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.

Joanis, Dwain K.

Dwain K. Joanis
May 9, 1938-April 12, 2007

Dwain K. Joanis, 68,  of Niles, died at 10:45 p.m. Thursday , April 12, 2007, in his home. He was born May 9, 1938. Survivors include his wife, Florence I. (Lintz); son, Jeff H. Joanis; brothers, Ronnie Joanis of Dowagiac, Chuck Joanis and Jim Joanis, both of Niles; and a sister, Dee Shorts of Niles. Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday in Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, where friends may call one hour before services. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Jennings, Cleotha

Cleotha Jennings
June 17, 1939-May 3, 2006

Cleotha “Mo” Jennings, 66, died at 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, May 3, 2006 in his home. He was born June 17, 1939. Survivors include two daughters, Tonya J. Jennings and Dawn M. Jennings, both of Elkhart; two sons, Maurice Bland of Kingsley, MI, and Cleotha Jennings Jr. of Edmore, MI; stepdaughter, Lisa Jennings of Elkhart; stepson, Aaron Jennings of Kingsley; and sister, Ruby Anderson of Niles. Services will be at 1 p.m Monday in Mount Calvary Baptist church. Hoven Funeral Home, Buchanan, is handling arrangements.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Jazvac, Michael

Michael Jazvac
Aug. 26, 1926-July 9, 2001
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Michael Jazvac, 74, of East Main Street, died of natural causes on Monday, July 9,  2001, in the Silverbrook Manor Nursing Home, Niles, Mich.

He was born on Aug. 26, 1926, in Detroit, Mich. He was a U.S. Army veteran, and a loan officer for Michigan National Bank of Niles.

On Aug. 19, 1967, in Port Huron, Mich., he married Marjorie Care, who survives. He is also survived by five daughters, Stephanie Ritchie and Pat Wendorf, both of Buchanan, Mich., Sue MacDonald of Clinton Township, Mich., Terry Wendorf of Derry, N.H., and Julie Wendorf of Coral Springs, Fla.; three sons, John Fuller of Victoria, Texas, William Wendorf of Kalamazoo, Mich., and Randy Wendorf of Niles; his mother, Josephine Jazvac of Detroit; a sister, Helen Willard of Royal Oak, Mich.; and by 18 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Thursday in the Pifer-SMITH Funeral Home, Niles, where friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. today. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society or to the American Heart Association.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Jaroch, Lloyd

Lloyd Jaroch
February 12, 1914-January 16, 1946

Commits suicide 

Lloyd Jaroch, 33, of 320 Pokagon Street, Niles, was found dead in the cellar of the residence this morning by his wife, Frances. He had been shot through the head with a self-inflicted rifle wound.

Jaroch, the father of two small children is believed to have shot himself on Thursday between 10 and 11 p.m. while none of the family was at home. Born in Michigan City, Ind., Feb. 12, 1914, Jaroch came here in 1919 with his parents. He is a graduate of Niles high school and has been employed for some time at the National Standard Company.

He is survived by his wife, two children, Juliana and Lyman, both at home; his father, Michael Jaroch; five brothers, and a sister, Anthony and John Jaroch and Mrs. Marie Weaver, all of Niles, Frank and Ted Jaroch, Michigan City, Ind., and Harold Jaroch, Trenton.

The Rev. Clarence K. Graham will conduct the funeral Monday at 2 p.m. in the Pifer Funeral Home. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call Saturday at Pifer’s.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown 

Jarman, Marjorie L. (Gouldman)

Marjorie L. Jarman
September 21, 1927-August 21, 2005

Marjorie L. (Gouldman) Jarman, "Mom Bones," 77, of Cass Street,  Niles, passed away following an illness on Sunday, August 21, 2005, at Silverbrook Manor.

Marjorie was born September 21, 1927, to the late Fred Gouldman and Mary M. House in Duck Creek, Missouri.

She married Charles Jarman in January 1947.

She worked as a cook at Pawating Hospital for 12 years and then continued to volunteer at Lakeland Hospital in the surgery waiting area for an additional eight years.  She also was very active in the Niles American Legion #26, was a former member of the South Niles Community Church and was a member of Vietnam Veterans.

Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two sons, Rex and Jeffrey Jarman; a sister, Norma Jean Jarman; and a brother, Johnny Gouldman.

She is survived by a daughter, Mattie (Bernie) Beaudoin of Niles; a sister, Ruth Faye Gouldman of Niles; two brothers, Ray (Jean) and Jim Gouldman of Niles; and by seven grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

A time of visitation will be held today, August 24, 2005, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in Brown Funeral Home. Funeral services will be Thursday, August 25, 2005, at 11:00 a.m., with Pastor Jeff Whittaker officiating. An interment will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Contributions may be made in Marjorie's memory to Hospice at Home, Inc., 4017 Chamberlain Road, Buchanan, MI 49107.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles (formerly Pifer~Smith Funeral Home).

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Jagodzinski, Bernard C.

Bernard C. "Barney" Jagodzinski
February 26, 1922-February 10, 1996

NILES - Bernard C. ''Barney'' Jagodzinski, 73, of 2925 S. 14th St., Niles died at 2 a.m. Saturday  (Feb. 10, 1996) in Memorial Hospital, South Bend, after an illness.  Mr. Jagodzinski retired from A.M. General, South Bend.  He was born Feb. 26, 1922, in South Bend.  On Aug. 19, 1960, in Grand Haven, Mich., he married Adella Mae Yahne.  She died Dec. 30, 1994.  Surviving are a daughter, Cynthia Ann Rush of Niles; two grandchildren; and a brother, William F. Jagg of Mishawaka.  He was a member of St. Mark Catholic Church, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 624, Roseland, Air Force Association Chapter 286, South Bend, American Legion Post 26 and AmVets Post 1978.  He served in the Army Air Forces during World War II.  He had been formerly employed by Studebaker, South Bend, Ford Motor Co., Wayne, Mich., and Chicago, and had been a security officer at Ameritech and AT & T after his retirement.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in the church.  Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery, where VFW Post 624 will conduct military services.  Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday in Halbritter Funeral Home, where a rosary will be said at 7 p.m.  Memorial contributions may be made to the church.

 Submitted by family member; publication details unknown

Jagodzinski, Adella Mae (Yahne)

Adella Mae Jagodzinski
Sept. 5, 1922-Dec. 30, 1994

Adella Mae Jagodzinski, 72, of 2925 S. 14th St., Niles, died at 7:50 a.m. Friday, Dec. 30, 1994, in Woodfield Manor after an illness. Mrs. Jagodzinski was a former employee of Niles Cabinet Co. and ETC Surges Inc. She was born Sept. 5, 1922, in Grand Rapids, and lived in Niles since 1945, coming from Grand Rapids. On Aug. 19, 1960, in Grand Haven, Mich., she married Bernard Jagodzinski. He survives with two daughters, Cynthia A. Rush of Niles and Darlene Lister of Ava, Mo.; three grandchildren; a sister, Doris Anderson of Grand Rapids; five brothers, Gerald Yahne of Niles, Lawrence Yahne of Kent City, Mich., and Robert, Charles and Ronald Yahne, all of Grand Haven; a stepsister, Thelma Mathis of Okinawa, Japan; and two stepbrothers, Ralph Giles of Muskegon, Mich., and Gerald Giles of Denver, Colo. She was a member of Ladies Auxiliary of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 624 and St. Mark Catholic Church.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday in the church. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday in Halbritter Funeral Home, where a rosary will be said at 7:30 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to the church.

Submitted by family member; publication details unknown