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.

Haas, Frederick S. Sr.

Frederick S. Haas, Sr.
June 21, 1941-March 31, 2007

Sergeant First Class Frederick S. Haas Sr., U.S. Army retired, 65, of Frantz Drive, Niles, died at 1:25 a.m. Saturday, March 31, 2007, in his home following a brief illness.

He was born on June 21, 1941, in Marcellus, to Stanley Arthur and Doris Martha (Riley) Haas. He graduated from Decatur, Michigan High School, and has lived in Niles since 1963.

Sergeant Haas served full-time in the United States Army for 30 years prior to retirement. Although his service was stateside, he was a veteran of the Viet Nam Era. He was a member of the American Legion Post #309, Decatur, and past president of the 246th Armored Association.

He also owned and operated the former Lafayette Radio Store in South Bend, and attended classes at Davenport College.

He was a member of Saint John's Untied Church of Christ, Niles; a member of and past master of Volinia-Marcellus Lodge #227 F & AM, and a member of the Dowagiac Peninsular Lodge #10 F & AM.

He enjoyed learning about the John Deere Company and its equipment, and he maintained a large collection of John Deere scale models.

On December 24, 1960, in Saint John's Church, Niles, he married the former Barbara J. Geideman, who survives. Also surviving are ther sons, Frederick (Shelly) Haas Jr. of Benton Harbor and Reginald J. Haas of Niles; grandchildren, Melissa, Chris, and Douglas Haas; and great-granddaughter, Autumn Haas; brother, James Haas of Decatur and sisters, Lola Lyons and Mary Helen Fosdick, both of Dowagiac, and Kathleen Pederson of Cassopolis.

He was preceded in death by two brothers, Mere Haas and Wayne Haas.

Funeral services for Frederick S. Haas Sr., will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, April 3, in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with Rev. Kyle Gardner of Saint John's United Church of Christ officiating. Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, and will conclude with full military honors by American Legion Post #309, Decatur.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today in the funeral home, with Masonic services by the Volinia-Marcellus Lodge #227 F & AM at 7 p.m.

Contributions in memory of Mr. Haas may be made to Saint John's United Church of Christ.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Grubbs, Myrle B.

Myrle B. Grubbs Mryle B. Grubbs, 69, of 115 Cedar St., Niles, died suddenly in his home at 5 a.m. Sunday, February 1, 1981. He was retired from Montgomery Ward and Co. He was a member of St. Joseph Valley Lodge Number 4 F. and AM. Born March 26, 1911 in New Carlisle, Indiana. Grubbs had lived most of his life in this area.He was married to Ardene P. Angle on April 24, 1930 in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. She survives him. ’Also surviving are a son, James P. Grubbs, Niles and two daughters, Mrs. Ernest (Clarmond) Backus, Buchanan; and Mrs. Elvan (Lorelei) Smith, Niles. A Brother, Marion Grubbs, Three Rivers; and a sister, Mrs. Paul (Harriet) Burbank, Sumner, Illinois, also survive him.Grubbs had eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday February 3, at Halbritter Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home from 2 to 4 and from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday.Memorial contributions may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Services. 

Groce, Melva Ann

Melva Ann Groce
Feb. 6, 1941-Nov. 11, 2007

Melva Ann Groce, 66, Niles, died at 6:30 a.m. Sunday Nov. 11, 2007, in her home.  She was born Feb. 26, 1941. Survivors include a son, William C. "Bubba" Groce Jr. of Granger; a daughter, Valerie Moore of South Bend; brothers, Raymond Johnson and Thad McDonald; and a sister, Arlene Jones of Kansas City, MO. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday in Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church. Friend may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday in Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Green, Robert L.

Robert L. Green
June 3, 1935-July 5, 2003

Robert L. Green, 68, of South Third Street, Niles, Mich., died suddenly but of natural causes at 5:57 p.m. Saturday, July 5, 2003, in the Lakeland Medical Center.

He was born June 3, 1935, in Hartford, Mich., to John and Jane (Jordan) Green, and moved to Niles in 1951.

Mr. Green had been an assistant at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles since 1983, and had also been employed from 1955 until 1982 as a produce manager at the former A & P Tea Company. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during peacetime, and was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge #449, Buchanan, Mich.

On Feb. 1, 1958, in South Bend, Ind., he married the former Nancy L. Parks, who survives. He is also survived by daughters, Carmen (Michael) Burks of Niles and Missy (Scott) DeLay of Phoenix, Ariz.; grandson, Jake DeLay; three step-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren; a brother, Donald Green of Albany, Ga.; and by four sisters, Dorothy Fisher and Beverly Lundberg, both of Niles, Lois Priest of Benzonia, Mich., and Wilma Jean Flickinger of Wisconsin.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. today, July 9, in the Halbritter Funeral Home. A veterans' flag presentation and taps, officiated by John McLaughlin, commander of American Legion Post 26, Niles, will follow the services. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. The family received friends from 5 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday in the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Robert L. Green may be made to the Michigan Heart Association.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Green, Marvin C.

Marvin C. Green
July 24, 1925-Aug. 15, 2003

Marvin C. Green, 78, of 1423 Fort St., Niles, died Friday  Aug. 15, 2003, in Silverbrook Manor after an illness. He was born July 24, 1925. Survivors include his wife, Mary A.; four daughters, Debra A. Green of Louisiana and Katherine J., Lisa M. and Tina E. Green, all of Niles; three sons, Robert C., Ricky L. and Gregory S., all of Niles; and a sister, Betty True of Niles. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Silverbrook Cemetery, where military rites will be conducted by Buchanan American Legion Post 51.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Green, Delbert L.

Delbert L. Green
Dec. 31, 1953-Dec. 4, 2004

Delbert Lee "Paga" Green, 50, of Ferry Street, Niles, Mich., died following an extended illness at 11:10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 4, 2004, in his home.

He was born Dec. 31, 1953, in LaPorte, Ind., to Ronald Jackson and Rita Mae Clark. He had lived in Niles since 1973, coming from Bloomington, Ill.

He was employed as a truck driver for Conway Central Express in South Bend, Ind., and was a former employee of F.S. Carbon Company, Buchanan, Mich.

He enjoyed restoring classic automobiles including his 1963 Chevrolet Impala and 1968 Ford Fairlane. He was a member of the "Old Boys Toys" Car Club in Niles. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends of which there are many.

On June 23, 1973, at their home in Niles, he married the former Lucy A. Sanchez, who survives. He is also survived by daughters, Christina (Bobby) Whyde, Melissa Green and Shelby Marie Green, all of Niles; three grandchildren, Dakota Green, Elysia Rudisill and Katelyn Whyde; his father, Ronald Jackson of Normal, Ill.; his mother, Rita Mae (Chuck) McDaniels of Auburndale, Fla.; three sisters, Terri Little of Florida, Norma Yazell of Melbourne, Fla., and Summer McDaniels of Auburndale. There are several other stepbrothers and stepsisters surviving, as well as his mother-in-law and father-in-law, whom he considered his second parents, Arcadio and Lorna Sanchez of Niles.

Funeral services for Delbert Lee Green will be at 11 a.m. today, Dec. 7, in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles. Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. Visitation will be for one hour prior to services in the funeral home.

Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or to Hospice at Home.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Gray, Edna L. (Neblung)

Edna L. Gray
Oct. 8, 1904-Aug. 21, 2000

Edna L. Gray, 95, and a former resident of Niles, Mich., died following a brief illness at 4:59 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 21,  2000, in Laurels of Norworth, Worthington, Ohio.

She was born on Oct. 8, 1904, in LaPorte, Ind., to Charles and Dora (Fickweiler) Neblung, and had lived in Niles since 1937, coming from Buchanan, Mich.

Mrs. Gray retired in 1970 after 26 years of employment with J.C. Penney in Niles. She was a member of Saint Paul's Lutheran Church in Niles, the Niles Senior Center, Pawating Hospital Auxiliary, and the Brandywine Home Economics Club.

On July 21, 1923, in LaPorte, she married James E. Gray, a retired captain of the Niles City Police Department. He preceded her in death on April 28, 1981. She was also preceded in death by three sisters and four brothers.

She is survived by three daughters, Lorraine Jurgensen of Worthington, Janice Zimmerman of Charlottesville, Va., and Cleo Wade of Billings, Mont.; 12 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren; and by her sister, Florence Hoppe of Blue Island, Ill.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 25, in the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Reverend Dan Woodring, associate pastor of Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 24, in the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Contributions in memory of Edna L. Gary may be made to the Ladies Aide of Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Niles; or to Hospice at Riverside and Grant, 3595 Olentangy River Road, Columbus, OH 43214.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown