By Staff
Bert Bierwagen, 90, of South Third Street, Niles, died at 2 a.m. on Wednesday, July 30, 2008, at Lakeland Community Hospital, Niles, of an illness.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 4, at Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles with the Rev. William T. Melody C.S.C. of Notre Dame, Ind. officiating.
Committal rites will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Niles.
The family will receive relatives and friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3 at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with an evening prayer service at 6:30 p.m.
He was born on April 18, 1918, in South Bend, Ind. to Chester Bierwagen and Blanche (Klota) Bierwagen.
He attended Wagner Grade School in South Bend, Ind. and graduated in 1936 from Central High School in South Bend, Ind.
He worked at the Singer Sewing Plant, Tyler Refrigeration and retired from National Standard in 1983.
On Nov. 30, 1957. in Mishawaka, Ind., he married Alma (Burke) Bierwagen at Saint Joseph Catholic Church, Mishawaka, Ind. In 1962, they moved to Niles.
He was an avid fisherman and played slow pitch softball with Thomas Tommies and Rutherfords Softball. He bowled, first in South Bend and later in Niles.
He always had a big garden. He loved traveling in the United States with Alma and friends. They spent quite a few winters in Florida visiting family.
He served in Word War II from April 2, 1941 to Sept. 20, 1945, most of this time was spent in the Pacific Theater – Luzon and the Northern Solomon Islands.
He received the Pacific Theatre Ribbon, American Defense Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon and two Bronze Stars. He was with the 131st Combat Engineers.
Preceding him in death were his parents; four brothers, Len, Irvin "Ike," John and Chester and a sister, Marie Ridens.
Surviving family include his wife, Alma, sister-in-law, Marilyn; 14 nephews, nine nieces and very special cousins in Lansing, Hammond, Ind. and South Bend, Ind.
Memorial contributions may be made to the C.S.C. Food Pantry or may be written for Masses.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.