G

 

Gage, Rebecca

Mrs. Rebecca Gage Of Pavone Street. Dies; Rites Tues.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday for Mrs. Rebecca Gage, 75 years old, who passed away at 5:10 P.M. Saturday at her home, 613 Pavone Street. D. W. Mather will read the Christian Science service at 1:30 P.M., at the Esalhorst funeral chapel. Interment will be in the Riverview Cemetery, Dowagiac.

Note: Actual burial was in Riverside Cemetery, Dowagiac, Michigan. Mrs. Gage was born in Cass County February 17, 1854, and had lived in Benton Harbor for nine years. Surviving are two sons, A. L. Spooner of Benton Harbor, and Jesse Spooner, Detroit, five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
The News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, Mich., 2 Dec. 1929 (Monday)
Contributed By Deanna West

Gardner, Ava Marie Gallivan - Died 11 September 1952 (link to obituary)
AVA MARIE GALLIVAN—September 11, 1952 Mrs. Ava Marie Gardner, 86, of 122 South Barrett Street, died at 6 p.m. Thursday in Pawating Hospital from an illness that lasted two years. Mrs. Gardner was born in Weesaw Township, Berrien County on April 10, 1866, and spent her entire life in this area.
  The rosary will be recited at the Pifer Funeral Home at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, and the funeral services will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at 9 a.m. Monday. The Rev. Cletus Rose, pastor, will officiate, and burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Survivors include; a daughter, Mrs. Frederick Green, of Niles; four sons, Earl of Mishawaka, Leslie J. of Mottville, James of Berwyn, Ill., and Donald of Brookfield, Ill.: 17 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Her husband, Edward B. Gardner, Died in 1933. Contributed By John Walker

Gawne, Margaret "Peg" Gannon - 1919-2004
Funeral services for Margaret "Peg" Gannon Gawne, 84, will be at noon Monday, Nov. 1, 2004, at Saint Mary Catholic Church, Niles. Rev. Carl Peltz of Saint Mary Catholic Church will officiate.
Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Niles.
Friends may call from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., Sunday, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.
She died at the home of her son, in Burke, Va., following an extended illness.
Taken From the Niles Star Friday, October 29, 2004
Contributed By - anonymous

Geideman, Lewis R. - Obit - Jan 3, 1950 - Lewis Henry Geideman, 47, died at 7:10 p. m. Saturday in his home at 529 Pokagon street after an illness of eight years.
  Geiderman was bron Dec., 3, 1902 in Niles, the son of Mrs. Emma and the late Charles Geideman. He lived here his entire lifetime and was a retired grocer. His father wo died in 1941 was a grocer for many years.
Geideman was a member of the Elks, Masonic and Shrine lodges.
  Funeral services were held at the Kiger Funeral home at 2 p.m. today, with the REv. Harold Hohman in charge. Burial was in Silverbrook Cemetery.

Gilbert, Alton L.
Watervliet - Alton L. Gilbert, 71, formerly of Watervliet, died in Valrico, Florida, Friday morning.  Surviving are his wife, Martha; four sons, Albert, Stevensville; Jack, Paw Paw; Ray, Bangor; Jerry, Sturgis, Michigan; two daughters, Mrs William (Betty) Apple, St Joseph; Mrs Russell (Clara Sue) Cote, St Vincent, Minnesota; two step-sons, Russel Howard, Eau Claire and Bruce Howard who is in the service; one brother, Oswald Gilbert,Valrico, Florida; one sister, Mrs Nina Styblo, Hartford.  Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 2 P.M. at the Hutchins funeral home chapel in Watervliet where friends may call after 5 P.M. beginning Sunday .  Burial will be in Crystal Springs Cemetery.
Taken From The Harold Palladium, Saturday, May 18, 1974, page 12
Note: He was married to Pauline Sutherland Gilbert (this obit doesn't have accurate information)
Contributed By Kathy Warren

Gilbert, Alton L.
Baroda-Alton L. Gilbert, 69, of Baroda, died Monday at Mercy-Memorial Medical Center, St Joseph.  The funeral will be held at 11 A.M. Thursday at the Kerley & Starks Funeral Home, St. Joseph, where friends may call from 7 to 9 P.M. Wednesday.  Burial will be inNorth Shore Memory Gardens. Memorials may be made to the Berrien County Cancer Service or to Hospice at Home.  Mr Gilbert was born May 20, 1921, in Berrien Township.  He was a World War II Army veteran a nd retired in 1978 as a truck driver with Lakeshore Transit Company.  Survivors include: a sister, Mrs Russell (Clara Sue) Cote of Jacobson, Minnesota; and three brothers -- Jack of Paw Paw, Ray of Benton Harbor, and Jerry of Nashville, Tennessee. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary.
Taken From the Herald-Palladium, Benton Harbor-St Joseph, Michigan, Tuesday, August 14th, 1990 (page 12A):
More About Alton Leroy Gilbert
Burial: August 16, 1900, North Shore Memory Gardens, Berrien County, Michigan
Contributed By Kathy Warren  

Gilbert, Burton D.
Burton D. Gilbert, 31, of 3972 Meadow Lane, St Joseph township, died of injuries received early this morning when a Jeep he was driving crashed into a bridge railing in Benton Harbor.  Benton Harbor police said the accident was reported at 2:25 A.M. and occurred on the Klock Road Bridge over the Paw Paw River, west of North Shore Drive.  Police said the death marked the first traffic fatality of the year in the city of Benton Harbor.  It was Berrien County's 32nd traffic fatality in 1973.  Police said Gilbert was alive when officers arrived, but d ied en route to Mercy Hospital in an ambulance.  Death was attributed to head injuries, police said.  Police said the driver, alone in the vehicle, was traveling east on Klock Road.  The point of impact was a railing near the middle of the bridge.  Officers said the driver was hurled out a door and was found about 16 feet from the point of impact.  Skid marks of 120 feet were measured by police.
Taken From The Herald Palladium Saturday, September 22, 1973, page 3
Funeral services for Burton D. Gilbert, 31, 3972 Meadow Lane, St Joseph, who died Saturday morning in a jeep accident, will be held Tuesday at 2 P.M. at the Frost funeral home.  He was employed by Whirlpool and was a member of the Peace Temple United Methodist church of Benton Harbor.  Surviving are his widow, the former Ruth Malott, whom he married June 30, 1961; two daughters, Monica Jane and Dawn Marie, both at home; his mother, Mrs Pauline Gilbert, Benton Harbor; his father, Alton Gilbert, El Rico, Florida, four brothers, Alton, Jr., St Joseph; Raymond, Lawrence; Jack, Paw Paw, Jerry, Sturgis; two sisters, Mrs William (Betty) Apple , St Joseph; Mrs Russell (Clara) Cote, St Vincent, Minnesota.  Burial will be at the North Shore Memorial Gardens.
Taken From The Herald Palladium, Monday, September 24, 1973, p. 1
 

More About Burton De Gilbert:Burial: North Shore Memory Gardens, Hagar Shores, Michigan
Contributed By Kathy Warren

 

Gilbert, Cordelia Harmon

Mrs Cordelia Gilbert dies on Lake Shore    Mrs Cordelia Harmon Gilbert, 52, a life long resident of this community died at 5 o'clock this morning at her home on Lake Shore Drive after an illness of about a year.    The deceased was born April 10, 1879 and had always lived here.  Mrs Gilbert was the daughter of Mr and Mrs William B Harmon early and well known Benton Harbor pioneers.  In 1913 the deceased was united in marriage to Ross Gilbert.  For 14 years Mrs Gilbert was office secretary at the Gore & Harvey law office.  Besides her husband, the late Mrs Gilbert is survived by a daughter, Cordelia Louise, age 12 and a student of the Lafayette school on Lake Shore Drive, and her mother, Mrs Louis Harmon, and brother, Charles who lives in California.  The body was removed to the Martinle Mortuary, but will be returned to the home this afternoon.

Taken From The Harold Palladium, Monday, March 21, 1932, page 11

 

Services of Mrs Gilbert are held    Funeral services for the late Mrs Cordelia Harmon Gilbert, who died this week, were conducted yesterday at the family home on North Shore Drive.  The Reverend F. L. Blewfield, pastor of the Methodist Peace Temple, officiated.  Two selection were sung by Mrs Anna Conklin and Mrs Howard Eldridge.  The body was placed in the mausoleum at the Crystal Springs Cemetery, and Chester Taube, Gerald Peters, Carl Smith, Jack Brown and C.B. McCormick. 

Taken From The Harold Palladium, Saturday, March 26, 1932, page 8
Contributed By Kathy Warren

Gilbert, Ellen Garrison
Saturday, June 6, 1925:  Mrs Ellen GILBERT, of 116 Fair Avenue, for 48 years a resident of this city, passed away last evening at her home following an illness of several years.  Surviving are eight children Charles, Ross, Frank, and William Gilbert, and Mrs Harry Hughes of this city, Robert Gilbert of Lansing, Mrs Ed Gilson, of Decatur; and Alvia Gilbert of Lawrence.  She also leaves one brother and one sister, Marian Garrison of Berrien Springs, and Mrs Albert Schell, of Sodus, 25 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren.  The husband of the deceased, Nathan Gilbert, a private in Company C, 25th regiment of the Michigan volunteers in the Civil war, died 40 years ago.  Mrs Gilbert was born in Williams County, Ohio, May 8 1844, and came to this city at the age of 12.  Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock at the Mount Pleasant Methodist church Reverend N J Swearingen pastor of the First Evangelical church in this city, will officiate.  Burial will be in the Mount Pleasant cemetery.  Bearers at the funeral will be six grandsons of Mrs Gilbert; King, James, Carl, and Alton Gilbert, Lewis Gilson and John Emhoff.
Contributed By Kathy Warren

Gilbert, Ray T.
Ray T. Gilbert, 62, of Benton Harbor died Tuesday at Lakeland Medical Center, St Joseph.  The funeral will be held at 11 A.M. Friday at Dey-Florin Chapel, Florin Funeral Service, St Joseph, where visitation will be held from 5 to 9 PM, today.  Burial will be in Fort Custer National Cemetery, Augusta, Michigan.  Military rites will be conducted at the funeral home by Coloma American Legion Post 362, Disabled American Veterans Chapter 17 of Benton Harbor, of which he was junior vice commander, and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1137, of which he was a former post commander.  Mr Gilbert was born Ma 16, 1933 in Benton Harbor.  He formerly was co-owner of the Watervliet Furniture Store and retired from Barenston's Candy Company.  He was an Army veteran of the Korean War.  He was a Cooties grand commander from 1989 to 1990.  He was the Seventh District Commander from 1993 to 1994.  He was a Veterans of Foreign Wars homeless vets chairman and a judge advocate for the Berrien County Veterans Relief Fund.  Survivors include:  his wife, Lavon, of Bangor; two sons - Douglas Gilbert of Bangor and Larry Gilbert of Fennville; two daughters - Pattie May of Bangor and Suzi Newton of South Haven; e ight grandchildren, two brothers - Jack Gilbert of Paw Paw and Jerry Gilbert of Nashville, Tennessee; one sister, Clara Cote of Jacobson, Minnesota; and special friend, Jim Ramsey, with whom he resided.

Taken From The The Harold Palladium, Benton Harbor- St Joseph, Michigan - Thursday, December 14, 1995, page 9A

More About RAY THOMAS GILBERT:

Death Record: December 13, 1995, Dept Of Public Health, State Of Michigan

Burial: Fort Custer National Cemetery, Calhoun County, Michigan.
Contributed By Kathy Warren

  

Gilbert, Robert Louis

 

Robert Gilbert of 1620 Brookfield drive, St. Joseph, died at 4:15 p.m. Friday in Berrien General Hospital, Berrien Center.

Funeral Arrangements were incomplete today at the Kerley and Starks funeral Home, where friends may call beginning at 3:00 p.m. Monday.

Taken From the News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, Michigan, 4 November 1972, Saturday

 

Gilbert Rites Set

Funeral services for Robert Gilbert, 38, of 1620 Brookfield drive, St. Joseph, are scheduled to be held Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. in the Kerley and

Starks funeral home. The Rev. Douglas Pederson, assistant pastor of the St. Joseph United Methodist church, will officiate.

Mr. Gilbert was born Jan. 27, 1934 in Grand Rapids.

Survivors include four daughters, Rosemary, Vera, Marilyn and Dorothy, and a son, Francis.

Taken From the News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, Michigan, 6 November 1972, Monday
  Contributed By Beverly Edwards


Gitchell, David

The Niles Democrat carried an obituary for David Gitchell on 17 Sep 1887 and it reads:  “David Gitchell, one of the veterans of this region, died at six o’clock on Thursday morning.  He was born in Steuben county, New York, January 16, 1816, and spent his boyhood life there.  When but nineteen years of age in June 1835 he came to this county and settled at Bertrand-having in his possession on his arrival but fifty cents in money, but was endowed with manly vigor, indomitable perseverance, sterling Integrity and a clear head.  He was married at Bertrand, April 15, 1837, to Elizabeth Fisher, who survives him.  There were born to them ten children of whom seven survive and were with their father at the time of his death, viz. Mrs. Harriet Steinman, Henry Gitchell, of Iroquis county, Ill., Hiram Gitchell, Kankakee county, Ill., David Gitchell, of this city, Mrs. Emma Janery, of Kankakee, Ill., and Frank Gitchell and Jesse Gitchell, of this city.  A daughter, Mrs. Rosanna Miller, died here a few years since and the others died when children.  Mr. Gitchell’s first venture in a business way was in brick making. At which he made a success and later purchased and for some years ran the Bertrand distillery, disposing of that property in 1852 to Thomas Hilton.  He then purchased the Allen Moore farm near this place, later purchasing the Street farm, and continuing from that day to this to purchase real estate, having great faith therein-a faith that in his case results have always justified.  He built and ran for some years a saw mill on what is known as Gitchell’s lake later, in 1860, adding a distillery which was for some years under charge of Mr. Philip Whalen and which under his shrewd management yielded a mint of money for its owner.  He sold this property in 1867 and has since confined himself to farming, raising stock, buying and selling grain, etc.  He was the projector, builder and owner of the Gitchell’s block, built in 1884-85 in which the Post Office is situated.  He was essentially a calculating man, though possessed of but little education, and all his ventures which for the most part have been successful were entered into only after looking the ground over carefully.  He possessed under a rough exterior a kind and honest heart and never knowingly wronged a man of a cent.  Energetic and active he got at things by the shortest route and a purpose once formed was carried out to the end.  A friend says of him that even as a manufacturer of liquor his sterling honesty held for while the opportunities for for sraud were unlimited never a gallon of liquor left his distillery on which the tax was not paid.  He leaves a fortune estimated by knowing ones at from $120,000 to $ 150,000 which will be devided between his widow and children.”

 

Gitersonke, John
The News Palladium carried the obituary for John Gitersonke on 08 Dec 1947 and it reads: “John Gitersonke John Gitersonke, 82, died at 9 p.m. Saturday in a Kalamazoo hospital after a serious illness of nine weeks. Born June 17, 1865, in Russia, he came to Benton Harbor in 1900. Since the death of his wife, Wilhelmina, in 1939 he had made his home with his son, Adolph Gitersonke, of 967 Pipestone street, Benton Harbor. Surviving are three sons, Adolph and Julius of Benton Harber, and Charles of Sodus; three daughters, Mrs. Rose Wohlgemuth of St. Joseph; Mrs. Alvina Wesner of Eau Claire, and Mrs. Roy DeHaven of Benton Harbor; 17 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30p/m/ Tuesday in the Kerlikowske chapel by the Rev. E. A. Irion, pastor of Zion Evangelical church. Burial will be in Crystal Springs cemetery.”
Contributed by: William Brackett at brackettwilliam@yahoo.com

 

Gitersonke, Wilhelmina (Hauch) The News Palladium carried the obituary for Wilhelmina Gitersonke on 20 Feb 1939 and it reads: "Mrs. A. Gittersonke Is Taken By Death; Rites Wednesday Mrs. Wilhelmina Gittersonke, for many years a resident on Territorial road east of Benton Harbor, died this morning at her home following a brief illness. She was born in Germany December 17, 1863, and came to this country in 1900. Besides her husband, John, she leaves three sons, Adolph, Julius and Charles, all of Benton harbor; and three daughters, Mrs. Rose Wolgemut of St. Joseph, Mrs. Alvina Wesner of Eau Claire, and Mrs. Martin DeHaven of Benton Harbor; and a sister, Mrs. Julius Furman of Benton Harbor. She also leaves 18 grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at the Kelikowske chapel in St. Joseph. The Rev. Henry Fisher of the Church of God, Benton Harbor, will officiate. Her maiden name was Hauch. She was the daughter of Karl and Marie (Tiefenbach) Hauch of Solomka, Volhynia, Russia. The cemetery records show this name is spelled Gitersonke as does her death record, the obit adds an extra "t". 
Contributed by: William Brackett at brackettwilliam@yahoo.com

Graham, Mary - Died 27 May 1881

Contributed By John Walker

 

Griechen, Herman - Herman Griechen, 317 North Fifth Street, died Sunday (April 1, 1956) in Pawating Hospital after an illness of two years. Griechen was born Oct 14, 1868 in Germany and was a retired farmer . He moved to Niles from a farm on Pucker Street about 10 years ago.
   Survivors are two daughters, Mrs. Hattie Fender of Niles and Mrs. Albert Siekman of Buchanan; two sones, William of S.t Joseph and Fred of Cassopolis: 11 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.
   Friends may call at the Kiger Funeral Home until the services at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the St. Paul's Lutheran Church, iwth the REv. Theodore Laesch officiating. Burial will be in Union Cemetery.
   Note: Emma Albertine Augusta LOHRAFF , his wife, November 9, 1952.

Griese, Henry E., Ex-Sheriff, Dies
     Henry E. Griese, 73, former Berrien County sheriff, died Tuesday as 12:58 p.m. shortly after he was admitted to Mercy Hospital.
Mr. Griese, of 183 Lormar Ave., Benton Harbor, had suffered a stroke some time ago and had been a patient at Shoreham Terrace Nursing Home, St. Joseph.
Mr. Griese was sheriff from 1957 through 1968. He moved up from undersheriff when Erwin Kubath resigned to become acting St. Joseph postmaster. Mr. Griese was defeated in a bid for a fourth term as sheriff when he lost the 1968 Republican primary to Forrest (Nick) Jewell, Berrien's present sheriff.
After leaving the sheriff's office, Mr. Griese served two years as court bailiff to circuit Judge Julian Hughes.
Mr. Griese's career covered more than 40 years as a sheriff's officer and court bailiff. He joined the sheriff's department in 1928 as a fee deputy under Sheriff Fred Bryant and became a regular deputy in 1941. He held virtually every position in the department- turnkey, radio dispatcher, uniformed patrolman, chief deputy and undersheriff.
Mr. Griese served 12 yeas under Sheriff Kubath. In 1964, Mr. Griese defeated his former boss in a hard-fought Republican primary when Mr. Kubath returned to politics after failing to win U. S. Senate confirmation, as permanent St. Joseph postmaster. Mr. Kubath died in 1974.
Born Sept. 25, 1904, in St. Joseph, Mr. Griese is survived by his widow, the former Isabelle Hammontree. Four brothers and a sister preceded him in death.
Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at Kerley and Starks Funeral Home, St. Joseph. Burial will be at Riverview Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the student shcolarship fund of Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church, St. Joseph, of which Mr. Griese was a member.

Contributed By Bonnie J. Fago


 

 

 

 

Griese, Isabelle

"FORMER BERRIEN SHERIFF'S WIDOW DIES AT AGE 77
Isabelle Griese, 77, wife of the late Henry Griese, former Berrien County sheriff, died Friday at her home in Benton Harbor.
Funeral services will be held Monday at 3 p.m. at Kerley and Starks Funeral Home, St. Joseph, where friends may call beginning at 3 .m. Sunday.  Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph.  Memorials may be made to Meals on Wheels.
Mrs. Griese was born Oct. 28, 1907, in Belding, Mich. She retired after 47 years as secretary in the Trust Department of Farmers and Merchants Bank in Benton Harbor.
Her only known survivors include several nieces and nephews including :  Mrs. Ray (Ellen) Link of San Diego, Calif., Herb Griese of St. Joseph, Mrs. Arline McMillan of Belding, Mich., Lloyd Hammontree Jr. of Durand, Mich., Lawrence Hammontree and Warren Hammontree, both of Elkart, Ind., Alvin H. Griese of Springfield, VA., Ina G. Dent of Timberville, Va., Lewis Hammontree of Edwardsburg and Earl Dean Hammontree of Indianapolis, Ind. Her husband died on Jan. 10, 1978".
Taken From The Herald-Palladium Benton Harbor- St. Joseph, MI- Saturday, December 1, 1984

Contributed By Bonnie J. Fago