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.

Graham, Michael E.

Michael E. Graham
1954-August 11, 1982

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, September 22, 1982, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Michael E. “Buddy”Graham, 28, 123 N. 13th St., Niles died on Aug. 11, in Payne County, Oklahoma.

His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward F. Graham of Niles, survive, along with one brother, Douglas Graham, also of Niles and one sister, Mrs. Dan (Marti) Shissler of Grand Junction, Colo.

Services will be held at 10 a.m. On Friday with graveside rites at Silverbrook Cemetery with Rev. Mark Graham, of Wesley United Methodist Church, officiating. Local arrangements are being handled by Halbritter Funeral Home.

Harrington, Beryl F.

Beryl F. Harrington
Jan. 18, 1901-Sept. 26, 1982

Niles Daily Star, Monday, September 27, 1982, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Beryl F. Harrington, 81, of 1734 Niles-Buchanan Rd., Niles, died suddenly at 11:30 a.m. Sunday in Grand Rapids.

Born Jan. 18, 1901 in Niles, he was a lifetime resident of the area. On June 14, 1924, he was married to the former Margaret A. Tishenor in Niles.  His wife survives.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, the St. Joseph Lodge No. 4 of F. & A.M., Saladin Temple, A.A. O.N.M.S. Of Grand Rapids, the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, and the Lodge Council Consistory Valley of Grand Rapids.

Surviving are: one sister, Mrs. Ruth Savage of Niles, two daughters, Mrs. William (Doris) Blackmun of Niles and Mrs. Robert (Ann) Prestine of Niles, and one son, Jack A. Harrington of Buchanan, along with seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at the First Presbyterian Church with Rev. William J. Fuerstenau officiating.  Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call between 2-4 p.m. and from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday at Halbritter Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to the First Presbyterian Church Memorial Fund.

 

Heinlen, Edna Pearl

Edna Pearl Heinlen
July 21, 1899-Sept. 18, 1982

Niles Daily Star, Monday, September 20, 1982, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Edna Pearl Heinlen, 83, of 818 E. Park Dr., Niles, died at 12:45 a.m. Saturday in Pawating Hospital of an extended illness.

Born July 21, 199 in Rochester, Ind., she had lived in Niles since 1927 coming from Rochester. She was married in Ohio in 1936 to Dr. H.P. Heinlen, who has preceeded her in death in 1940.

One son, Fred E. Hill of Niles, and one daughter, Mrs. William (Mary Ellen) Lansdale of Niles, survive, along with one granddaughter, Miss Kimberly Ellen Lansdale of Niles.

Services will take place at 3 p.m. on Tuesday at Halbritter Funeral Home, with Rev. Mark D. Graham of Wesley United Methodist Church officiating.   Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call after 2 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

 

Newman, Donald C.

Donald C. Newman
Jan. 26, 1913-Sept. 25, 1982

Niles Daily Star, Monday, September 27, 1982, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Donald C. Newman, 68, of 2508 S. 11th St., Niles, died at Pawating Hospital on Saturday of a lengthy illness.

Born on June 26, 1913 in Kendleville, Ind., he had lived in Niles area most of his life.  On June 8, 1942, in Jefferson City, Mo., he was married to the former Marie Noel, who survives.  He was self-employed at Newman Auto Sales.

Survivors include two daughters, Mrs. Donald (Betty) Shively of Niles and Mrs. Dennis (Linda) Daley of Thomasville, Ga.; one son, Charles D. Newman Jr. of Niles; two sisters, Mrs. Bernice Leuty of Benton Harbor and Mrs. Geraldine Alsup, also of Benton Harbor; two brothers, Gene Newman of St. Joseph and Virgil Newman of Ruskin, Fla.; and eight grandchildren.

Services will be held at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday with Melvin Thompson officiating.  Friends may call Monday between 7-0 p.m at the funeral home.  Memorials may be given to the Berrien County Cancer Service or the Michigan Heart Association.

 

Johnson, Mary Lou

Mary Lou Johnson
Feb. 15, 1928- Sept. 8, 1982

Niles Daily Star, Thursday, September 9, 1982, page 1, col. 1-4, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles woman dies of injuries

Mary Lou Johnson, 54, of 1337 Maple St., died at 4:22  a.m. Wednesday at the St. Joseph's Medical Center, South Bend, from injuries she received in a traffic accident August 20 at Bertrand Road and 13th Street.

Michigan State Police said Johnson was driving west on Bertrand when her car was struck by a car driven by Curt Darron Hullinger, 19, of 996 S. 15th, who was driving south on 13th Street.

Police said Hullinger apparently ran a stop  sign at the intersection and was charged with careless driving. 

Police said they have turned over the report on the accident to Berrien County Prosecutors to determine if further charges will be issued following Johnson's death.

Mary Lou Johnson

Mary Lou Johnson, 54, of 1337 Maple St., Niles, died Wednesday at 4:22 a.m.  the St. Joseph Medical Facility in South Bend as a result of injuries received in an auto accident August 20.

She was born February  15, 1928 in Walkerton, Ind. She had resided in Niles for the past 30 years, coming from Dowagiac.

She married Floyd L. Johnson November 4, 1946 in Plymouth, Ind. He survives.

Survivors are: her husband; four sons, Kenneth, Karl, Keith and Kerry, all of Niles; a daughter, Mrs. Michael (Linda) Funnell, of Niles; a brother, Harold Kelver of Florida; five sisters, Mrs. Lois Klatt of Mishawaka, Mrs. Pauline Knowlton of Walkerton, Mrs. Betty Harold of Argos, Ind., Mrs. Mildred Williams of Plymouth, Ind.; eight grandchildren also survive.

Funeral services will be held at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home Friday at 10:30 a.m. The Rev. Fred Smith of the South Niles Community Church will officiate.  Cremation will follow.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 0 p.m. Thursday.

Memorials may be made to the Michigan Heart Association.

Mason, Laura

Laura Mason
Nov. 12, 1900-Sept. 23, 1982

Niles Daily Star, Saturday, September 25, 1982, page 2, col. 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Laura Mason, 81, of 750 Colony Court, Niles, died at 7:15 p.m. Thursday in Riveridge Manor of an extended illness.

Born Nov. 12, 1900 in Jackson, she had lived in this area since 1914, coming from Jackson.  On Aug. 1, 1928, she was married to Charles A. Mason, who has preceeded her in death on Aug. 23, 1982[sic].

Surviving are: two daughters, Mrs. William (Marilyn) Bigelow of Batavia, Ill., and Mrs. Gay Rutherford of Rockford, Ill., and one sister, Mrs. Helen Randall of Athens, Ohio, along with five grandchildren.

Private prayer services will be held Sunday at Halbritter Funeral Home with Rev. David Henderson of Westminster Presbyterian Church officiating.  Burial will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery.  There will [be] no visitation with local arrangements by Halbritter Funeral Home.  A memorial service will be held in October and will be announced later.  Memorial gifts may be given to the Berrien County Cancer Service or Riveridge Manor.

Nelson, Luther Otto

Luther Otto Nelson
Sept. 13, 1914-Sept. 3, 1982

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, September 7, 1982, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

L. Otto Nelson, 67, of 711 Niles Ave., Berrien Springs, died Friday at 11:40 p.m. at his home.

He was born Sept. 13, 1914, in Covington County, Alabama. He is a retired custodian from Lakeshore Public Schools and retired from Scope security.

He is survived by the former Mildred Vandenburg, whom he married on Sept. 13, 1936 in South Bend, Ind. One son, Larry Nelson of Berrien Springs, and one daughter Mrs. Donald (Francis) Bowerman of Lansing, survive along with three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren and five step-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren. One brother also survives, Ramon Nelson of St. Joseph and one sister, Mrs. William (Mary) Brown of Benton Harbor.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday at 11 a.m. At McLauchlin-Willitt Funeral Home in Berrien Springs, with Rev. Gaylord Hall of United Methodist Church officiating. Burial will take place at Silverbrook Cemetery. Memorials can be made to either the Berrien County Cancer Service or the Central County Senior Citizen's Center.