By Staff
Theodore Bakeman, 76, of South Third Street, Niles, died at 12:37 p.m. Sunday, April 26, 2009, at LaPorte Regional Health Systems, LaPorte, Ind., following an extended illness.
Funeral services will be held at noon on Friday, May 1, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with the Rev. Robert E. Jackson of Saint Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, Ind.
Friends may call beginning at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.
He was born on Nov. 20, 1932, in Pokagon Township, to Karl Bakeman and Rose Krohn Bakeman.
He was a lifetime area resident.
He retired in 1991, after 41 years of service to Simplicity Pattern Company in Niles.
He served in the Unites States Army. He was a member of Dowagiac Conservation Club and American Legion Post No. 26, in Niles.
He enjoyed woodworking, camping and fishing.
On June 9, 1953, at Manhattan, Kan. he married Darlene K. (Mallott) Bakeman, who survives.
Additional surviving family include three daughters,, Betty R. (Kenneth) Coquillard of Dowagiac, Debra K. (Greg) Conley of Niles and Kara K. (Justin) McGuire of Niles; three sons, Scott Bakeman of Mishawaka, Ind., Kyle D. Bakeman of South Bend, Ind. and Travis T. Bakeman of Niles; five grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; two sisters, Janice Behnke of Dowagiac and Evelyn Williams of South Bend, Ind. and brothers, Charles Bakeman of Niles, Ronnie Bakeman of Dowagiac, Garry Bakeman of Decatur and Sonny Bakeman of Dowagiac.
He was preceded in death by two brothers.
Memorial contributions may be made to Relay for Life Cass County, American Cancer Society, Great Lakes Chapter, 1400 E. Milham Ave., Portage, MI 49024.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.