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.

Lacy, Ruby H. (Clark)

Ruby H. Lacy
April 11, 1926-March 17, 2006

Ruby H. (Clark) Lacy, 79, Clarendon Ave, Niles, passed away Friday March 17, 2006. at Lakeland Hospital in Niles following a brief illness.

Ruby was born on April 11, 1926. in Jefferson City, Missouri. to the late Thurman and Clara (Henderson) Clark.

In 1935 Ruby married David F. Lacy in Parma, Missouri. The couple divorced but remained friends throughout her life. In 1967. she married Jonas L. Lacy at a ceremony in Niles, MI.

Ruby was a good mom, a good grandmother and a great friend to all. She never had an unkind word about anyone. She will be missed greatly by everyone whose life she touched.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Jonas L. Lacy.

Ruby is survived by two sons; David (Sandra) Lacy of Rochester, N.H., and Ivan (Ellen) Lacy of Milton, NH, three daughters; Geri (Robert) Fredericks of Niles, Mary (Bud) Dodd of South Bend, IN and Evelyn (Craig) Robbins of Niles, 14 grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren, and a sister Mary (Sam) Gowen and a very special friend-sister-in-law Goldie Burks.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday March 21, 2006 at 1 p.m. in Brown Funeral Home with Pastor Mike Smith officiating. An interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery. A time of visitation will be held two hours prior to the funeral.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles (formerly Pifer~Smith Funeral Home).

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Kupper, Rose Ernestine

Rose Ernestine Kupper
Oct. 23, 1911-Feb. 2, 1994

Rose Ernestine Kupper, 82, of 1105 N. 13th St., Niles,  died at 11:25 a.m. Wednesday Feb. 2, 1994, in Pawating Hospital after an illness. Mrs. Kupper was born Oct. 23, 1911, in South Bend. On Jan. 3, 1935, in South Bend, she married Richard Kupper. He died Jan. 12, 1989. Surviving are two daughters, Amelia R. Richmond and Kathryn Horvath, both of Niles; a son, Richard H. of Niles; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and a brother, Carl Schneck of Niles.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Kuehn, John C. Jr.

John C. Kuehn Jr.
Sept. 22, 1940-June 22, 2008

John C. “Jack” Kuehn Jr. 67, of Hyrne Avenue, Niles, died at 6:05 p.m. Sunday, June 22, 2008, in his home following an extended illness.

Mr. Kuehn was born on September 22, 1940, in Niles to John Carl and Ruth Edna (Willard) Kuehn Sr. He graduated from Niles High School and was a lifelong resident of Niles. Jack owned and operated J&R Snack Bar in Niles.

Jack was a founding member of Huntly Memorial Baptist church in Niles. He enjoyed Chicago Cubs baseball and University of Notre Dame football.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Kubiak, William

William "Butch" Kubiak
Jan. 22, 1938-March 20, 2002

William "Butch" Kubiak, 64, of Stateline Road, Niles, Mich., died following a brief illness at 5:53 p.m. Saturday, March 30, 2002,  in the Lakeland Medical Center, Niles.

Mr. Kubiak was born Jan. 22, 1938, in Niles, to Leo and Mary Jo (Wiatrolik) Kubiak, and was a lifetime resident of Niles.

He graduated from Saint Mary School in Niles, was a member of the Class of 1956 at Niles High School, and attended Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich. He played football for Niles High School, Ferris State, and the U.S. Army.

Mr. Kubiak continued in his father's footsteps by owning and operating Kubiak's Tavern, the oldest tavern in Michigan, owned by the same family since 1933.

He attended Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles and was a veteran of the U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserves. Mr. Kubiak enjoyed spending time with his family, grandsons, at the family cottage, and fishing.

On Jan. 25, 1964, in Niles he married the former Ellen Rose Armstrong. who survives. Their daughter and her husband, Diane C. and Daryl Janowiak of Niles; grandsons, Hunter J. and Connor W. Janowiak; and a brother and his wife, James and Kathleen Kubiak of Niles, also survive him.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 3, in Saint Mary Catholic Church, with the Reverend William T. Melody of Notre Dame, Ind., officiating.  Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles, with veteran's flag presentation and taps by Harry Roberts of American Legion Post 26 in Niles following the committal services at the graveside.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 8 p.m. today in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rosary to be recited at 7:30 p.m. today.

Contributions in memory of William Kubiak may be made to the Niles Community Library.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

   

Krueger, Sally Ann (Lathrope)

Sally Ann Krueger
Dec. 27, 1938-Sept. 2, 2007

Sally Ann Krueger, 68, of Airport Road,  Niles, died following a brief illness at 9:08 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 2, 2007, in Memorial Hospital, South Bend.

Mrs. Krueger was born on December 27, 1938, in Galien Township, to Robert and Marion Lillian (Mitchell) Lathrope. She had lived all of her life in the Niles-Buchanan area and graduated from Buchanan High School. Sally retired in 2002 after 39 years of service at the Simplicity Pattern Company.

Sally was a member of the Women's Service League at Simplicity. She enjoyed music and traveling, especially to Nashville and Branson, enjoyed flower gardening, cooking and crocheting. She was a Notre Dame football fan, and enjoyed attending family sports activities.

On October 13, 1948, in Niles, she married Henry N. Krueger, who survives. Also surviving are a son, Christopher (Carol) King of Niles; a daughter, Pamela (Brad) Cross of Niles; three grandchildren, Angie (Toby) Mann, Amy (Andy) Chodzinski and Matthew Cross; a great-grandson, Blake Mann; a brother, Johnny Manley of Pueblo, CO; and a sister, Laura Nason of Niles.

Mrs. Krueger was preceded in death by a brother, George Manley, and a sister, Roberta Krueger.

The funeral service for Sally Ann Krueger will be at 11 a.m. Friday, September 7, in Halbritter Funeral Home, with Rev. R. Allan Poage of Niles officiating. Committal service will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 6, in the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Sally may be made to the Secret Sister Society to encourage screening for breast cancer.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Krueger, Lorene (Culver)

Lorene Krueger
May 10, 1913-March 27, 2006

Lorene (Culver) Krueger, 92, of Birch Lakeview Drive, Vandalia, Michigan, died at 5:30 a.m. Monday, March 27, 2006.  in Cass County Medical Care Facility, Cassopolis, Michigan, following an extended illness.

Mrs. Krueger was born on May 10, 1913, in Coldwater, Michigan, to Dr. Bert W. and Louise (Clizbe) Culver. She moved from Coldwater to Niles in 1936, and moved to the lake in 1976. Lorene graduated from Albion (Michigan) College. She taught art in Niles Community Schools for several years.

Lorene was a member of First Presbyterian Church in Niles. She was also a member of the Cosmopolitan Club, Niles Service League and the Niles Garden Club. She volunteered at Fernwood Botanic Gardens and enjoyed gardening at home.

On June 26, 1940, in Coldwater, she married Lloyd H. Krueger, who died on May 10, 1987.

She is survived by their two daughters, Martha (& Thomas) Athanas of Niles and Phyllis Beck of Carbondale, Illinois; four grandchildren and three great-granddaughters.

Mrs. Krueger was preceded in death by a sister and a brother.

A memorial service for Lorene M. Krueger will be held at a later date. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

There will be no visitation. Arrangements were made by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church or to Fernwood Botanic Garden.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Krueger, Bill E.

Bill E. Krueger
Dec. 27, 1955-June 9, 1994

Services for Bill E. ''Billy-Jean'' Krueger, 38, of 2230 E. Main St.,  Niles, who died at 2 p.m. Thursday,  June 9, 1994, will be at 11 a.m. Monday in Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to any charity.

Mr. Krueger was employed with Georgie Boy Manufacturing Inc., Edwardsburg. He was born Dec. 27, 1955, in Niles, and was a lifelong area resident. On July 22, 1991, in Niles, he married Phyllis A. Cole. She survives, with two stepdaughters, Wilma Bowling and Tammy Beavo, both of Niles; a stepson, Buddy Beavo of Niles; four granddaughters; his mother, Norma L. Krueger of Niles; a sister, Lorraine K. Gaul of Vallejo, Calif.; and two brothers, Fred L. and Scott E., both of Niles.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown