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.

Gillam, Earl Louis 1894-1905

Earl Louis Gillam
March 4, 1894-October 28, 1905

Buchanan Record(Buchanan, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, October 31, 1905, page 3, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Death has again entered the home of Geo. E. Gillman[sic], editor of the Niles Sun and taken therefrom his 11 year old son. Earl, the beloved son of Mr. and Mrs. Gillman[sic], was operated upon last Friday morning by Drs. Baldwin and Tyler, for the relief of a very aggravated case of appendicitis, but he did not survive the shock of the operation and passed into eternity, Saturday morning at 6: 30 o'clock. Mr. and Mrs. Gillman[sic] have our deepest sympathy in the sad bereavement.

 

 

 

Gillam, Elmer S. 1909-1986

Elmer S. Gillam
March 14, 1909-March 24, 1986

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, March 26, 1986, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Dr. Elmer S. Gillam, 78, 41 Wood Owl Avenue, Ellenton, Fla., died Monday, March 24 at Memorial Hospital in Bradenton, Fla., following an extended illness.

Dr. Gillam owned and operated the Dixieway Chiropractic Clinic before his retirement. He was a member of the United Methodist Church, a graduate of the Palmer College of Chiropractic, Davenport, Iowa, and a life member of Masonic Lodge #437, St. Joseph. He had been active in several civic organizations. He was also past president and former member of the St. Joseph Lions Club and a former member of the Niles Lions Club.

Gillam was born March 14, 1908 in Flora, Ind.

He married Ruth E. Parker, who survives.

Also surviving are several nieces and nephews.

Private services will be held Thursday at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles. Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg will officiate. There will be no visitation.

Memorial contributions may be given the Niles Community Library.

 

 

Gillam, Ruth E. 1909-1999

Ruth E. Gillam
January 8, 1909-July 18, 1999

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, July 20, 1999, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Ruth E. Gillam, 90, 521 W. Fourth St., Rochester, Ind., will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, by the Rev. R. Allan Poage of Bethel Baptist Church, Niles.

Entombment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Mrs. Gillam died Sunday at 12:41 at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, South Bend, Ind., following an extended illness.

She was born Jan. 8, 1909 in Burlington, Ind. She came to Niles in 1959 from St. Joseph, then retired in 1979 to Rochester.

Mrs. Gillam served as a receptionist in her husband's practice Dixie Way Chiropractic Clinic in Niles. She was a graduate of Ball State university,Muncie, Ind., and then served as a teacher in the former Talma, Ind. public school. She was also trained in nursing at the former Memorial Hospital, St. Joseph.

She was preceded by her husband, Elmer S. “Doc” Gillam, D.C., on March 24, 1986; two sisters, Dorothy Kuhn and Virginia Thornton; and five brothers, Charles, Ray, Virgil, Jams and D.E. Parker.

Surviving family includes three sisters, Mary Brumley of Otisco, Inc., Betty Kasnow of Seminole, Fla. and JoAnn Gerald of Rockingham, N.C.; and several nieces and nephews; including Donna Yoder (who provided her care) of Rochester and Betty L. Parker, D.C., of Niles.

Friends may call one hour prior to the services at the funeral home.

 

Jackson, Gladys E. 1891-1982

Gladys E. Jackson
August 1, 1891-April 6, 1982

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Tuesday, April 7, 1992, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Gladys E. Jackson, 90, 1417 Regent St., Niles, are Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home by the Rev. William H. Marshall, pastor.

Entombment will be in the The Abbey at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Mrs. Jackson died Monday at 5:30 a.m. at Arcadia Homes in Berrien Springs, following a brief illness.

Born Aug. 1, 1901, in Albany, Mo., she had lived in Niles since 1937, coming here from Nelson, Neb.

On Aug. 23, 1921, in Clay Center, Neb., she married Harry O. Jackson, who preceded her in death on Oct. 3, 1983.

She was a member for 50 years of First Baptist Church in Niles. Mrs. Jackson was employed as a clerk at the former Lork's Bakery

Survivors include a granddaughter, Linda Van De Putte of Niles; a grandson, the Rev. Robert E. Jackson of Niles; six great-grandchildren; and a brother, Pete Peery of Washougal, Wash.

Friends may call Tuesday from 7 to 9 pm. at Halbritter Funeral Home. Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church in Niles.

Kiblinger, Henrietta 1895-1983

Henrietta Kiblinger
November 19, 1895-July 15, 1983

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Saturday, July 16, 1983, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Henrietta Kiblinger, 87, of 1727 Oak St., Niles, died at 1:20 p.m. Friday at Pawating Hospital after an extended illness.

She served as a nurse with the U.S. Navy overseas during W.W. I. In 1942 she became employed with the Michigan Employment Security commission and earned state recognition for her work. She retired in 1952. After retirement she became active in the local volunteer organizations,. She totaled 2,500 volunteer hours with the Pawating Hospital Auxiliary and joined the Red Cross.

She was also an active member of the First Presbyterian Church and the Niles chapter of Business and Professional Women.

She was born Nov. 19, 1895 in Chicago and moved to the area in 1901. She married Harry Kiblinger who preceded her in death.

Surviving are: two nieces, Mrs. Virginia O'Connor of Fairfield Glade, Tenn. and Miss Andrea Larsen of Naples, Fla.; and a nephew, Ben Larsen of Minnesota.

Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at the Halbritter Funeral Home. The Rev. David Henderson of the Westminster Presbyterian Church will officiate. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 p.m. and 7 to p.m. Sunday at the Halbritter Funeral Home. Memorials may be given to the Pawating Hospital Auxiliary.

Larsen, Bertinius 1866-1957

Bertinius Larsen
July 6, 1866-September 28, 1957

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, September 30, 1957, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

BUCHANAN—Bertinius Larsen, 91, of 454 East Front Street, did at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, following an illness of several months.

Mr. Larsen was born July 6, 1866 in Porsgrunn, Norway. He married Jacobina Gulbransen in Chicago in 1884. She died November 24, 1940.

He was a life member of the Niles Lodge No. Four of F & AM, the Niles Shrine club, and the Knights Templar of Niles.

Surviving are two daughters, Mrs. Roy F. Wright, Buchanan; Mrs. Henrietta Kiblinger, Niles; a son, Charles Larsen, Coloma; and brother, Hans J. Larsen, Porsgrunn, Norway; a sister, Mrs. Ingeborg Larsen, Skein, Norway; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m., in the Swem Funeral Home. The Rev. Robert V. Gouwens of the First Presbyterian Church will officiate. Burial will be in the Silverbook Mausoleum. Friends may call at the Funeral home.

 

Minnear-Trotta, Anna 1973-2009

Anna Minnear-Trotta
1973-April 8, 2009

The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Thursday, April 8, 2009, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Anna Minnear-Trotta, 35, died at Venice Hospital on April 8, 2009 from complications of Asthma.

A memorial service to celebrate her life is planned for Friday April 17, at 6 p.m. at the Coastal Community Church, North Port, Fla.

She was born in South Bend, Indiana, and moved to Venice, Florida in 1982. Anna enjoyed the local beaches and spending time with her family and friends. She enjoyed life to its' fullest, and was an organ donor, so even through her passing she was able to give the gift of life to others.

She is survived by her two daughters, Zoe Alyssa Trotta, 10 and Keely Elizabeth Trotta, 7, both of Venice, and her parents, Paul and Julianne Minnear (Boller), also of Venice, Fla. and formerly of Niles. She also had a sister, Joni Flynn (Janiszewski) of Niles, and two brothers, Steve Janiszewski of Mishawaka, Ind., and Louis Minnear of North Port, Fla. She also had numerous nieces and nephews who will miss her greatly.

Memorial donations may be sent to the Coastal Community church, 12497 S. Tamiami Trail Suite 12, North Port, FL 34287.

To send condolences you may visit www.farleyfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements were by Farley Funeral Home, Venice, Fla.