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.

Cain, Lucybelle (Holmes)

Lucybelle (Holmes) Cain
March 29, 1920-July 27, 1998

Former Niles treasurer, Lucybelle Cain, dies at 78

NILES--Lucybelle Cain, who served as Niles city treasurer from 1960 to 1973, died at around 10 p.m. Monday in Lakeland Medical Center, Niles, following a brief illness. She was 78.

"She did a capable job. She was a very nice, pleasant lady," said Victor Gutshenritter, who worked for the utilities department during the time Ms. Cain was treasurer.

Ms. Cain first decided to run for the post when her neighbor retired from the job, said her sister-in-law, Lillian Holmes. Ms. Cain never lost an election and chose to retire after 13 years.

"She liked working with the people," Holmes said.

Before that, Ms. Cain worked in an office at Pawating Hospital in Niles. Ms. Cain was a lifelong Niles resident and a 1938 graduate of Niles High School. She was known for her love of dogs.

Ms. Cain also was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles, where services will take place at 11 a.m. Friday.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Cain, Gregory

Gregory M.K. Cain
Oct. 9, 1955 - Nov. 17, 2000

NILES — Gregory M.K. Cain,  45.  of 33260 Rohlfs Lane, was found dead Friday in his home from a gunshot wound. The cause of death is being investigated by the Michigan State Police. Survivors include two daughters, Jamie L. and Chelsea M., both at home; his mother, Donnabelle Cain of South Bend; his father, Raymond E. Cain of Sheldon, Ill.; three sisters, Donnarae Wines of Buchanan, and Cheri Stephens and Robin Mather, both of Niles; and a brother, Lance of Niles. Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday in Halbritter Funeral Home, where friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Cain, Diane Lynn

Diane L. Cain
Oct. 10, 1961 - Nov. 17, 2000

NILES — Diane Lynn Cain, 39, of 33260 Rohlfs Lane, was found dead Friday in her home from a gunshot wound. The cause of death is being investigated by the Michigan State Police. Survivors include two daughters, Jamie L. and Chelsea M., both at home; her parents, Carol and Paul Robinson of Niles; a sister, Debra Shaw of Embarrass, Minn.; and two brothers, Phil Robinson of Cleveland, and Robert Robinson of Niles. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday in Halbritter Funeral Home, where friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Buysse, Doris Ellen (McKay)

Doris E. Buysse
May 18, 1931 - Dec. 27, 1998


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 29, 1998, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Doris Ellen Buysse, 67, North Fifth Street, Niles, will be Thursday at 2 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, by the Rev. David Minger of Portage Prairie United Methodist Church.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Mrs. Buysse died Sunday at 7:05 p.m. at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, South Bend, Ind., following a brief illness. She was born May 18, 1931 in Owasso[sic]. She had lived most of her life in the area.

On Aug. 22, 1986, in Niles, she married George Buysse, who survives.  Mrs. Buysse was on the Niles Women's Bowling League. She loved to cook and bake, especially for her grandchildren. She enjoyed helping others by cooking and cleaning for them.

Also surviving are two daughters, Cindy M. Anderson of Lakeland, Fla.,a nd Jackie M. Rohdy of Niles;  a son, Kenneth W. Hoy, Jr., of Las Vagas, Nev.; two sisters, L. Lorraine Buchele of Zephyrhills, Fla., and Charlotte A. Kujrty of Niles; a brother, James A. McKay of Evart; a half-brother, C. Wayne McKay of Owasso; her first husband, Kenneth W. Hoy, Sr. of Niles; and six grandchildren.

Friends may call Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Pet Refuge of Cass County or a charity of the donor's choice.

ALSO:

Doris Ellen Buysse, 67, of North Fifth Street, Niles, Mich., died at 7:05 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 27, in Saint Joseph's Regional Medical Center, South Bend, Ind., following a brief illness.

She was born on May 18, 1931 at Owosso, Mich., to Ethel Mae (Rowe) and Walter William McKay, and she had lived most of her life in the area.

Mrs. Buysse was on the Niles Women's Bowling League. She loved to cook and bake, especially for her grandchildren. She enjoyed helping others by cooking and cleaning for them.

On Aug. 22, 1986, in Niles, she married George Buysse, who survives.

She is also survived by her children, Cindy M. (Rick) Anderson of Lakeland, Fla., Jackie M. (Jim) Rohdy of Niles, and Kenneth W. (Cheryl) Hoy, Jr. of Las Vegas, Nev.; six grandchildren; sisters, L. Lorraine Buchele of Zephyrhills, Fla., and Charlotte A. Kurty of Niles; a brother, James A. McKay of Evart, Mich.; a half-brother, C. Wayne McKay of Owasso; and by her first husband, Kenneth W. Hoy, Sr. of Niles.

Funeral services for Doris Ellen Buysse will be at 2 p.m. on Thursday at Halbritter Funeral Home with the Reverend David Minger of Portage Prairie United Methodist Church of Niles officiating. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Mrs. Buysse may be made to the Pet Refuge of Cass County or to the donor's choice.

Butt, Phillip L.

Phillip L. Butt
June 3, 1924 - Aug. 15, 1999

NILES - Phillip L. Butt, 75, of 1420 Alman, died Sunday in Lakeland Medical Center-Niles. Survivors include a daughter, Diane Rivers of South Bend; three sons, Phillip of Texas, Bill of Michigan City and Robert of Fort Wayne; two stepdaughters, Deanna Lee Ditto and Mary Closson, both of Niles; four stepsons, Dennis Chamberlain of Buchanan, Duane Chamberlain of Niles, Theodore Chamberlain of Pullman, Mich., and Gregory Gitchell of Stuarts Draft, Va. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday in Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, where friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. today.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Butler, Lynn

Lynn Butler
Dec. 6, 1912-June 11, 1994

NILES - Lynn Butler, 81, of 1211 State Line Road, died at 4:45 p.m. Saturday in Pawating Hospital after an illness. Mr. Butler was a retired employee of National Standard Company. He was born Dec. 6, 1912. On April 19, 1941, in St. Joseph, he married Josephine B. Fowler. She died March 26, 1974. Surviving are a son, David L. of Granger; and two grandchildren. He was an Army veteran of World War II and a member of Disabled American Veterans and the American Legion.

Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Silverbrook Cemetery. There is no visitation. Halbritter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Submitted by family member; publications details unknown

Burns, Marcia E.

Marcia E. Burns
Jan. 8, 1935-May 22, 1994

NILES - Services for Marcia E. Burns, 59, of 3162 Burn Lynd St., who died at 11:40 p.m. Sunday in her home of natural causes, will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Union Protestant Church of Dailey, Cassopolis. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Halbritter Funeral Home.

She was born Jan. 8, 1935, in Cassopolis. On Dec. 13, 1973, in Cassopolis, she married Lawrence Joseph Burns. He survives with two daughters, Lois D. Salo and Sheila D. Salo, both of Tempe, Ariz.; a son, Erick Salo of Niles; two stepdaughters, Diana Wroblewski and Lari Jo Kulwicki, both of Niles; her mother, Eleanor Louise Haslanger of Niles; two grandchildren; and two step-grandchildren. She was a member of the church.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown