Clifford Shell

Clifford R. Shell, age 89 years of Niles, Michigan died at 7:15 a.m. on Thursday, October 3, 2013 at his home, unexpectedly but of natural causes.

He was born on April 5, 1924 in Lombard, Illinois to Raymond James and Theodosia (Matuszewski) Shell. He attended school in Chicago, and came to Niles in 1943. He was a veteran of World War II serving as a Staff Sergeant in the United States Army in the European Theater. Clifford began his career with the New York Central Railroad, spending most of thirty-four years as a locomotive engineer, and retiring from Conrail.

He was a member of Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Niles. He was also a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, and of American Legion Post #51 in Buchanan. He enjoyed golfing on area courses, fishing, and farming. He and his wife enjoyed traveling throughout the United States via the railroad, and taking trips to the casino.

On June 22, 1946 at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Saint Joseph, Michigan he married the former Ruth Marguerite Stelter, with whom he celebrated last June the sixty-seventh anniversary of their wedding.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth Shell, and by their children, Catherine (& Bill) Cleary of Niles, Dr. James (& Carolyn) Shell of Logansport, Indiana, Ruthann Shell of Niles, and Betty Kalmar of Buchanan, Michigan; grandchildren William “Ted” (& Caryn) Fisher, Timothy Wayne Fisher, Kevin James (& Angel) Shell, Sarah Ann (& Todd) Cravens, and Steven Gary Kalmar; great-grandchildren Brandon, Breanna, Nolan, Micah, and Aurora; and Clifford’s brother, Leonard Theodore (& Dean) Shell of Niles; and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Clifford Shell will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 7, 2013 at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Niles with the Rev. Carl W. Bassett of the church officiating. Interment will follow at Mission Hills and will conclude with Full Military Honors by American Legion Post #51.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles. Contributions in memory of Clifford may be made to Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church.