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.

Curtis, Gregory L.

editor Obituaries

Dr. Gregory Curtis, 58,
Dec. 4, 1952 — June 5, 2011

Dr. Gregory L. Curtis, 58, of Weaver Road, Niles, died at 11 p.m. Sunday, June 5, 2011 at the “Curtis Country Lodge” after apparently taking his own life.

Dr. Gregory Curtis, 58

Dr. Curtis was born Dec. 4, 1952 in Niles to Clark and Diane (Powers) Curtis. He graduated from Niles High School with the Class of 1971. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo and completed his education in 1982 at Life Chiropractic University in Macon, Ga. He owned and operated since 1982 Curtis Chiropractic Clinic in Edwardsburg, where he practiced the Gonstead method of chiropractics.

Gregory was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Niles. He was an avid pheasant hunter, golfer, motorcyclist, runner and gardener. He was a past president of the Edwardsburg Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of Michiana Harley Owners Group in South Bend; the B.P.O. of Niles Elks Lodge 1322; and was a life member of Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve in Niles.

Dr. Curtis is survived by his brother, James W. (Sharon) Curtis of Mishawaka, Ind.; nieces, Lori Stanage, Lonnay Sexton and Rebecca Curtis; and a nephew, Clark Curtis and companion, Joan Risk.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Robert Clark Curtis, who died Sept. 5, 2008.

The funeral liturgy for Dr. Gregory L. Curtis will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, June 10 at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles by the Rev. David Otto of St. Mary Catholic Church.

Committal rites will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 9 at the funeral home with recitation of the Rosary at 7:30 p.m.

Contributions in memory of Dr. Curtis may be made to Hospice at Home.

Niles Daily Star, Published online 10:45pm Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Applegate, Thomas Earl

editor Obituaries

Thomas E. Applegate
Oct. 10, 1902-Nov. 5, 1978

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 6, 1978, page 2, col. 5, microfilm Niles District Library

NILES--Thomas Earl Applegate, 76, of 101 1/2 East Main St., died at 11:12 a.m. Sunday at Pawating Hospital, following an illness of several months.

A retired janitor, Mr. Applegate was born Oct. 10, 1902 in Marion, Ind.  He came here 27 years ago from Marion.

On May 2, 1942 in Marion, he married Lucy Edna Kepler, who survives.

Also surviving are a son, Thomas J. of Niles; a daughter, Mrs. Betty De La-Cruz of Niles; a stepson, Donald Kepler of Marion; five step-daughters, Mrs. Elsie Bush and Mrs. Pearl Ebert, both of Marion, Mrs. Helen Scott of Monroeville, Ind., Mrs. Ruth Gephart of Convey, Ohio, and Mrs. Paul (Phyllis) Antisdel of Niles.  Another stepson, James Kepler, of Buchana[sic], died Oct. 10, 1978.

Also surviving are two brothers, Lonnie of Niles and Otto of South Bend; a sister, Mrs. Goldie Jones of Muncie, Ind.; 30 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

He was a member of the Church of God, Full Gospel.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home with the Rev. Morton J. Hempel of the Church of God, Full Gospel, officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 4 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

 

 

Lamb, Lucy Edna Kepler Applegate

editor Obituaries

Lucy Edna Lamb
Nov. 12, 1903-Nov. 17, 1984

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 19, 1984, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Lucy Edna Lamb, 81, 822 Clay St., Niles, died Saturday at 12:47 p.m. at Pawating Hospital after a two-month illness.

She was born Nov. 12, 1903 in Elgin, Ohio and had lived in the area for 30 years coming from Marion, Ind.  She was a homemaker and a member of the First Assembly of God.

She married Frank Lamb on Aug. 2, 1980 in Niles.  He survives.

Also surviving are six daughters, Ruth Gephart, of Vanwert, Ohio, Helen Scott of Monroeville, Ind., Elsie Bush and Pearl Ebert of Marion, Ind., Betty Vincent of Hillsboro, Texas, and Phyllis Antisdel of Niles; a son, Donald Kepler of Marion, Ind.; a sister Ilda Patsel of Decatur, Ind., 32 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchilren[sic].

Services will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at the First Assembly of God Church, Niles. Rev. Paul Fisher of the church will officiate.  Burial will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call Monday from 3 to 9 p.m. and Tuesday 1 to 9 p.m. at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.

 

Matthews, Lawrence Benton

editor Obituaries

Lawrence Benton Matthews
June 18, 1920-Nov. 17, 1984

Niles Daily Star, Monday, November 19, 1984, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library

Lawrence Benton Matthews, 64, of 58376 Smith Lake Dr., Dowagiac, died Saturday at his home after a short illness.

He was born June 18, 1920 in Summittville, Tenn., and had lived in Dowagiac 10 years, moving there from Niles. He was production foreman at Modineer Co. and was a WWII Army Air Force veteran.

He married Eunice A. Bates on Dec. 24, 1959 in Niles. She survives.

Also surviving are five daughters, Sharon Matthews and Berneth Hollanderski of Niles, Carmen Smith of McMinnville, Tenn., Linda Fahlsing of Indianapolis and Ruth Nieuwland of Salt Lake City, Utah; three sons, David of Niles, Alvin of Dowagiac and Daryle of Edwardsburg; three brothers, Kenneth of Arizona and Fred and Glen of Niles; a sister Edith McIntyre of Niles; and 19 grandchildren.

Services will be held Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home. Rev. Fred Smith of the South Niles Community church will officiate. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m.m today at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home.

 

Holmes, Myrtle

editor Obituaries

Myrtle Holmes
Oct. 23, 1893-Nov. 7, 1978

Niles Daily Star, Wednesday, November 8, 1978, page 2, col. 5-6, microfilm Niles District Library

BUCHANAN- Myrtle Holmes, 85, 507 W. Front St., Buchanan, died at 12:50 p.m. Tuesday at Pawating Hospital after a long illness.

She was  born Oct. 23, 1893, in Berrien Springs. She married Charles E. Holmes on Aug. 26, 1930, in LaPorte, Ind. He preceded her in death in 1964.

Survivors include three stepsons, Frank Holmes of Dalton, Ga., George Holmes of Niles and Charles Holmes of Chicago; two stepdaughters, Mrs. Carolyn Bernard of Sawyer and Mrs. Unis Nichols of Glendora, Calif.; a sister-in-law, Mrs. Frances Holmes of South Bend, and a niece, Lucille Riland of Niles.

Funeral services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Pifer-Smith Funeral Home, Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call after 7 p.m. today.

 

Fox, Delbert D. Sr. 1900-1984

editor Obituaries

Delbert D. Fox Sr.
July 25, 1900-Dec. 29, 1984

Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 31, 1984, page 2, col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library

Delbert D. Fox, Sr. 84, 1924 River Bluff, died at 11:13 p.m. Friday at Pawating Hospital following an extended illness.

He was a retired employee of Davis Products.

Born July 25, 1900 in Berrien Springs, he was a lifetime area resident.

On Aug. 13, 1924 in St. Joseph, he married Lillian N. Dunn, who survives.

Also surviving are a son, Delbert D. Fox Jr. of Niles; two daughters, Mrs. Mary Jane Harker of Niles and Mrs. Gloria Hellingstine of South Bend; two brothers, W. Fay Fox of Buchanan and Clifford Fox of Berrien Springs; a sister, Mrs. Rosemary Rietz of Berrien Springs; 11 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Halbritter Funeral Home with Rev. Arnold O. Schaap of Edwardsburg officiating.  Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service.

 

Finney, Donnabelle

editor Obituaries

Mrs. Donnabelle Finney
Aug. 1, 1921-Dec. 29, 1984

Niles Daily Star, Monday, December 31, 1984, page 2, col. 3-4, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Donnabelle Finney, 63, 709 Rynearson St., Buchanan, died at 3:34 p.m. Saturday at Pawating Hospital following an extended illness.

She was a member of the First Church of Christ Christian and the Senior Citizens Bowling League.

Born Aug. 1, 1921 in South Bend, she was a lifetime area resident.

On June 8, 1941 in South Bend, she married Orban Finney, who died Feb. 18, 1974.

Surviving are four daughters, Mrs. Dee Stewart, Mrs. Charlene Pierson, Mrs. Marlene Hunsberger and Mrs. Beverly McCavitt, all of Niles; two brothers, Theodore Roose of Mishawaka, Ind., and Robert Roose of Granger, Ind.; six sisters, Mrs. Mildred Bookmiller of Cleveland; Mrs. Evelyn Vancuren of Mishawaka; Mrs. Elizabeth Beckett of Hohenwald, Tenn., Mrs. Mary Jane Schrader of East Moline, Ill., and Mrs. Audrey Nicodemus and Mrs. Roberta Nemeth, both of South Bend; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

A sister, Mrs. Helen Meyer, died last Friday.

Services will be at 2 p.m Wednesday at the First Church of Christ Christian with Brother Russell Ross of that church officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 2 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to the First Church of Christ Christian Memorial Fund.




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