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.

Graziani, Nick 1943-2022

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Nick Graziani 
Aug. 22, 1943-June 12, 2022

Niles Daily Star, Published 3:07 pm Tuesday, June 14, 2022

 

Nick Graziani, 78, of Niles, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family, on Sunday, June 12, 2022, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka, Indiana.

Nick was born on August 22, 1943, in Steger, Illinois to the late Nicola and Mildred Jean (Eckhard) Graziani.

After graduating high school, Nick enlisted in the U. S. Army, where he served his country proudly, receiving his honorable discharge. On March 23, 1973, Nick married the love of his life, Judy F. Pitcher at a ceremony in St. Joseph, Michigan.

Nick owned and operated Milano’s Pizza since 1970. He enjoyed golfing, traveling, trips to the casino and attending his grandchildren’s sporting events. He was a sports enthusiast, cheering for Chicago Bears, Chicago Cubs and Notre Dame.

Nick is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Judy in 2015 and two brothers, Albert and Ron Graziani.

Nick is survived by his children, Korrie (Rob) Krueger, Nikki (Steve) Brown and Tony (Nikki) Graziani, all of Niles; seven grandchildren, Nicholas Borkowski, Alex Krueger, Lexi Krueger, Aiden Krueger, Mia Graziani, Ryne Brown and Zoe Graziani as well as several nieces and nephews and countless hearts he touched.

A celebration of Nick’s life will be held on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, at noon, at Summit Church at 1700 W. River Road in Niles with a time of visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. until time of service. Full Military Honors will follow on the grounds of Summit Church.

A private family interment will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Over twenty years ago the Graziani family started Milano’s Cancer Fund and has helped many local families through their generosity. Those wishing to make a contribution in Nick’s memory may do so the Milano’s Cancer Fund at 215 N. 17th Street, Niles, Michigan 49120.
Memories of Nick may be shared with his family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services, of Niles.

Maxwell, Mary L. 1937-2022

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Mary L. Maxwell, of Niles
June 15, 1937 – Feb. 5. 2022

Niles Daily Star, Published 2:37 am Thursday, February 10, 2022

 
 

June 15, 1937 – Feb. 5. 2022

Mary L. Maxwell, 84, passed away peacefully at Westwoods of Niles on Feb. 5, 2022.

She was born on June 15, 1937, to the late Robert Weimer and Ruth Vanderbeck in Niles.

Mary was a woman of simple pleasures – reading, bird watching, and as much family time as she could get. Being a grandma was something she was proud of. 

She was raised with both of her parents and her two siblings, Bill and Sue. She stayed close with her siblings her entire life, in fact, Sue and Mary talked just about every day of the week until Mary’s passing.

Over time, Mary eventually started a family of her own. She raised five children who eventually gave her ten grandkids and eight great-grandkids. She took on the role of grandma with open arms. She wasn’t one to go out on big trips or adventures, she liked to stay in the comfort of her own home. For Mary, quality time spent was what she valued the most. Just being in the presence of her family, especially the grandkids, made her feel on top of the world. Outside of the house, Mary was best known as the local bookkeeper for the Niles Public Library. She enjoyed the peace and quiet surrounded by all of the stories, adventures, and knowledge within the books she kept. 

Later in life, Mary eventually married Herbert Earl Maxwell. The loving couple was married in 1977 in Niles. The people in Mary’s life were what gave her something to look forward to. Her circle was small but the love she had for those within it was strong. She will be missed dearly by her friends, family, and all those she had a chance to meet.

Mary is preceded in death by both of her parents, Robert Weimer and Ruth Vanderbeck; and her husband, Herbert Maxwell. 

She is survived by all five of her children – Dave (Tammy) Semrinec of Niles, Mike Semrinec of Niles, Mark (Vicki) Semrinec of Niles, Rob (Marsha) Semrinec of Myakka City, Florida, and Susan McNamara of Holland, MI. Also surviving are ten grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and her two siblings, Bill (Marie) Weimer of Niles, and Sue (Frank) VanLeeuwen of Niles.

The family will not be holding any public services for Mary.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Niles.

Jernigan, James A. 1932-2022

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James Jernigan
December 31, 1932 - May 16, 2022

Published on website of Hoven Funeral Home:

U.S. Veteran

Reverend James Alton Jernigan of Dowagiac, MI, departed this life on May 16, 2022 at Ascension Borgess Hospital, Kalamazoo, MI.  He was born December 31, 1932, Anniston, AL to the late James Jernigan and Bessie Bones Jernigan.  He was the youngest child out of 4.

He was educated at Calvin County Training School, Hobson City, Al school system.  He served in the United States Army for six years.  He became a sergeant while serving in the army. He fought in the Korean War and was honorably discharged.  After retirement from the service he worked many years as a truck driver for Central Transport, South Bend, IN before retiring in 1994.

Reverend Jernigan professed his love for Christ at an early age.  Throughout his life he worked in many capacities of the church as a deacon and was later called into the ministry and ordained under the leadership of the late Reverend W.L. Daniels, Mt Calvary Baptist Church.   

He was a dedicated member of John W. Moore Lodge #42 and  Miriam Chapter #56 OES Prince Hall Affiliation.

He was predeceased in death by his parents, sisters: Lula Pryor, Delphia M.Parmer, Lois Greene,  daughter Linda Jernigan, step-daughter Nanette Watkins, and Godbrother, Deacon Johnny Gorman Sr.

He leaves to cherish his loving wife of over 30 years  Lillie M. Jernigan of the residence, sons James Jernigan, Pensacola, FL, Ronald (Bertha) Miller, Anniston, AL, Ernest Hammond, Avondale, AR,  Michael (Tina) Hammond, Niles, MI, daughter, Shonte’ Jernigan (Aaron Marsh), South Bend, IN, step-daughter, Victoria (Bernard) Roberts, Niles, MI, Brother-In- Law, Timothy (Marie) Shaw, Jennison, MI, sister-in-laws, Willie Mae Bacon, Flint, MI, Annette Shaw, Niles, MI, Ruth Shaw, Three Rivers, MI, Godsister, Eva Gorman, Berrien Springs, MI and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nephews, nieces, cousins, godchildren, and friends.

Funeral Service for Reverend Jernigan will be at 1 pm at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, 601 Ferry St., Niles, MI 49120, with Reverend Bryant L. Bacon Sr officiating. Visitation will begin at 12 pm prior to the service at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, MI. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan. Online condolences may be made at www.hovenfunerals.com

Gentry, Betty Lou 1945-2022

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Betty Lou Gentry
July 11, 1945-Jan. 29, 2022

Published 3:04 pm Wednesday, February 2, 2022

July 11, 1945 —Jan. 29, 2022

Betty L. (Cuthbert) Gentry, 76, of Niles, passed away surrounded by family and friends on January 29, 2022.

She was born on July 11, 1945, to the late Leon E. Cuthbert and Cora B. (Britton) Cuthbert in South Bend.

Betty Lou was a perfect example of what it meant to be a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. After the tragic loss of her husband and life partner, Jarrell L. Gentry, in 1981, Betty raised all three of her daughters by herself. She managed to bring up a warm, loving family with a strong will, hard work, and plenty of love. Not long after graduating from Washington High School in South Bend, she had found a true passion in filling the tummies of our youth for the Niles Community Schools. She managed the kitchen for many years and was able to bless her community for many years. She was the lady in the kitchen that all the kids looked forward to seeing every day. She had a knack for creating special relationships with the students she served. Her love for children was further enhanced when she became a grandmother, and then a great-grandmother. She was the kind of grandma who loved to cook, bake, and craft things from her heart. She was especially known for her sticky buns and Texas sheet cake while she was baking. What she was best known for was her ability to craft. Without any formal training, Betty was excellent at making blankets, floral arrangements, patterns, or anything that involved a hook, needle, and thread. According to her grandkids, she was also a great storyteller. Sitting around listening to her stories while munching on her homemade baked goods was one of her favorite ways to show love. Betty also looked forward to the daily phone calls with her best friend, Lois. Betty and Lois were both widowed and leaned on each other for support, family updates, and the latest current events. The community is at a loss with Betty’s passing, she will be missed by many but remembered by even more.

Betty is preceded in death by both of her parents, Leon and Cora Cuthbert; her loving husband, Jarrell Gentry; her brother, Leon Cuthbert; her son-in-law, Jeff Crowder; and brother-in-law, Dennis Graber.

Surviving Betty are her three daughters, Lori Gentry-Richardson, Lisa Gentry-Crowder, and Danielle (Larry) Gentry-Bybee; five of her siblings, Barbara (John) Mangus, Donna (Carl) Brewster, Bonnie Graber, Russ (Dawn) Cuthbert, and Donald (Brenda) Cuthbert; her grandchildren, Taylor Gentry, Tiffany Haynes, Miranda (Shannon) Thompson, Dylan Bybee, Noah (Emily) Melton, Bailey (Nathan) Crowder, and Connor Gregory; as well as seven adorable great-grandchildren.

Funeral services for Betty will be held at Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services on Monday, Feb. 7, 2022, with visitation beginning at 11:00 a.m. and services starting at 1 p.m.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

Russell, Earl R. 1928-2021

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Earl Richard Russell
Dec. 4, 1928-Nov. 3, 2021

Published on website of Brown Funeral Home and Cremation Services

Obituary of Earl Richard Russell

Earl R. Russell Sr., 92, of Niles, peacefully passed away at the Lakeland Hospital in Niles, Mi, on November 3, 2021. He was born on December 4, 1928, in Indianapolis, Indiana, to the late Oscar and Edith (Chandler) Russell. Earl was blessed to live a long, eventful, meaningful 92 years on this earth. He was born at the start of The Great Depression, served our country in the Korean War, lived through many civil rights movements, and endured the recent worldwide virus pandemic. He was a man of wisdom, experience, and could fill a book with his lifetime of stories. Out of all the things that happened in Earl’s life, family was what mattered the most. He was born into a large family; both of his parents and five other siblings helped shape him during the early years of his life. After getting through high school, Earl joined the United States Army and had the experience of a lifetime. Earl went to battle and was lucky to come out alive. By the time his service to our country ended, he was a highly respected and decorated soldier; something he carried with him for the rest of his life. After his time in the service, he married the woman of his dreams, Rozella Marie Hawkins. They married on July 31st, 1954, and started a family shortly after. Their union brought them six very loving children and started the next phase of Earl’s life. He spent most of his working career as a laborer for Buchanan Steel. Earl always kept busy during his time off and was busier in his retirement than he ever was while he was working. He was a man’s man; he hunted all sorts of wild game, was an avid fisherman, he had a keen eye for hunting mushrooms, and he also didn’t mind a little bit of gambling. Although his most favorite hobbies were spent outdoors, he also was an excellent host. He was known for his mouth-watering pies, soul-warming chili, and was a little possessive of his kitchen when he was putting together a meal. His favorite group of people to host were his grandchildren. Earl was fortunate enough to know all of his nine grandchildren, twenty-six great-grandchildren, and eleven great-great-grandchildren. He supported every generation of his family. He spent a lot of time coaching rocket football leagues in Buchanan, supported all of his granddaughters’ cheerleading events, and loved attending the Berrien County Youth Fair. Outside of his family, Earl also loved to support the South Bend Speedway and the Chicago Cubs baseball team. Earl set a great example of what it meant to live a meaningful life. He was preceded in death by both of his parents, Oscar and Edith (Chandler) Russell; his loving wife, Rozella (Hawkins) Russell; two of his children, Sheryl and Alan Russell; two of his grandchildren, Tony Grimes Jr and Alex Wentz; and all five of his siblings, Oscar Russell Jr, Kenneth Russell, Beverly Blundy, Janet Stapleton, and Patricia Rector. He is survived by four of his children, Teresa Russell, Earl Russell Jr, Randy Russell, and Rickie Russell; nine grandchildren; a step-granddaughter, Amber Lewis; 26 great-grandchildren; a step-great-grandson, Isaac Wade; eleven great-great-grandchildren; and many other extended family members and friends. A public visitation will be held for Earl on November 17, 2021, at Mission Hills Memorial chapel beginning at eleven a.m. Funeral Services with full military honors will begin at one p.m. the same day. Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project.

Holtz, Clement E. 1941-2022

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Clement Holtz, of Niles
Sept. 20, 1941-May 17, 2022

Niles Daily Star, Published 1:21 pm Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Clement Holtz, 80, of Niles, passed away on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, at St Jo Regional Medical Center. Arrangements have been entrusted with Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services. www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com

Published on website of Brown Funeral Home and Cremation Services:

Obituary of Clement Euwn Holtz

Clement E. Holtz, 80, of Niles, passed away on May 17, 2022 at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka, Indiana. He was born on September 20, 1941 in Bradford, Arkansas to the late Clarence and Irene (Ritchie) Holtz. On April 14, 1959, he married the former, Sandra Hecht, to that union two daughters were born, the marriage lasted nineteen years, and even though it ended in divorce, they remained friends. He later married Helen Ditch, who he also divorced later on and still remained great friends. Clement retired from Buchanan Steel, where he spent most of his working career. In his free time you could find him either fishing or repairing small engines. He loved stopping at garage sales, hoping to find that next treasure. Clement loved his church and his church family. Clement was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Eldon Ritchie, Danny Ritchie, and Luedean Crespo. He is survived by his daughters, Rhonda (Michael) Maynard of Elkhart; Shelli Draper (Tim Hebner) of Niles; step-son, David Jenkins of Niles; four grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild and another one to arrive soon; siblings, Bruce Ritchie of Niles; Tim (Linda) Ritchie of Searcy, Arkansas; Emerson Ritchie, of Niles; ex-wives, Sandra Hecht-Holtz and Helen Ditch-Holtz. A time of visitation will be held on Friday, May 20, 2022 from noon until 1:00pm at Brown Funeral Home in Niles. Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 20, 2022 at 1:00 pm at the Funeral Home with committal services at Silverbrook Cemetery. He lived by the philosophy that if you want more left overs, return the bowls. Memorial contributions may be made in Clement’s name may be directed to the St Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Memories of Clement may be shared with his family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com. Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Niles.
 

Bucholz, Mark 1962-2022

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Mark Bucholz
Sept. 14,1962-May 1, 2022

Niles Daily Star Published 3:36 pm Friday, May 6, 2022

 

 

Sept. 14,1962-May 1, 2022

Mark Bucholz, 59, of Niles, passed away suddenly, of natural causes on May 1, 2022, at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana.

He was born on September 14, 1962, in Saginaw, Michigan to the late Carl and Elva (Deal) Bucholz of Chesaning. As a young child, Mark was placed into foster care and was raised primarily by Pops and Juanita Mayo.
Mark graduated from Bridgeport Baptist Academy in 1981. In 1983 Mark enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps and served his country proudly until 1989, when he received his honorable discharge. On May 21, 1988, Mark married the love of his life, Heidi A. Bartholomew at a ceremony in Saginaw, Michigan. The couple grew up as friends, graduated together, raised a family and were best of friends.

He was currently employed with AT&T where he has worked as a telecommunications specialist since 1994 after relocating to Niles. Mark was an American patriot and lived the values of God, Family and country. He was a member of the American Legion Post 51 in Buchanan. He also enjoyed Harry Potter, the Hunger Games, war movies and the History Channel. Mark will also be remembered for his outgoing personality and goofy sense of humor. He also enjoyed family trips up north and to Frankenmuth.

Mark was preceded in death by his biological parents as well as his foster parents and brother, Curt Bucholz.
He is survived by his wife, Heidi Bucholz of Niles; his children, Laura Bucholz (Matthew Allain) of Elkhart, Kenny and Megan Bucholz of Niles; his siblings, Gennette (Paul) Noble of Saginaw, Joann (Clarence) Lamblin of Saginaw, Charlie (Shelley) Bucholz of Reese, Janice (Mark) Wilson of Tampa FL, Toni (Todd) Lewicki as well as a host of nieces, nephews, foster family and friends.

A time of visitation will be held on Sunday, May 8, 2022, from 4 until 6 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home in Niles. Funeral services will be held on Monday, May 9, 2022, at 11 a.m. at the Funeral Home with committal services and Full Military Honors to be rendered at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made in Mark’s memory to the Wounded Warrior Project at 230 W. Monroe St Suite 200, Chicago, IL 60606 or to the Humane Society of Southwest Michigan at 5400 Niles Road, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085.

Memories of Mark may be shared with his family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Niles.

Mark will always be remembered for his patriotism, his kindness to others and his love for his family.

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