E.H. Rifenberg

Mr. E. H. Rifenberg, age 97 years of Grand Rapids, Michigan and former long-time resident of Niles, Michigan died at 2:20 p.m. on Sunday, December 7, 2014 at Spectrum Health – Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids following a brief illness.

He was born on September 19, 1917 in Jones, Michigan to Earl and Mary (Norton) Rifenberg. He was graduated from Three Rivers (Michigan) High School, and has lived in Niles since 1939. He owned and operated Rifenberg Insurance Service in Niles.

Bud was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles. He was a member and Past President of the Four Flags Area Chamber of Commerce, and a member of the local club of Lions International. As a young man he joined the Vandalia Masonic Lodge #290, F. & A.M., and had just recently been honored by the Saladin Shrine in Grand Rapids for seventy-five years of membership as a Shriner. He was a licensed pilot and airplane owner for fifteen years. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially at his lodge in Baldwin, Michigan.

On October 2, 1939 in Jones he married the former Ruth E. Rollins with whom he celebrated the remarkable Seventy-fifth anniversary of their marriage this year.

Surviving family includes his wife, Ruth E. Rifenberg and their children, twin daughters Mary (& Doug) Herman of Prestonsburg, Kentucky and Martha Baez of Fort Myers, Florida and son, Paul (& Diane) Rifenberg of Watervliet, Michigan; grandchildren Tosca Rifenberg, Danica (& Brian) Shier, and twins Mariah and Meghan Rifenberg; great-grandchildren Nisa, Amaya, Kya, and Breckin; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Glenn Rifenberg and sister Leona McKenzie.

The family of Bud Rifenberg gather privately Saturday in Grand Rapids to honor his life and share some memories. Contributions in memory of Bud may be made to the Niles Salvation Army, or to the Niles-Buchanan Rotary Club Scholarship Fund. Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

---