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.

Phillips, Lodner C.

Lodner C. Phillips, 78
March 19, 1934-Jan. 23, 2013

Niles Daily Star, Published 12:59pm Thursday, January 24, 2013

Lodner C. Phillips, 78, of Niles, Mich., died at 2:34 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2013 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Ind., of injuries suffered in a fall on Jan. 14.

Phillips

He was born on March 19, 1934 in Niles to Laudner C. and Dorothy Marie (Anderson) Phillips, and was graduated from Niles High School in 1951.  He was employed at the former Thornton Electric in Niles for many years, and retired from the Michigan Farm Bureau Insurance agency in Cassopolis.

Lodner was a member of the First Baptist Church in Niles.  He enjoyed the outdoors, especially working in his yard, fishing, and hunting.  He loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them.  He had a great love of military history, was a fan of the History Channel on television, and was always interested in learning more.

On Aug. 30, 1952 he married the former Juanita Schrader at a beautiful ceremony in her parents’ yard.  They celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of their wedding last year.

Surviving family includes his wife, Juanita Phillips, and their children, Vickie (& Mick) Kidwell of Niles and Patrick (& Jody) Phillips of Edwardsburg, Mich.; grandchildren, Michael W. (& Kellie) Kidwell, Adam (& Hannah) Kidwell, Kyle Kidwell, Ryan P. (& Karen) Phillips, Julianne Phillips, and Alexandra Phillips; great-grandchildren, Raegan Joanne Kidwell and Cameron Michael Kidwell.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and by a sister, Patricia Kemp.

The funeral service for Lodner Phillips will be at 11 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 28, 2013 at the First Baptist Church in Niles with the Rev. Jim Wing of the church officiating.  Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Sunday from 2 until 5 p.m. at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.  Contributions in memory of Lodner may be made to the First Baptist Church, 1446 East Main Street, Niles, Michigan  49120.

www.halbritterfunerals.com

Enos, Robert Loren

Robert Loren Enos, 90
Jan. 29, 1922- Dec. 19, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published 9:59pm Wednesday, December 26, 2012

Robert Loren Enos, 90, a resident of Niles for the past 12 years, passed away at 6:37 a.m. in the home of his daughter and son-in-law, on Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2012.  Robert was born in Kinderhook on Jan. 29, 1922, the third child of Howard R.  and Myrtle B. Peppers Enos.

On May 5, 1944, Robert married R. Lucille Wilson in Greensboro, N.C. They spent nearly 64 years together before Lucille passed away on Dec. 18, 2007. The couple lived in Coldwater, Michigan for 54 years prior to moving to Niles in October 2000.

Robert achieved the ranking of S/SGT during World War II, serving in the U.S. Army Air Corps, 5th Bomb Group in the Pacific. He was extremely proud of his military service as well as his 48 years of employment with the Quality Springs-Kuhlman in Coldwater as a sample spring maker.

Robert was preceded in death by his beloved wife, his parents and his brothers, Alvin, Franklin, Leo and Marvin and his only sister, Gladys.  He is survived by brothers Howard, of Ionia, Earl (and Marilyn), of Newago, and Lawrence Dean (and Sandy) of Corinth, Mass.; daughters Ann (and Thomas) Rasler, of Niles, and Marcia (andWilliam) Pechota of Battle Creek; grandchildren, Heather-Anne Rhodes, Ginger-Lee (and Todd) Leahy, Joseph Pechota and Mikal Pechota; great-grandchildren, Austin and Alexis Rhodes,  Gavin and Bella Rasler, Kylee Leahy and Emma Pechota.

The family will gather privately for services.  Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery next to Lucille with full military honors. The family of Robert Enos would like to thank Heartland Hospice, 8075 Creekside Drive, Suite 120, Portage, Michigan 49024, where memorial contributions may be sent. www.halbritterfunerals.com

Schultz, Susann (Zimmerman)

Susann Schultz, 69
Jan. 6, 1943-Oct. 23, 2012

Niles Daily Star published 9:10pm Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Susann Schultz, 69, of South Bend, formerly of Niles died on Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012, at Hospice House, South Bend following an extended illness.

Susann Schultz

She was born Jan. 6, 1943 in Niles to Donald Roy and Betty Lou (Harger) Zimmerman and was a lifetime area resident. She enjoyed playing bingo and the slot machines.  She was married to Chester Schultz, who preceded her in death.

Surviving children include son, Donald (Robin) Schultz of Mishawaka; daughters, Vicky (Leroy, II) Johnson of South Bend and Lisa Dew of South Bend; grandchildren, Chris and James Dew, Michael Schultz and Jessica Johnson; and two great-grandchildren, Arabella Robin Schultz and Kobe Dew. Susann is also survived by four brothers, Bill (Wilma) Zimmerman of Niles, Dan Zimmerman of Edwardsburg, David (Cecil) Zimmerman of Mishawaka and Dale (Doreen) Zimmerman of Granger; and a sister, Linda (Tom) Mason of South Bend.

Services for Susann Schultz will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 26, 2012, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles with Rev. Harry L. Clark of Saint John’s United Church of Christ officiating. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Visitation will be one hour before services on Friday at the funeral home.

The family will host a luncheon following services at 2 p.m. on Friday at the Office Lounge on Twelfth Street, Mishawaka.

Contributions in memory of Susann may be made to Hospice House.

Frame, Robert Allen

Robert Allen Frame, 51
Nov. 12, 1961-Jan. 28, 2013

Niles Daily Star, Published 3:49pm Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Robert Allen Frame, 51, of Niles, died at 7 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 28, 2013, at his home, unexpectedly but of natural causes.

He was born on Nov. 12, 1961, in Niles to Robert Earl and Patricia Ann (Treiber) Frame.

He graduated from Niles High School and lived here all of his life. He served in the U.S. Air Force during peacetime. He was employed at the former Tyler Refrigeration in Niles for 21 years, and then after it closed has been employed at the Modineer Company in Niles.

Allen was a member of Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles. He enjoyed off-roading with the Redbud Fourwheel club and had taken his modified Jeep to the Moab, Utah, four-wheel trails.

He played darts in area taverns and bowled on area leagues.

Surviving family includes his parents, Bob and Pat Frame, of Niles; his sister, Tammy R. Frame, of Niles; and his canine companion, Heidi.

Graveside services for Robert Allen Frame will be at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles with the Rev. Edward H. Slate of Faith United Methodist Church in Buchanan officiating and will conclude with the Veteran’s Flag Presentation and “Taps.”

Contributions in memory of Allen may be made ton the Humane Society of Southwest Michigan, 641 South Crystal Ave., Benton Harbor, Michigan 49022.

Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. www.halbritterfunerals.com

McNitt, Joan A. (Alspaugh)

Joan A. McNitt, 86
February 28, 1926-January 29, 2013

Niles Daily Star, Published 11:23am Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Joan A. McNitt, 86, of Niles, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013 at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles.

McNitt

She was born on Feb. 28, 1926 in Clyde, Ohio to the late Irvin and Gertrude (Freeh) Alspaugh.

On April 12, 1947 she wed Gail McNitt at a ceremony in South Bend and celebrated over 65 years of marriage.

Joan was first and foremost a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. A homemaker most of her life, after raising her children, Joan worked as a secretary at Simplicity Pattern, JC Penney’s and Ft. Wayne National Bank. Joan enjoyed fishing, listening to music, cooking, baking, playing cards with friends and her time on the pontoon with her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Gail McNitt in 2012 and a sister MaryLou Hoffman.

She is survived by her three sons; Brian (Mary Jean) McNitt of East Lansing, Terry (Linda) McNitt of Niles and Timothy (Amy) McNitt of Bellingham, Wash. She is also survived by her daughter Kathleen Lowe of Linton, Ind., four grandchildren; James (Jennifer) Lowe, Kendra (Rob) Lasley, Sarah McNitt and Steven Lowe and her eight great-grandchildren; Ariel, Taylor, Jarika, Meagan, Pattie, Jason, Jakob and Noah.

Those wishing to make a memorial donation may do so to the Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan 641 S. Crystal Ave. Benton Harbor, Michigan 49022 or Hospice at Home 4027 Health Park Lane, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085.

Photos, memories, or condolences may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or www.Facebook.com\brownfuneralhomeniles.

Funeral services will be Friday, Feb. 1, 2013 at 11 a.m. at Brown Funeral Home with Rev. Jan Van Leer officiating. A time of visitation will begin one hour prior. An interment will follow the service at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles.

Flannery, Duane

Duane Flannery
Dec. 12, 1960-Dec. 16, 1997


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, December 18,1997, page 2, col. 3-5, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Duane Flannery, 37,  1739 S. Fifteenth St., Niles, are Friday at 2 p.m., by Pastor Michael L. Smith of the Salvation Army, Niles, at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Mr. Flannery died Tuesday at 2 p.m.  at his home, following a three month battle with cancer.

He was born Dec. 12, 1960, in Niles, and was a lifetime resident.

Mr. Flannery was previously employed as a bus driver with the Brandywine Public School System. He enjoyed camping and the outdoors. He was a fan of NASCAR Racing, especially the Miller Genuine Draft 400 at the Brooklyn Michigan Speedway.

Survivors include a daughter, Susan Flannery of Niles; a son, Matthew Flannery of Niles; his father and step-mother, Orval Flannery Jr. and Anne Flannery of Niles; his mother and step-father, Sharon and Jerry Bryers of Lake Placid, Fla.; a sister, Diane Wozniak of Niles; a brother, Michael Flannery of Niles; his grandmother, Florentine Flannery of Niles; a step-brother, Dominic State, of Lake Worth, Fla.

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

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home, Ind.

 

 

Patterson, Harriet T.

Harriet T. Patterson
June 22, 1917-Dec. 6, 1987

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, December 8, 1987, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Harriet T. Patterson, 70, of 336 N. Lincoln Ave., Niles, died Sunday at 11:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's Medical Center, South Bend, Ind., following a long illness.

Formerly the co-owner of Paris Candy Store, Niles, she retired Dec. 31, 1985. She was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star Lodge No. 332.

She was born June 22, 1917 in Owatonna, Minn. and moved to the area in 1920. She was married Oct. 10, 1937 to Theodore J. Patterson who survives.

Other survivors include three sons, Robert of Remus, Thomas of Lowell and James of Niles; three daughters, Mary Jo Meyer, Margaret Cinninger and Martha Kennedy, all of Niles; two brothers, Rodger Tibbs of Niles and Robert Tibbs of Oregon City, Ore.; a sister, Barbara Geiger of Tuscon[sic], Ariz.; and 14 grandchildren.

A brother, Kenneth Tibbs, and a son, Billy Patterson preceded her in death.

Services are Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. at Pifer-Smith funeral Home in Niles where Rev. Arnold O. Schaap will officiate.  Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home. Memorial services will be conducted today at 7 p.m .by the Order of Eastern Star Lodge No. 332.

Memorials may be made to the National Kidney Foundation and the Diabetes Foundation.