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.

Vogelsang, Brenda Kay (Stephens)

Brenda Kay (Stephens) Vogelsang, 66
Jan. 5, 1946-Oct. 22, 2012


Niles Daily Star, Published 8:22pm Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Brenda Kay (Stephens) Vogelsang

Brenda Kay (Stephens) Vogelsang, 66, of Grand Rapids and previously of Niles, passed away at Heartland Healthcare in Grand Rapids on Monday, Oct. 22, 2012.

Brenda was born on Jan. 5, 1946, to the late Walter and Mary Catherine (Nichols) Stephens in Niles.

After high school, Brenda wed Arthur Vogelsang II at a ceremony in Niles; he passed away in 1995. In 1999, Brenda wed Keith Trowbridge and was divorced several years later.

Brenda was a cook at the Four Flags Hotel in Niles; she retired when the hotel closed.  She also worked as a cook for the local Eagles Lodge.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Mary Catherine; husband, Arthur; and brothers, Willie Stephens and Jerry Stephens.

Brenda is survived by her children, Arthur Vogelsang III of Niles, Lisa Roberts of Peru, Ind., Terry (Brenda Adkins) Vogelsang of Niles and Phyllis (Marc) Russell of Grand Rapids; eight grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and siblings, Larry Stephens, Phyllis Ballard, Peggy Biggs and Mary Ellen (David) Ickes, all of Niles; and her ex-husband, Keith Trowbridge of Niles.

Memorial donations may be made in Brenda’s memory to the family at 521 E. Main St., Niles, MI 49120.

Those wishing to leave a message for the family or to upload a photo of Brenda may do so on our website at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or on our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/BrownFuneralHomeNiles.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Niles.

Mason, Gregory Eugene

Gregory Eugene Mason, 58
Feb. 22, 1954-Nov. 13, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published 4:16pm Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Gregory Eugene Mason, 58, of East Main Street, Niles, Mich., died on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2012 at his home unexpectedly, but of natural causes. He was born Feb. 22, 1954 in Niles to George W. Mason and Carolyn J. (Dixon) Mason.

Gregory graduated in 1973 from Northeast High School in Oklahoma City, Okla. He returned to Niles after graduation and was a clerk at Save-A-Lot grocery store. He enjoyed listening to music, watching NFL football and was a huge Chicago Bears fan.

He is survived by his sibling Tina Anderson of Oakland, Calif., his nephew Charles Anderson of Oakland, Calif., his Aunt Menella Leath of Niles, Mich., and many cousins.

The family will gather privately for services. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Donations in memory of Gregory may be made to American Diabetes Association.

Wiggins, Minnie M.

Minnie M. Wiggins, 90
Dec. 21, 1921-Nov. 27, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published 4:34pm Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Minnie Wiggins went home to her Heavenly reward at her daughter’s home surrounded by loved ones and a dear family friend, Darlene Ferry.

Wiggins

She was preceded in death by her husband, Leonard “Ted” Wiggins; an infant son, George Allen Wiggins; and son, Jerry Lee Wiggins.

She is survived by her daughter, Judy (Fred) Felty; a son, Tom (Claire) Wiggins; and a daughter-in-law, Sandra Wiggins; grandchildren, Brett (Laura) Wiggins, Greg (Lissette) Wiggins, Jim (Carmen) Wiggins, Krista (Peter) Greaves, Chad (Courtney) Wiggins, David (Melanie) Felty, Sarah (Derek) Hempel, Jeremy (Nichole) Wiggins, Todd Nelson, Lisa (Paul) Weidler, Stacey & Craig Stiffler and Victoria (Dan) Geiger; great-grandchildren, Carley & Sydney Greaves, Noah, Madison, Elijah and Micah Wiggins, Cody Wiggins, Patrick Wiggins, Liam Hempel, Jackson and Ethan Felty, Casey, Tasha and Briana Weidler.

Minnie practiced her life long vocations as a homemaker and raising her children with pride and expertise.  She taught her children and her daughters-in-law her trade and her ability to do things the right way.

Mom was a living example of a Christian mother and served God many years.  She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 30, 2012 in Hoven Funeral Home, Inc., Buchanan.  Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 29, and 10 a.m., Friday, Nov. 30, also in the funeral home.  Burial will take place in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Memorial contributions can be made to Hospice at Home, Inc.

Online condolences may be received at www.hovenfunerals.com

Hadsell, Phillip A. Jr.

Phillip A. Hadsell, Jr.
May 22, 1926-Feb. 24, 2008

Niles Daily Star, Published 10:07am Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Phillip A. Hadsell, Jr., 81, of Laurel Drive, Niles, died at 7:27 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 24, 2008, at Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles, following a brief illness.
Funeral services for Mr. Hadsell, will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 4, at Trinity Episcopal Church, Niles with the Rev. James Slack officiating.
Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
He was born on May 22, 1926, in South Bend, Ind. to Phillip A. and Thelma (Nauman) Hadsell. He lived in this area all of his life, graduating from Niles High School in 1944.
He joined the United States Army Air Corps and after the war continued his education attending the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He earned the Juris Doctorate from the University of Notre Dame Law School.
Hadsell began his career as a lawyer in 1951 at the firm of Burns &Hadsell in Niles, joining his father who served as a judge of the Circuit Court from 1954 until 1967. The firm continues in Niles as Hadsell, Landgraf, Lynch &Drew.
Mr. Hadsell, Jr. was a member of the Berrien County Bar Association, serving two terms as president. He was also a member of the Michigan State Bar Association, serving on its Board of Commissioners in 1968. He was a member of the state bar's Grievance Board and a member of the Michigan State Bar Foundation.
He was a life-long member of Trinity Episcopal Church of Niles. He had been a member of the Niles-Buchanan Club of Rotary International since 1951, serving as president in 1989 and was a Paul Harris Fellow.
He was also a member of the B.P.O. of Niles Elks, Lodge No. 1322.
Hadsell has served the community as president of the Niles-Buchanan YMCA board of directors, a former member of the Niles District Library board and as a director of the Hunter Foundation.
On Dec. 27, 1966, in Niles, he married the former Marcella A. Hocking, who survives.
Additional surviving family includes his children, P. Alan (Carol) Hadsell III of Loveland, Ohio, Margie (Ron) Hojara-Hadsell of Lawrence, Wally-John (Mary) Hadsell of New Port Richey, Fla. and Matthew Hiram Hadsell, also of New Port Richey, Fla.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Thelma Hadsell in 1966 and by his father, the Honorable Phillip Hadsell in 1977.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Niles District Library, 620 E. Main St., Niles, MI 49120.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Hadsell, Marcella (Hocking)

Marcella Hadsell, 81
June 8, 1931-Oct. 10, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published online 4:07pm Sunday, October 14, 2012

Marcella Ann “Cel” Hadsell, 81, of Niles, died at 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012, at her home following a brief illness.

She was born June 8, 1931, in Chicago, to John and Marcella (Arnold) Hocking, and attended Northwestern University. She was a member of the Ladies Historical Society of Niles.

Marcella married Wally Statkus, who preceded her in death in 1962. On Dec. 27, 1966, in Niles, she married Philip A. Hadsell, who preceded her in death on Feb. 24, 2008. She was also preceded in death by a son, Wally Hadsell, in July 2012.

Surviving family includes her son, Matthew H. Hadsell of Niles; a stepdaughter, Margie (Ron) Hojara-Hadsell of Holt; and a stepson Philip (Carol) Alan Hadsell III of Loveland, Ohio.

The family will be gathering privately for services with interment at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Cel Hadsell may be made to the Hope Rescue Mission of South Bend or to the Salvation Army of Niles.

Arrangements were made at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Edwards, Darlene (Cates)

Darlene Edwards
March 15, 1946-Aug. 8, 1970


Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 17, 1970, page 2, col.4, microfilm Niles District Library


NILES--Mrs. Darlene Edwards, 24, of 902 Michigan St., died at 2:15 a.m. Saturday at Pawating Hospital after a brief illness.

Employed in the dietary kitchen of Pawating Hospital, Mrs. Edwards was born March 15, 1946, in South Bend, and had lived in this area most of her life.

Mrs. Edwards is survived by her parents, Mr.and Mrs. Richard Cates of DeLand, Fla.; a daughter, Jodie, at home; five brothers, Derrel and Dennis Cates of Niles; Dean Cates of South Bend, Richard Cates Jr. and South Haven and Don Cates of Evansville, Ind.; and a sister Mrs. Dawn Schecter of Fort Worth, Tex.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Richard Fisher of the South Side Church of the Nazarrene of Mishawaka officiating.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.

 

Halton, Patty Ann

Patty Ann Halton
June 2, 1970-July 26, 1970


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, July 28, 1970, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Niles--Patty Ann Holton, seven-weeks-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Halton of Harbor Hights, Tex., died Sunday morning in Harbor Hights Hospital, where she was born June 2.

Survivors, in addition to her parents, include her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Halton of Toledo, Ohio; her great-grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Halton of Toledo, Ohio; her great-grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Makepeace of Niles and Mr. and Mrs. Vere Arand of Phoenix, Ariz., and a sister, Joyce Anne, at home.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday in the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Ray Cunningham of the First Baptist Church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call beginning Wednesday evening at the funeral home.


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, July 29, 1970, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library


Niles--Funeral services for Patty Ann Halton will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Pifer Funeral Home. The seven-weeks-old daughter of Mr.and Mrs. John Halton, died at Harker Heights, Tex., Sunday.

Survivors include her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Halton of Toledo, Ohio; great-grandmother, Mrs. Harold Makepeace of Niles; grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Vere Aurand of Cottonwood, Ariz., and a sister, Joyce.

The Rev. Ray Cunningham of the First Baptist Church will officiate and burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.  Friends may call at the funeral home beginning this evening.