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.

Fisher, Catherine L.

Catherine L. Fisher
Oct. 23, 1911-Aug. 4, 1995


Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 14, 1995, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library


Catherine L. Fisher
1911-1995
First Presbyterian Church member

Funeral services for Catherine L. Fisher, 83, of 217 N. Lincoln St., Niles, are Monday at 2p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, Niels, by the Rev. Dr. Ronald H. Wakeman, pastor.

Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Nrs. Fishes[sic] died Friday at 12:10 a.m. at her home in Niles, following a brief illness. She was born Oct. 23, 1911, in Niles and was a lifetime resident of the area.

On April 12, 1933, in Niles, she married Frederick F. Fisher, who preceded her in death on Dec. 18, 1972.

Mrs. Fisher was a 50-plus year member of First Presbyterian Church. She was a member of the AARP, Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel,  was past president of Phi Chi Epsilon sorority and past nobel grand of Rebekah Lodge.

For 22 years she served a financial secretary in the business office of the Niles Community Schools System and worked for 17 years in deposit services for Old Kent Bank. She was currently employed by Edward D. Jones Co.

Survivors include a daughter, Christine Howard of South Bend, Ind.; a son, Richard F. Fisher of Plainwell; and six grandsons.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Arthur N. Pears on Dec. 14, 1987.

Friends may call Sunday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m at Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Foundation of First Presbyterian Church, Niles, Hospice at Home or Niles Community Library.

 

Goodenow, Garold B.

Garold B. Goodenow
Jan. 3, 1906-Aug. 6, 1995


Niles Daily Star, Monday, August 7, 1995, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library


Garold B. Goodenow
1906-1995
active 40 years in Boy Scouts of America

Funeral services for Garold B. Goodenow, 89, of 1346 Phoenix St., Niles, will be Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Niles.

Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

Mr. Goodenow died at 9:20 a.m.Sunday, at his home.

He was born Jan. 3, 1906, in Chicago Heights, Ill.

On March 2, 1929, in Crown Point, Ind., he married the former Beulah Phemister, who survives.

Mr. Goodenow retired from Kawneer Co. as a supervisor.

He was a member of First Presbyterian Church and the B.P.O.E. Elks Lodge 1322 of Niles. He was active in Boy Scouts of America for 40 years.

In addition to his wife, survivors include two daughters, Sherrell Walker and Julane Vadervest, both of Niles; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and two half-brothers, Kenneth Cooper of St. Louis, Mich., and Alfred Cooper of Chicago Heights, Ill. A daughter, Jerrilyn Goodenow, preceded him in death.

Visitation will be on Tuesday from 3-5 and 7-9 p.m. at Pifer-Smith Funeral Home in Niles.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Foundation at First Presbyterian Church.

 

 

Gray, James E.

James E. Gray
Nov. 30, 1903-April 28, 1981

Niles Daily Star, Friday, May 1, 1981, page 2, col. 5-6, microfilm Niles District Library


James E. Gray, 77, 105 N. 15th St., Niles, died 8:40 a.m. Tuesday, April 28 at his residence, after an extended illness.

A former employee of Tyler Refrigeration Co., he also served for 22 years, from 1937-1959, as a captain in the Niles City Police Department.

Born November 30, 1903, in New Carlisle, Indiana, he had spent most of his lifetime in this area.

Gray was married July 21, 1923, in LaPorte, Indiana, to the former Edna L. Neblung, who survives him.

Also surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Robert (Lorraine) Juergensen, Summit, New Jersey; Mrs. John (Janice) Zimmerman, Manhattan, Kansas; and Mrs. John (Cleo) Wade, Birmingham, Michigan.

Gray had 12 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m today, at Halbritter Funeral Home, the Michael P. Schulz, of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Cassopolis, officiating.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made, at the request of the family, to the St. Paul's Lutheran Church Memorial Fund or to the Berrien County Cancer Service.

 

Gross, Daniel Wayne

Daniel Wayne Gross
Feb. 26, 1963-May 4, 1981


Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, May 6, 1981, page 2, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Daniel Wayne Gross, 18, 0f 2502 US-31 N., Niles, died at 7:10 p.m Monday in Pawating Hospital following an illness of eight weeks.

An employee of the CETA Program, he was born Feb. 26, 1963 in Niles and had spent his lifetime in this area.

Survivors include his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Gross of Niles; his grandparents, Sylvester Frank Gross and Mrs. Bessie Hart of Niles; a brother, Robert, of Little Rock, Ark.; and a sister, Patricia, of Niles.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am.  Thursday at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. The Rev. Alfred D. Deeds of the Bethel Apostolic  Tabernacle of Buchanan will officiate.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 4 p.m. Wednesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

 

 





Halbritter, Sue Ann

Sue Halbritter
Aug. 25, 1945-March 2, 1947

Niles Daily Star, Monday, March 3, 1947, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library


HALBRITTER RITES TUESDAY

Services will be held Tuesday afternoon at the Reiser-Driger chapel for Sue Halbritter, 18-mmonth-old daughter of Mr.and Mrs. Theodore L. Halbritter, 231 Bond street. She succumbed Sunday morning at Pawating hospital.

Born Aug. 25, 1945, the child had been in ill health since her recovery from an attack of polio-myelitis early this fall.

Besides her parents, she is survived by a twin sister, Sandra Kaye, a brother, Theodore L. Halbritter, III, and her grandparents, Mr.and Mrs. Theodore Halbritter, Sr. Sioux Fall, S.D., and Mr. and Mrs. John Montgomery, Buchanan.  Her father, chief pharmacist's mate in the navy, was home on liberty from Great Lakes, Ill., over the weekend. Mrs. Halbritter is the former Ruthe E. Montgomery, Buchanan.

Friends may call at the Reiser-Krieger chapel, where the Rev. Melvin Martin, First Church of Christ, Buchanan, will conduct services Tuesday  at 2 p.m. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

 

 

Harger, Melville E.

Melville E. Harger
Sept. 29, 1854-Oct. 21, 1932


Niles Daily Star, Friday, October 21, 1932, page 1, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library


WM. E. HARGER, BERRIEN RESIDENT FOR 75 YEARS, DIES AT HIS FARM HOME

 

Melville E. Harger, 78, a resident of Berrien county for 75 years, died this morning at 2:30 in his home two miles north of Niles on M-40. He had been in ill health from heart diease[sic] for several months.  For the last four weeks he had been confined to his bed.

Mr. Harger was born in Lorraine, Ohio, on Sept. 29, 1854. When he was a child of three years he was brought to Michigan by his parents. They located in Berrien county, and he had since resided here. Mr. Harger was married to Inez Young on March 31, 1881 and last year they celebrated their golden wedding anniversary. Mrs. Harger died last January.

Immediately after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Harger went to housekeeping in the farm home which was their home until their deaths.  Of the five children born to them four survive their father. The children are Mrs. Otto Waltsgott of Pasadena, Calif., who has been at her father's home for several weeks on account of his illness, Claude Harger, Mrs. Florence Eager and Reginald Harger.  Another son, Carol Harger, died in 1910.  Two daughters of the latter are among the 13 surviving grandchildren. One sister, Mrs. Clyde R. Young of Eau Claire, also survives.

Throughout his lifetime Mr. Harger engaged in the business of farming. He was a member of the board of review of Niles township at the time of his death, an office to which he had been elected for several consecutive years.

The funeral services will be held in the home on Sunday afternoon at 2:30.  The Rev. G.W. Simon, pastor of the Presbyterian church, of which Mr. Harger was a member, will officiate. Burial will be made in the family lot in Silverbrook cemetery.

Note: Headline is apparently incorrect.

 

 

 

 

Hill, Ethel D.

Ethel D. Hill
Aug. 31, 1879-July 1, 1948


Niles Daily Star, Friday, July 2, 1948, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library


Mrs. Ethel D. Hill, 68, rural route one, wife of J.F. Hill, died Thursday evening at Pawating hospital after 10 months illness.  Born in Sodus township August 31, 1879, she came here from Millburg in 1917.  She was a member of the local Home Economics club. Surviving, besides her husband, are two sons, John D., and Clifford K., both of Niles; and one brother, Melvin Moore, Eau Claire. Funeral services will be held at the Kiger funeral home at 2 p.m. Monday; the Rev. G.A. Steeby, pastor of the First Evangelical United Brethren church, will officiate. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.