Octia Harrell
Aug. 20, 1879-Oct. 29, 1948
Niles Daily Star, Saturday, October 30, 1948, page 2; submitted by Betty Frank, family member
Mrs. Octia Harrell, 69 Mrs. Octia Harrell, 96 of 507 ½ Woodruff Street, died at 4:20 p.m. Friday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Rauzy Lowe, Herbert Street. She had been ill several years. She was born Aug. 20, 1879, in McMennville, Tenn., and came here from Morrison, Tenn., in 1929. She was married to Ruben Harrell Oct. 11, 1897, in McMennville. Besides her husband, she is survived by seven children. Mrs. Lowe, Luther, James, Roy and Lonnie Harrell, all of Niles; Dewey Harrell, Big Rapids, and Charles of Jackson. Also surviving are two brothers, James Tallman, Tennessee, and Charles Tallman, Texas; a sister, Mrs. Maggie Wooten, Hillsboro, Tenn.; 25 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Friends are being received at the Kiger Funeral Home, where services will be held at 2 p.m. ___________Donald Ford, pastor of the First Church of Christ, of which she was a member, will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.
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.
Frederick H. Kiger
Nov. 23, 1905-May 2, 1995
Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 3, 1995, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library
Fred H. Kiger, 89, of 1451 Bronson Way, Kalamazoo, died at 9:05 p.m. Tuesday, at Bronson Place Care Center in Kalamazoo, following on extended illness.
Mr. Kiger was founder of the former Kiger Funeral Home.
Arrangements are being completed by Halbritter Funeral Home.
Niles Daily Star, Thursday, May 4, 1995, page 2, col. 4-7, microfilm Niles District Library
Frederick H. Kiger
1905-1995
former owner of Kiger Funeral Home
Funeral services for Frederick H. Kiger, 89, of 1451 Bronson Way, Kalamazoo, formerly of 2825 Copp Rd., Niles, will be Friday at 11 a.m. At Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles, by the Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman of First Presbyterian Church of Niles.
Burial ill follow in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.
Mr. Kiger died at 9:05 p.m. Tuesday, at Bronson Place care center, Oshtemo Township, following a brief illness.
He was born Nov. 23, 1905, in Warren County, Ind., and had lived in Niles from 1926 until moving to Kalamazoo in August 1989.
On June 24, 1934, at Lake Forest, Ill. He married the former Grace Louella Simmonds, who survives.
Mr. Kiger was former owner of Kiger Funeral Home in Niles.
He was formerly a partner of Price and Kiger Funeral Home at 330 N. Fourth St. in Niles. In March 1945, he moved to 615 E. Main St. and owned the Kiger Funeral Home, then entered into partnership with Ted L. Halbritter as Kiger-Halbritter Funeral Home. In the mid-sixties, the business was acquired by Ted L. Halbritter.
Mr. Kiger was a graduate of Niles High School in Niles, and a 1926 graduated of Askins School of Mortuary Science in Indianapolis.
He was a 50-year member of First Presbyterian Church in Niles; a life member of St. Joseph Valley Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons and P.P.O. Elks Lodge No. 1322; a former Rotarian,and member of the Fraternal Order of Police.
Other survivors include two daughters, Kay Kiger Petruska of Kalamazoo, and Wendy Kiger and son-in-law William Boughton, of Sebring, Fla.; three grandchildren, Nicholas Kiger Petruska of Kalamazoo, Amy Kathryn Petruska of Lansing, and Kristin Dorothy Kiehn of New York city, and a great-grandchild, Corey Dylan Petruska of Arlington, Va. Preceding him in death were his parents, and brothers, Cecil, Arthur and Hugh.
Friends may call Thursday from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer's Association or Bronson Place Care Center Activity Fund, 1451 Bronson Way, Kalamazoo, MI 49009-8914.
Frances Barbara Ballard Gronenberg
Feb. 25, 1903-April 28, 1995
Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 3, 1995, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library
Frances Barbara Ballard Gronenberg
1903-1995
Retired Chemist
Private graveside services are planned at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles for Frances Barbara Ballard Gronenberg, 92, of Plainfield, N.J., conducted by the Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman of First Presbyterian Church in Niles, where burial will follow.
Mrs. Gronenberg died Friday, at a health care facility in Plainfield, following an extended illness.
She was born Feb. 25, 1903, in Berwyn, ill. [sic], and lived in the Chicago area most of her life. She was a summer resident of Niles.
On May 31, 1935, at Chicago, she married John E. Gronenberg, who died in 1970.
Mrs. Gronenberg was a retired chemist at Wesley Memorial Hospital in Chicago.
She earned her bachelor of science degree at the University of Illinois. She was a niece of Ralph and Mary Ballard, who lived on the family farm on Chicago Road (Currently the site of Ballard Elementary School). Ralph and Mary had no children, and Frances was the last surviving niece or nephew.
Survivors include a daughter, Martha Gronenberg Gutmann of Little Rock, Ark., and 1 niece, Jane McCullum of Alhambra, Calif. She was preceded in death by two sisters, Alice Ballard Barker and Mary Esther Ballard McCullum, and a brother, Edward Milton Ballard.
There will be no visitation.
Arrangements are being made by Halbritter Funeral Home.
Andrew Florence
Feb. 25, 1900-Aug. 31, 1982
Niles Daily Star, Thursday, September 2, 1982, page 3, col. 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library
Andrew Florence, 82, of 1532 Oak St., Niles, died at 11:48 p.m. Tuesday in Pawating Hospital after a brief illness.
Born on February 25, 1900 in Wartle, Scotland, he lived in the county since 1920. He was a member of the American Assn. Of Retired Persons and an Honorary member of the St. Joseph Valley Lodge 4 F & AM, Order of Eastern Star. He retired in 1976 from the B. & L. restaurant.
On October 26, 1950, he was married to Margaretta Megoughey, in Angola, Indiana. She preceded him in death in 1959. His is survived by four sisters, Miss Hilda Florence, Niles, Mrs. Bella Osgood, Windsor, England, Mrs. Mable Grant, Glasgow, Scotland and Mrs. Violet Skinner, Inberurie, Scotland.
Services will be held Friday at 1:30 p.m. at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, with the Rev. William Fuerstenau of the First Presbyterian Church officiating. Masonic rites will be conducted by the St. Joseph Valley Lodge 4 F & AM.
Burial will take place in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call after 4:00 p.m. Thursday at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home. Memorials may be mead to the Michigan Heart Association.
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.
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.
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.