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.

Wickler, Henry J. Jr. 1912-1973

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Henry J. Wickler Jr.
Aug. 2, 1912-Jan. 18, 1973

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Wednesday, January 19, 1973, page 3 col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES—Henry J. Wickler Jr., 60, of 534 James St., died at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Buchanan Community Hospital, where he had been a patient since Dec. 28.

A security guard at the National-Standard Co., Wickler was born Aug. 2, 1912, in Chicago. He came to the Niles area from Chicago in 1917.

On Nov. 19, 1932, he married the former Helen Sears in South Bend. She survives.

Wickler was a member of the Niles Elks Lodge and an associate member of the Fraternal Order of Police.

Other survivors include two sons, Larry and Lee, both of Niles; two daughters, Mrs. Robert Thornton of Stevensville and Mrs. William Krieg of Mishawaka; a brother, John of Stanford, Conn., four sisters, Mrs. Howard Hahnefeld and Mrs, Russell Letcher of South Bend, Mrs. Richard Bromley of Buchanan and Mrs. Russell Hoover of Niles, and 12 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday in the Pifer Funeral Home with the Rev. Arlan E. Schlundt of the St. Johns United Church of Christ officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call at the funeral home after 5 p.m. Thursday. Memorials may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service.

Bowerman, Ray E. 1901-1988

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Ray E. Bowerman
July 24, 1901-Feb. 11, 1988

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., Michigan), Friday, February 12, 1988, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

Ray E. Bowerman, 86, 418 N. 16th St., Niles, died Thursday, Feb. 11, at Riveridge Manor, following an extended illness.

He was born July 24, 1901 in Berrien County and was a lifetime resident. He was a retired employee of Garden City Fan, where he worked for 52 years.

He married the former Marie True Dec. 18, 1923 in Niles. She died Mary 28, 1967.

Survivors include a son, Cecil, of Niles; a daughter, Bernice Mumaw of Niles; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Services are Monday at 1:30 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home, where the Rev. Louie Schweppe of St. John's Untied Church of Christ will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials may be give to St. John's United Church of Christ Memorial Fund.

 

Buck, Helen Jeanne 1936-2022

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Jeanne Buck
Jan. 26, 1936-Dec. 9. 2022

Niles Daily Star, Published 4:40 pm Sunday, December 11, 2022

Jan. 26, 1936-Dec. 9, 2022

Jeanne Buck, 86, of Bluffton, Indiana and formerly of Niles, passed away at Lutheran Hospital in Ft. Wayne on Friday, Dec. 9, 2022.
Jeanne was born on Jan. 26, 1936, to the late Lonnie and Norene (Hoover) Freeze in Manchester, Tennessee. Jeanne graduated from Niles High School in 1954 and on Aug. 24, 1957, she wed the love of her life, Owen L. Buck. Together Jeanne and Owen had three children.
Jeanne worked for many years at National Standard and attended Niles Church of Christ. Along with husband, Owen, she served friends and neighbors wherever they went. She loved spending time at home baking, decorating, and watching Notre Dame football.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Owen Buck; son, Bruce Buck; siblings, Glenn Freeze, Gail Matthews, and Tim Freeze.
Jeanne is survived by her children, Charles (Tiffiney) Buck of St. Joseph, Michigan and Loni (Steve) Baker of Bluffton, Indiana; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; sister, Joy Vergon of Buchanan; sister-in-law, Linda Freeze of Niles; and many extended family members and close friends.
A time of visitation will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 13, 2022, at Brown Funeral Home from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 14, 2022, at Brown Funeral Home at 11 a.m.
Those wishing to make a memorial donation in Jeanne’s memory may do so to The Paralyzed Veterans of America located at P.O. Box 758542, Topeka, KS 66675.
Condolences, photos, and memories may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

Burton, Robin K. 1965-2022

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Robin K. Burton
May 12, 1965-Dec. 12, 2022

Niles Daily Star, Published 2:27 pm Wednesday, December 14, 2022

May 12, 1965-Dec. 12, 2022

 

Robin K. Burton, 57 of South Bend, formally of Niles, passed away in Memorial Hospital after an extended illness.
Robin was born on May 12, 1965, in Niles to James and Maureen Lepel.
She is preceded in death by her Mother, Maureen, her infant son, William Michael James Burton and brother Jose Pegan.
In 1990, in South Bend, she married William Lee Burton, Sr. who survives.
Robin is survived by her husband of many years, William and son; William Burton, Jr. of South Bend, daughter; Raquel (Shanon) Bauri of Granger, grandchildren; James, Reign, Rylan, Shanon, Jr., brother, Michael (Dawn) Ford of Niles, Bud Ford of Germany, Andrea Pagan of Niles as well as many nieces, nephews and other extended family.
Robin had been a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church on Auten Rd. She was an avid reader who enjoyed craft making. She loved art, drawing and painting. Robin had an appreciation for nature and the out of doors. She treasured the time she had with her children and grandchildren. The grandkids always knew that Grandma was there. Robin put her family first and attended as many of her grandchildren’s sporting and school events as she could.
Visitation for Robin will be held on Friday, Dec. 16, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon at Halbritter Wickens Funeral Home, 615 E. Main St. Niles. A Funeral Service will begin at noon in the Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.
Online condolences to the family may be made at www.halbritterwickens.com.
Memorials in Robin’s name may be made to the American Heart Association at www.heart.org

Cooper, Gary L. 1942-2022

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Gary L. Cooper, of Niles
Oct. 11, 1942-Dec. 15, 2022

Niles Daily Star, Published 6:17 pm Friday, December 16, 2022

Gary L. Cooper, 80, of Niles, passed away Thursday, Dec. 15, 2022, at Riveridge Manor in Niles. Arrangements have been entrusted with Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Niles. www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com

Published on Brown Funeral Home website:

Obituary of Gary Lee Cooper

Gary Lee Cooper, 80, of Niles, passed away on Thursday, December 15, 2022, at Riveridge Manor in Niles.

He was born on October 11, 1942, to the late William and Oreal (Persyain) Cooper in Monterey, Indiana.

On August 20, 1984, he married the former Teri Miller at a ceremony in Niles. When he married Teri, he also became a step-dad. He was very determined to being the best step-dad that he could, he attended as many games and events that he could. Gary was a bit of a perfectionist, and if often showed in the drawings he did, they were creative, yet precise. In his younger years enjoyed deer hunting, and fishing, up north with his friends, and family. In his more recent years, he enjoyed watching them in his yard.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, William Cooper.

Gary is survived by his wife, Teri of Niles; step-son, David (Annette) Miller of Niles; three grandchildren, Derek, Cassie, and Trisha; along with his siblings, Delbert Cooper, Beverly Haynes, Leona (George) Wilson, and Earlean Jones.

A visitation will be held from 11:00 AM until 12:00 noon on Tuesday, December 20, 2022, at Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services. He will be laid to rest in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Condolences, photos, and memories may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.

 

Corum, Paul W. 1960-2022

editor Obituaries
Paul W. Corum

November 27, 1960 - November 28, 2022

Published on Hoven Funeral Home website:
 

Obituary

Paul W. Corum, 62, of Niles, MI, passed away after battling a long illness on Monday, November 28, 2022 at his home.

Paul was born on November 27, 1960 in Niles, MI to the late Elsie and Parnel Corum. Paul graduated from Brandywine High School. He loved music and playing the drums especially to the song Play That Funky Music by Wild Cherry. Paul was very sharp witted and was always the life of the party. 

He is survived by his wife, Mary Etta Corum; brothers, Ray (Donna) Corum, Emil Corum,Robert (Debra) Corum; sister, Mary Jean Legg; several nieces and nephews.

Paul is preceded in death by his parents, Elsie and Parnel; brother, Eddy Corum; and sister, Carlene Cronin.

Visitation will be held at 10 am on Friday, December 2, 2022 at First Church of Christ, 2240 Yankee St., Niles, MI 49120. Funeral service will be held at 11 am on Friday, December 2, 2022 at First Church of Christ, Niles, MI. Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles, MI. Arrangements have been entrusted to Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, MI. Online condolences may be made at www.hovenfunerals.com.

Matthews, Lynda Gail (Freeze) 1937-2022

editor Obituaries

Lynda Matthews
Dec. 20, 1937-Nov. 5, 2022

Niles Daily Star, Published 12:13 pm Saturday, November 19, 2022

 

Dec. 20 1937-Nov. 5, 2022

Lynda Gail Freeze Matthews, age 84, passed away Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, at Greene Point Health Care and Rehab in Union Point, GA. Gail was born on Dec. 20, 1937, in Niles, Michigan to the late Lonnie Clark Freeze and Helen Noreen Hoover Freeze. She was a graduate of Niles High School. Following graduation from Niles High School, she worked at Clark Equipment in Buchanan, MI. It was there that she went on a blind date and met the love of her life, Thomas Earl Matthews of Niles, MI. Thomas preceded her in death.
Survivors include her children, Kurt Thomas Matthews of Watkinsville, GA and April Matthews of Greensboro, GA; sisters, Linda Freeze of Niles, MI, Joy Vergon of Buchanan, MI and Jeanne Buck of Bluffton, IN; other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her brother, Timothy Freeze and sister, Glenn Freeze.
She was a bookkeeper at Associated Credit Union. Gail enjoyed being a Red Hat Society member and belonged to a Bunco group. Gail moved to Lilburn, GA when Thomas’ job transferred the family in 1984. After retirement, the family moved to Greensboro, GA on Lake Oconee.
A private memorial service will be held by the family with inurnment in Niles Michigan at Silver Brook Cemetery alongside her husband. In lieu of flowers the family requests that any memorials be made to Affinis Hospice, 1612 Mars Hill Rd Suite A, Watkinsville, GA 30677. McCommons Funeral Home, 109 W. Broad St., Greensboro, GA, (706) 453-2626, is in charge of arrangements. Visit us at www.mccommonsfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest register.

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