Gabriele Bergenham
February 5, 1936 — December 17, 2016
Gabriele Wilhelmine (Kraft) Bergenham, age 80 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 4:15 a.m. on Saturday, December 17, 2016 with family at her bedside at Lakeland Hospital – Niles.
She was born on February 5, 1936 in Frankenau, Hessen, Germany to Adolf Georg Ludwig and Erika Hildegard (Schafer) Kraft. She completed schooling in Germany, and came to the United States in 1964, living for many years in the Kalamazoo, Michigan area before settling in Niles in 2012
Gabriele enjoyed traveling, including trips to Germany, and she participated in the Niles Senior Center, including its book club.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and by three siblings, Gertrude, Ludwig, and Jörg.
Surviving family includes her children, Stephan (& Andrea) Bergenham of Niles and Kenneth (& Crystal Rutherford) Bergenham of Seattle, Washington; grandchildren Karl Bergenham, Gabriela Bergenham, and Ericka Begenham; and Gabriele’s siblings, Brigette, Peter, Eva, and Elisabeth, all of Germany; and many nieces and nephews.
The family of Gabriele Bergenham will be gathering in Germany to share memories and honor her life, and for the final placement of her remains. Contributions in memory of Gabriele may be made to the Niles District Library, or the Niles Senior Center. Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home.