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.

Campbell, Murray

Murray C. Campbell
Sept. 5, 1936 - Jan. 17, 2003

Murray C. Campbell, 66, of River Pines Drive, Niles, Mich., died following an extended illness at 6:25 a.m. Friday, Jan. 17, in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, Ind.

He was born Sept. 5, 1936, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, to Edward Douglas and Hope Vernon (Pangman) Campbell, and later moved to the South Bend area in 1948 from St. Louis, Mo.

Mr. Campbell had been a partner in the law firm of Stone, Campbell and Hoffelder since 1967. He was also formerly employed as a securities analyst with The Northern Trust in Chicago, Ill., from 1963-64.

He attended Lake Forest Academy from 1951-59, and was stationed in Germany with the 7th Army Europe Combat Engineers, graduated in 1963 from Babson College with a Bachelor of Science degree in finance, and received a Juris Doctor in 1967 from the University of Notre Dame Law School.

Mr. Campbell was a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Florida Bar, was a member and former treasurer with the Berrien County Bar Association, a member of the Fernwood Nature Center, Southwestern Michigan Community Ambulance Service, and the Signal Point Club.

He served as former president of the Niles District Library Board, former director of Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce, former president of Niles-Buchanan Rotary Club, former president of Pawating Hospital Board of Trustees, former chair of the Niles Downtown Development Authority, a former president of the Southwest Michigan Economic Growth Alliance, and was a former secretary of the Berrien County Republican Committee.

Mr. Campbell was the current vice chair of Lakeland Regional Health Systems and current director of the Lakeland Health Foundation-Niles.

On July 15, 1989, in Niles, he married the former Deborah A. Brown, who survives. He is also survived by his children, John (Rhonda) Campbell of Grand Haven, Mich., Mary (Rob) Hanson of South Bend, Ind., Patti (Allyn) Fozkos of Mishawaka, Ind., Nick Campbell of Niles and Kate Campbell of Spring Lake, Mich.; six grandsons, Adam and Nathan Campbell, Ryan Hanson, Alexander and Brandon Fozkos, and Tylor Campbell; his brother, Donald (Brenda) Campbell of Kinston, Ontario, Canada; and by a sister-in-law, Ursula Campbell of Buchanan, Mich.

He was preceded in death by his brother, I. Douglas Campbell, who died June 23, 1996.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 22, in the First Presbyterian Church, Niles, with The Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman officiating. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. There will be no visitation.

Contributions in memory of Murray C. Campbell will be welcomed in lieu of flowers to the Lakeland Health Foundation, 31 North St Joseph Avenue, Niles, MI 49120; or to a charity of the donor's choice.

Arrangements are by the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Published January 19, 2003

Calkins, Mary Jane "Janie"

Mary J. Calkins
Sept. 11, 1915 - April 25, 1999

NILES - Mary Jane ''Janie'' Calkins, 83, of Spansail Drive, died Sunday in Lakeland Medical Center, Niles, after an illness. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Trinity Episcopal Church. There will be no visitation. Halbritter Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Also

Mary Jane ''Janie'' Calkins, 83, of Spansail Drive, died Sunday April 25, 1999, in Lakeland Medical Center, Niles, after an illness.  She was born, Sept. 11, 1915. Services will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday in Trinity Episcopal Church. There will be no visitation. Halbritter Funeral Home is handling arrangements

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

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