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.

Harmon, Gail Lynn (Blackburn)

Gail Harmon, 61
Jan. 13, 1951 — March 13, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published 11:04pm Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Harmon

Gail Lynn Harmon, age 61, of Mannix Street, Niles, died Tuesday, March 13, 2012, at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles following a brief illness.

She was born Jan. 13, 1951, in Niles to Eldon Robert and Donna Jean (Goodling) Blackburn whom survive.

Gail graduated from Niles High School in 1969 and was the office manager for the Vital Records Department of the Berrien County Clerk’s Office.

She was a very giving person and loved to spend time with her family, friends and her dog Cooper. She enjoyed flower gardening and was known to have a “green thumb.”

Gail is also survived by her daughter, Kelly Rakowski; granddaughter, Kaylen; and special loved one, Sara Gibson; brother, Gary (Sandy) Blackburn; sister, Kathy (Jeff) Malone, all of Niles, and sister, Barb Speers of Pinellas Park, Fla.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 16, at First Presbyterian Church in Niles with Pastor Ray Fulbright of the church officiating.

Relatives and friends may call from noon until the time of service. Interment will follow at the Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

Contributions in memory of Gail Harmon may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Graham, Joyce M.

Joyce M. Graham, 89
November 10, 1922 — March 15, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published 6:06pm Sunday, March 18, 2012

Joyce M. Graham, 89, of Niles, died at 3:13 a.m. Thursday, March 15, 2012, at Lakeland Specialty Hospital, Berrien Center, Michigan following an extended illness.
She was born on Nov. 10, 1922, in Michigan Center, Michigan to John C. and Lola B. (Mount) Graham. She graduated from Niles High School and lived here all of her life.
She was retired from the Kawneer Corporation after many years of service in the accounting department.
Miss Graham enjoyed playing golf and bowling on area leagues and had won several tournaments. She also enjoyed reading fiction and mysteries and was a fan of the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago Bears.
She was preceded in death by her parents and by a brother, Bruce Graham, and a sister, Marjorie Graham.
Surviving family includes her brother, Ross (and Wanda) Graham of Niles; nephews, Malcolm (and Karin) Graham and David (and Kathryn) Graham, and a niece, Julie Graham.
Services for Joyce M. Graham will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 21, 2012, at the Trinity Episcopal Church, Niles with the Reverend James Slack of the church officiating. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
Contributions in memory of Joyce may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church. Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.

Hecker, William A.

William A. Hecker, 64
November 21, 1947 — March 15, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published online 6:10pm Sunday, March 18, 2012

William Hecker, 64, of South Bend, Ind., and formerly of Niles, died Thursday, March 15, 2012, at his home, unexpectedly, but of natural causes.
He was born on Nov.  21, 1947, in Niles to William and Helen (Cody) Hecker. He graduated from Niles High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in history from Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo). He retired from Brandywine Public Schools, Niles following many years of teaching. Bill enjoyed teaching. He also enjoyed collecting antiques, reading about history and studying genealogy. He had a special fondness for pets, especially the larger dog breeds.
He is survived by several cousins, including Bonnie (and  Kent) Ramsey of South Bend; a life-long friend, Mike Drennan of Niles and all of Mike’s family including his son, Matt; and Bill’s companion, Greg Martin of South Bend.
Services for Bill Hecker will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 22, 2012, at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles with Pastor Kenneth Peterson of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, South Bend officiating.
Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles. The family will receive relatives and friends at the funeral home beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday. Contributions in memory of Bill may be made to Pet Refuge.

Misner, Mary Lou (Lucker)

MaryLou Misner, 83
August 27, 1928 — March 16, 2012

Niles Daily Star, Published online 6:11pm Sunday, March 18, 2012

MaryLou Misner, 83, of Barron Lake Road, Niles, died unexpectedly, but of natural causes, at 2:50 a.m., Friday, March 16, 2012, at Lakeland Community Hospital.

MaryLou Misner

She was born on Aug. 27, 1928 in Niles to Gabriel and Marie (Gibson) Lucker. She attended Niles High School and lived in Niles all her life.
MaryLou was a member of the New Apostolic Church, Niles. She enjoyed vegetable gardening and cooking, especially baking pies. Her greatest joy was caring for her family.
On Aug. 30, 1947, in Niles, she married Richard Misner with whom she celebrated the 64th anniversary of their wedding this past year.
Surviving family includes her husband, Richard Misner Sr.; their children, Richard Misner Jr. of Niles and Linda (Paul) Wogatzke of New Carlisle, Ind.; grandchildren, Angela (Keith) Knight and Paul Wogatzke Jr.; MaryLou’s sisters and brother, Marjorie Peterson of Niles, Elaine Hann of Walterboro, S.C., Virginia Webster of South Bend, Ind., Jack Lucker of Galien and Joan Coger of Buchanan; and many nieces and nephews.
The funeral service for MaryLou Misner will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 20, 2012, at the New Apostolic Church, Niles with Priest Michael Sirovica of the church officiating. Interment will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
The family will receive relatives and friends at the church beginning at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Contributions in memory of MaryLou may be made to the donor’s choice.

Rounds, Adeline N.

Adeline N. Rounds
abt. 1833-Sept. 26, 1850


Niles Republican, Saturday, October 8, 1850, page 3, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Deaths


Died September 26th, Mrs. Adeline N. Rounds aged 17 years.

Rounds, Eliza Ann

Eliza Ann Rounds
Feb. 1, 1857-Aug. 2, 1875

Niles Republican, Saturday, August 7, 1875, page 3, col. 6, microfilm Niles District Library

DIED

 

In this city, August 2d, of heart disease, ELIZA A., youngest daughter of Henry and L.W. Rounds; aged 18 years, 6 months and 1 day.

After an illness of one year and eight months, she has, at last, joined the loved ones that were waiting for her.  Jesus has taken her home. She will find sweet rest in Heaven.

 

Side by side we silently left them,
Sleeping in their lonely graves;
But their spirits are in Heaven,
Far beyond earth's dark, cold waves.

Dearest daughters, they have left us,
Here their loss we deeply feel,
But 'tis God that has bereft us,
He can all our sorrows heal.

Yet again we hope to meet them,
When the day of life is fled,
Then in Heaven with joy to greet them,
Where no farewell tears are shed.

 

Rounds, Hadasah Jane

Hadasah Jane Rounds
abt. 1843-June 24, 1845

Niles Republican, Saturday, June 28, 1845, page 3, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library

DIED

 

In this village, on the 24th inst. Hadasah Jane, youngest child of Henry and Jane Rounds, aged about two years.