lived in this area all of his life. He was employed at Simplicity Pattern Co. in Niles for 36 years, retiring in 2005.

Jack was a member of Fairland Christian Church, Niles, where he served as a deacon, missions treasurer and Sunday School teacher. He enjoyed playing sports on church leagues and coaching teams on which his sons played. He was a fan of the University of Notre Dame, the Colts, the Cubs and the Lakers, and he was a devoted patriot, being proud to be an American.

On June 24, 1972 in Buchanan, he married Kristy Marie “Kris” Stefani, who survives. Also surviving are their children and grandchildren, Dr. Ben Quick (Dr. Isabel Cabarcas-Quick), of Fort Worth, Texas, and their son, Christian, and Dr. Brian (Cindi) Quick, of Monticello, Ill., and their sons, Maddux and Gehrig; Jack’s brothers, Steve (Linda) Quick, of Galien and Joe (Donna) Quick, of Buchanan; and Kris’s brother, Mike Stefani, of Newport, Mich.

The funeral service for Jack L. Quick will be at 11 a.m. Monday, July 26, 2010 at Fairland Christian Church, Niles with Don Fleischmann of the church officiating.

Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Contributions in memory of Jack may be made to Fairland Christian Church or to the Woodburn Christian Children’s Home, c/o Fairland Christian Chruch, or to the Michiana Christian Service Camp.

Niles Daily Star, Published 7:35pm Friday, July 23, 2010

Wogoman, Brenda Jean (Bush)

Brenda Wogoman
Feb. 20, 1961 — July 24, 2010

Brenda Wogoman, 49

Brenda Jean Wogoman, 49, of 2365 South Redbud Trail, Niles died at 1:04 p.m. Saturday, July 24, 2010 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph of natural causes.

She was born Feb. 29, 1961 in Berrien Center. She was a lifetime area resident.

Brenda was employed at Bear Cove Resort in Buchanan. She enjoyed her grandchildren, family and friends; riding Harleys with her husband; and swimming, cooking and gardening.

She married Robert Wogoman on Aug. 11, 1994 in Spearfish, S.D.

She is survived by her husband, Robert, of Niles; mother, Florence Bush, of Niles; sons, Jerry Bush, of Niles and Jarrid Wogoman, of Arizona; daughters, Roberta Hibbard, of Washington and Dacia Bush, of Buchanan; grandchildren, Ananaya, Corbyn, Brayden, Erica and Christina; brothers, Bernard “Ted” (Tammy) Bush, of Niles and Richard (Kathy) Bush, of Mishawaka; and sister, Star Nelson, of Colorado.

She was preceded in death by her father, Bernard “Bud” Bush.

Services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, July 30, 2010 at Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan with the Rev. Starley Baker of Full Gospel Assembly in Berrien Springs officiating.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 29 at Hoven Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to her husband, Bob Wogoman.

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:21pm Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Hodges, Arelia (Thompson)

Arelia Hodges, 87
July 11, 1923 — Aug. 1, 2010

Arelia Hodges, 87, of South 17th Street, Niles died at 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 1, 2010 at Buchanan Meadows Living Center, Buchanan following a brief illness.

She was born July 11, 1923 in Little Rock, Ark. to Walter Thompson and Mattie (Bluford) Thompson. She attended school in Little Rock, coming to this area in 1944 and completed high school at Brandywine.

She was a member of Franklin A.M.E. Church in Niles. She was a resourceful cook, innovative designer and skilled seamstress. She supported her children’s programs. She was very supportive and encouraging to her husband and his endeavors. She was also on the Niles Township Park Board, a Census taker and election polling place volunteer.

She married Clarence Elijah Hodges in May 1942.

She is survived by her husband; sons, Martin J. Hodges, of Niles, Waymon M. (Dorthena) Hodges, of Benton Harbor and Don Carlos Hodges, of Niles; daughters, the Rev. Saundria J. Hodges-Wilson, of Niles and Andria L. (Isaac) Hood, of Westland, Mich.; many great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; a brother, Frank Thompson, of College Station, Ark.; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Janel Renee Highsmith, who died in 1987; sisters, Willetta Crawford and Darthelia Benton; and brother, Walter “Buddy” Thompson Jr.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 9, 2010 at Franklin A.M.E. Church, Niles with the Rev. Jared L. Graves Sr. of Franklin A.M.E. Church and the Rev. Norman Tubbs of Chain Missionary Baptist Church officiating.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

An evening devotion will be held at 7:15 p.m. Sunday at Halbritter Funeral Home by the Rev. Saundria Wilson.

Memorial contributions may be sent to Franklin A.M.E. Church.

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:20pm Monday, August 2, 2010

Graham, Rev. Michael "Wayne"

The Rev. Michael Graham, 65
June 13, 1945 — Aug. 1, 2010

The Rev. Michael Graham, 65

The Rev. Michael “Wayne” Graham, 65, of Chicago Road, Niles died at 7:20 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 1, 2010 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Saint Joseph, Mich. following a brief illness.

The Rev. Graham was born June 13, 1945 in Niles to Joseph and Martha Graham. He lived here all his life, graduated from Niles High School and attended Ferris State University. He retired from Buchanan Community Schools and previously served as an officer of the Michigan State Police at the post in New Buffalo, Mich.

The Rev. Graham was the pastor at Abundant Life Fellowship in South Bend. He was also involved in syndicated radio ministries including “One on One” and “Gospel Classics,” some of which were broadcast from the WNIL radio studio in Niles. These shows broadcast across the country and Europe, and won national awards. He was also able to promote independent artists through the shows.

He enjoyed riding motorcycles and walking at Madeline Bertrand Park, where he knew all the staff. He loved his old-time radio programs collection.

On April 9, 1977 in Niles, he married the former Kathy Lou Brodersen, who survives. He is also survived by Kathy’s sisters, Sue (Gary) Shelton, of Jones, Mich., Sharon (Pastor Larry) Lovell, of Vernon, Texas and Karen Tolliver, of Dowagiac; three nieces; three nephews; nine great-nephews; and three great-nieces.

He was preceded in death by his half-brother, Wally Bowerman and great-nephew, Jamie Deuel, who died in 1975.

Funeral services for the Rev. Michael “Wayne” Graham will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 5, 2010 at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Assistant Pastor Dave Spurlock of Abundant Life Fellowship officiating.

Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive friends and relatives beginning at noon Thursday at the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of the Rev. Graham may be made to Madeline Bertrand Park or Lakeland Hospice, St. Joseph.

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:24pm Monday, August 2, 2010

Fein, Iona

Iona Fein, 91
June 9, 1919 — Aug. 1, 2010

Iona Irene Fein, 91, of Niles died at 2:55 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 1, 2010 at Silverbrook Manor, Niles of natural causes.

She was born June 9, 1919 in Munsing, Mich. She lived here 74 years.

Iona enjoyed being with her family, going out to eat, going for rides and she enjoyed deer hunting when she was younger.

She married Ralph Fein, who preceded her in death in 1977.

Iona is survived by her daughter-in-law, Dawn Fein, of Niles; brother, Don (Gloria) Peterson in Little Lake, Mich.; sister, Dorothy (Kenneth) Grenquist, of Marshall, Mich.; six grandchildren, Teresa Latislaw, Timothy (Janie) Fein, Trent (Lori) Fein, Tracey (John) Simpson, Lori (John) Watson and Darren Parker; 10 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by a son, Thomas Fein, on Aug. 2, 2006.

A Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 9, 2010 at St. Mark’s Catholic Church, Niles with Father Thomas King of the church officiating.

Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Friends may call from 9 to 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 9, 2010 in Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan.

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:37pm Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Curtis, Edward Manley

Edward Curtis, 68
June 23, 1942 — Aug. 7, 2010

Edward Manley “Uncle Honey” Curtis, 68, of Carberry Road in Niles, died Saturday, Aug. 7, 2010 at 5:05 p.m. at Silverbrook Manor in Niles following an extended illness.

Edward Curtis
Edward Curtis

Mr. Curtis was born June 23, 1942 in South Bend to Manley Howard and Virginia Katherine (Forbes) Curtis. He was a lifetime resident of Niles. He retired in 2001 after 25 years of service from Honeywell in South Bend. He also had been employed at Allied Speciality Precision in Mishawaka.
Edward was a veteran of the Vietnam Era, having served in the United States Navy on both the U.S.S. Vulcan and U.S.S. Nantahala.
He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Niles and the Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge 2094, Niles. He enjoyed gardening, bird watching, music and spending time with his grandchildren, family and friends.
Mr. Curtis is survived by his daughters, Judy Curtis of Niles and Diane (Gary) Dreher of Buchanan; grandchildren, Tony (Bethany) Angelero of Buchanan, Samantha Curtis of Niles, Sarah Elizabeth Dreher and Paul Dreher, both of Buchanan; great-granddaughter, Emma Gene Comer of Niles; mother, Virginia Katherine Curtis of Saint Petersburg, Fla.; brothers and sisters, Stephen (Peggy) Curtis of South Bend, Mark Curtis of Niles, Mary (Lynn) Speck of Clearwater, Fla., Nan (Ken) Olney of Wayland, Mich., Diane (Tom) Filstrup of Port Charlotte, Fla., Andrea (Bob) Wetmore and Lorraine (Dave) Casey, both of Saint Petersburg and Beth (Tim) Winquist of Niles; brother-in-law, Jim Litty of Crown Point, Ind.; and 20 nieces and nephews.
Edward was preceded in death by his father, Manley Howard Curtis, and sister, Margaret Litty.
Funeral services for Edward Manley Curtis will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 12, 2010 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Niles with the Rev. James Slack of the church officiating. The service will conclude with full military honors by American Legion Post 51, Buchanan.
Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.
The family will receive relatives and friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.
Contributions in memory of Edward may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service.

Niles Daily Star, Published 11:24pm Monday, August 9, 2010

Arnett, Mary K. (Hensley)

Mary Arnett, 83
Feb. 3, 1927 — Aug. 6, 2010

     Mary K. Arnett, 83, of Carrol Street in Buchanan and formerly of South Fifth Street in Niles, died at 2:45 p.m. Friday, Aug. 6, 2010 at Buchanan Meadows Living Center, Buchanan.
     She was born Feb. 3, 1927 in Lenoir City, Tenn. to William Frank Hensley and Minnie Mae (Stout) Hensley.
     She grew up in Benton Harbor and moved to Niles in 1970. She was previously employed at Michigan Fruit Canners.
     She married Thello Ray Arnett in February 1959. He died in 1975. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Edward “Mitch” Hensley, who died Nov. 27, 2002.
     Mary is survived by her daughter, Linda J. (Estes R.) Bazor of Wheatland, Calif.; grandsons, Logan A. Boydell of Sacramento, Calif., Noah G. Boydell of Sacramento and Daniel E. Bazor of Citrus Heights, Calif.; granddaughter, Josselyn K. Bazor of Wheatland; and sister-in-law, Sigrid A. Hensley of Bloomington, Minn.
     Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2010 at the graveside in Niles with the Rev. Edward H. Slate of Wesley United Methodist Church officiating.
     Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
     There will be no visitation.
     Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Niles Daily Star, Published 11:26pm Monday, August 9, 2010