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.

Young, Mervin J. 1915-1984

Mervin J. Young
Sept. 14, 1915-July 5, 1984

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Friday, July 6, 1984, page 2, col. 1-2, microfilm Niles District Library

Mervin Joseph Young, 68, 1231 S. 13th St., Niles, died at 7:24 p.m. Thursday at Memorial Hospital in South Bend following a brief illness.

Born Sept. 14, 1915, in Fremont, Ohio, he lived in this area since 1944, coming from Ohio. The owner of Young's Bookkeeping Service and the former owner of the Rollaway Skating Rink, he was a member of the First Church of Christ Christian, the Niles Fraternal Order of eagles No. 2963 and the Niles Fraternal Order of Police No. 95.

On Feb. 12, 1946, in Niles, he married Barbara L. Adams, who survives.

Also surviving are three sons, Kervin Joseph Young of Pontiac, Bobby Louis Young of Niles and Brad Lee Young at home; three daughters, Mrs. Donald (Merva) Burns, Mrs. Raymond (Donna) Corum and Mrs. Ray (Julie) Hartman, all of Niles; four sisters, Mrs. Genevieve Hoffman, Mrs. Anna Mae Pump and Mrs. Marguerite Bender, all of Fremont, Ohio,and Mrs. Helen Gillig of Lucas, Ohio; and 12 grandchildren. A son, Dennis, died in 1983.

Services are 11 a.m. Monday at the First Church of Christ Christian on Yankee St. in Niles, with Brother Russell Ross of that church officiating. Burial will be in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Saturday and after 2 p.m. Sunday at the Halbritter Funeral Home.

Zache, Gary Ray 1953-1984

Gary Ray Zache
Feb. 8, 1953-Feb. 10, 1984

 

Niles Daily Star(Niles, Michigan), Monday, February 13, 1984, page 2, microfilm Niles District Library

Gary Ray Zache, 31, 2240 Winkler Rd., Niles, died at 8:30 p.m. Friday at Indiana University Hospital, Indianapolis, after a short illness.

Born Feb, 8, 1953, in South Bend, he was a lifetime area resident. An electrician for K&M Machine Fabricating, Cassopolis, he was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church. He also participated in the Brandywine Little League, Niles Slow Pitch Softball League and Brandywine High School athletics.

On June 22, 1974, in Niles, he married Chris Holy, who survives.

Also surviving are his parents, Mrs. and Mrs. Arthur A. Zache of Niles; three sons, Brian, Bradley and Bruce, all at home; and two brothers, Arthur A. Zache Jr. of Reedville, Va. and Rickey Zache of Vicksburg.

Services are at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at St. Paul Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Gregory Gerendas of that church officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.

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

Memorials may be made to the Leukemia Fund.

Zaseck, Vivian Eugene 1916-1985

Vivian Eugene Zaseck
Feb 14, 1916-Aug. 14, 1985

 

Niles Daily Star(Niles, Michigan), Friday, August 23, 1985, page 2, col. 1, microfilm Niles District Library

Word has been received of the death of Vivian Eugene Zaseck, 69, 12410 Stagecoach Lane, Bayonett Point, Fla., who died Aug. 14 at 3:30 p.m. at Bayonett Point Hospital.

Born Feb. 14 1916, in South Haven, he retired in 1978 after living here 25 years. He owned Vivian's Beauty Salons in Niles and South Bend. On March 13, 1944, in Niles, he married Virginia Webster, who survives.

Also surviving are one son, Todd of South Bend; and two grandchildren.

He was cremated in Florida. Memorials may be made to St. Martin's Episcopal Church Building Fund, 67 Forest Drive, New Port Richey, Fla., 33553.

 

Henderson, Dr. Abby 1879-1955

Dr. Abby Henderson
Oct. 9, 1879-July 26, 1955

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Tuesday, July 26, 1955, page 1, col. 4, microfilm Niles District Library

Dr. Abby Henderson, one of Niles most prominent physician's died at 9:15 o'clock this morning. Her death came after six months of illness which confined her to her home at 705 Topinabee Road, where she resided with her husband, Dr. Robert Henderson.

She was affectionately known as “Dr. Abby.”

She was born in Jefferson Township, Cass Co., Mich., in 1879. She received her medical degree from the University of Colorado in 1912. She and her husband practiced medicine together in Niles for 25 years. Their son, Dr. Fred Henderson, joined them in practice.

Dr. Henderson was a member of the first Presbyterian Church of Niles and active in the Ladies' Reading Club.

A brother, Judge Philip A. Hadsell resides in Niles, and a granddaughter, Miss Ann Henderson, lives in Columbus, Ohio.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home Wednesday.

Services will be held in the First Presbyterian Church at 10 a.m., Thursday, with Dr. T.M. Greenhoe, pastor, officiating.

 

Henderson, Dr. Robert 1880-1965

Dr. Robert Henderson
Nov. 12, 1880-July 10, 1965

 

Niles Daily Star, Monday, July 12, 1965, page 1 col. 2-3, microfilm Niles District Library

 

2 Niles Physicians Succumb Saturday

 

Two Niles physicians, their combined careers spanning more than 60 years, died Saturday.

Dr. Robert Henderson, 84, who has been living in Coral Gables, Fla,. died at 8:30 p.m., Saturday, after a two-month illness.

Dr. L.L. Harrison, 97, of 525 Broadway, died a 11:45 p.m., Saturday at his home, following a four-month illness. . .

 

DR. HENDERSON began his Niles practice in 1916, coming here from Colorado. He retired in 1948.

Both he and his wife, the late Dr. Abby Henderson, were graduates of the University of Colorado. She specialized in obstetrics, retired in 1937.

Before coming here, they had practiced at a mining camp in Colorado. Dr. Henderson's father came to Berrien County in 1878.

Dr. Henderson was a Second Ward alderman from 1921 to 1924.

Dr. Henderson was born Nov. 12, 1880, in Dayton.

Survivors include his second wife, Louise, a son, Dr. Fred Henderson, Niles, a brother, Richard, Bradenton, Fla., a sister, Mrs. Carlton Rose, Berkeley, Calif., and a granddaughter.

Friends may call at the Pifer Funeral Home until 7 p.m. Tuesday. Committal services will be held at Silverbrook Cemetery at 4 p.m., Wednesday with the Rev. John MacLachlan officiating.

 

Abermann, Maxine E. 1902-1962

Maxine E. Abermann
April 22, 1902-Sept. 4, 1962

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Saturday, September 29, 1962, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Mrs. Theodore (Maxine E.) Abermann, 60, of 925 Cherry St., died Friday at 1:40 p.m. in Pawating Hospital, where she had been a patient since Sept. 4.  She had been ill one year.

Mrs. Abermann was born April 22, 1902, in Niles, and was a life-time resident of this city.

Survivors include her mother, Mrs. Margaret Roach, Niles; two daughters, Mrs. Rowland Jackson, San Bernardino, Calif., and Mrs. William Frank, Dearborn; and three grandchildren.

She was a member of the American Association of University Women, the First Methodist Church, Zeta Tau Alpha, and Beta Gamma Epsilon. She was a member of the Wesleyan Guild and was a graduate of of the University of Michigan. Mrs. Abermann taught one year of English in Puerto Rico.

Funeral services will be conducted Monday at 2 p.m. at the Pifer Funeral Home, with Dr. Maurice McKean, pastor of her church, officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.

Mr. Abermann announced that, due to Mrs. Abermann's death, the Club 66 will be closed at 11 day[sic] Monday.

 

Blackburn, Herman 1899-1962

Herman Blackburn
Jan 13, 1899-Sept. 19, 1962

 

Niles Daily Star (Niles, Michigan), Thursday, September 20, 1962, page 2, col. 3, microfilm Niles District Library

Herman Blackburn, 63, 1806 Niles-Buchanan Road, died Wednesday at 9:42 a.m. at Pawating Hospital, where he had been a patient six weeks. He had been ill three years.

Mrs.[sic] Blackburn, a retired interior decorator, was born Jan. 13, 1899, in Coffee County, Tenn. He came to Niles in 1916.

Survivors include his wife, Thelma; three sons, Kenneth and Eldon, both of Niles, and Dwain, Kalamazoo; three sisters, Mrs. Walter McLaughlin and Mrs. Mann Bonner, both of Niles, and Mrs. Grover Bennett, Cooksville, Tenn.; and nine grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Pifer Funeral Home, with the Rev. Earl J. Wickstrom, pastor of the First Baptist Church, officiating. Burial will be at Silverbrook Cemetery.

Friends are being received at the funeral home.