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.

Zimmerman, Lizetta (Wedel)

Lizetta Zimmerman
Aug. 7, 1874-Nov. 5, 1946

Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, November 5, 1946, page 2, col. 7, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Zimmerman, 72, Dies Today at Home Here

 

Mrs. Lizetta Zimmerman, 72, died at 9:35 a.m. today at her home at 1323 North Eleventh street, where she had been in poor health for years. Her husband, Gustav Zimmerman, passed away on June 29.

Born in Niles Aug.7, 1874, she lived here all of her life, being married here to Gustav Zimmerman on May 19, 1893.

Surviving are: seven children, Ernest and Paul, Dowagiac; Arthur, Leo Bradley, Mrs. Ada Cotton, and Mrs. Olive Helmick, Niles; a brother, William Wedel, Niles; 18 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Friends may call at the residence Wednesday afternoon. The Rev. Harry Barnett will conduct services Friday at 2 p.m. in the Full Gospel Assembly. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery.

 

 

Eisenbeil, Charles F.

Charles F. Eisenbeil
Nov. 10, 1870-Nov. 18, 1946


Niles Daily Star, Tuesday, November 19, 1946, page 2, col. 8, microfilm Niles District Library


Eisenbeil, Aged 76, Dies Monday

 

Charles F. Eisenbeil, 76, a life-long resident of Niles, died at 12:10 p.m. , yesterday in his home at 1109 Ferry street.  He had been in poor health for 10 years.

Last rites will be conducted Thursday at 2 p.m. in the Pifer funeral chapel. The Rev. Theo Eisen will officiate. Graveside committal services will be conducted by the Elks lodge of which he was a member. Burial will be in Silverbrook cemetery. Friends may call at the Pifer funeral home.

 

Survivors Named

Eisenbeil was born in Niles Nov. 10, 1870. His wife died several years ago.
Surviving are two step-daughters, Mrs. Charles Hahn, Niles, and Mrs. Norman Hope, Meadville, Pa.; and three sisters, Mrs. Elizabeth Peterson, Wilkinsburg, Pa., Mrs. [illegible] Mcintosh, and Mrs. Mattie Noetzel, both of Detroit.

Engberg, Rudolph A.

Rudolph A. Engberg
Dec. 29, 1917-Jan. 9, 2003


Niles Daily Star, Thursday, January 19, 2003, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Rudolph A. Engberg, 85, of Colony Court in Niles, died this morning, Jan. 9 at Lakeland Hospital at 4L10[sic] a.m. following a brief illness.

Arrangement are pending and being completed by Halbritter Funeral Home.


Niles Daily Star, Friday, January 10, 2003, page 2, col. 1, and Saturday, January 11, 2003, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library

Funeral services for Rudulph A. Engberg, 85, of 725 Colony Court in Niles, are Saturday, Jan. 11 at 2 p.m. at Halbritter Funeral Home by the Rev. Emmett H. Kadwell, Jr. of Wesley United Methodist Church.

Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Engberg died on Thursday at Lakeland Specialty Hospital in Berrien Center.

He was born on Dec. 29, 1917 in Chicago, Ill. On Oct. 13, 1951 in Middletown, Ohio, he was married to Kathleen M. Hannah, who survives.

Engberg graduated in 1948 from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, serving as Second Lieutenant. While at the Air Force Training Station at Yale University, his unit once marched to the music of the Glen Miller Orchestra. He retired from the French Paper Company after 21 years as Chief Engineer and as a member of the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry and a 38-year member of the Orchard Hills Country Club. He bowled in many area leagues and greatly enjoyed being with his grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife, Kathleen; a daughter, Susan Majerek of Niles; three grandsons, David, Scott, and Chad Majerek; a brother, Leonard Engberg of Worth, Ill.; a sister, Marjorie Cooke of Harbor Springs. He was preceded in death by a sister, Jean Anderson, and a brother, Richard Engberg.

Visitation will be Saturday an hour prior to services.

Memorial services may be made to Niles High School Athletic Booster Club Fund for the Golf Team.

 

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.