Frances Quirk

Frances Joan Quirk, age 89 years of Niles died on Saturday, May 24, 2014 at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka, Indiana following a brief illness. She was born October 2, 1924 in Niles on the family farm to Fred & Alma (Radewald) Foster. Frances graduated from Niles High School in 1941 and attended Michigan State University until she had to return home to help on the farm during wartime.

Frances was a member of the Berrien County 4-H Club for several years and attended
4-H Club Congress in Chicago as a teenager. She was a member of Junior Farm Bureau, a group for older teenagers and those in their twenties and mostly farmers. This was a state organization with county-wide projects and social activities. She helped with fundraisers to build the Youth Memorial Building at the Berrien County Youth Fair.

Frances worked for First National Bank for 11 years and then worked in corporate payroll and personnel at Clark Equipment Company in Buchanan and South Bend, retiring in August of 1993 after more than 37 years with the company. In retirement, Frances volunteered many years at the Berrien County Youth Fair and was involved in all of the office work. She also volunteered her time at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles.

On December 18, 1948, Frances married Frank P. Quirk, he preceded her in death on February 24, 1968. Surviving family includes daughter Joan (& Jeff) Johnson of Buchanan, granddaughter Michelle (& fiancé Bradley Huebner) Johnson of Buchanan, Frances’ sister, Barbra (& Ed) Kolm of Berrien Springs, sisters-in-law, Margaret Foster, Lois Foster, Emily Foster and many nieces and nephews.

Frances was preceded in death by husband Frank and her brothers, Harry, Dale and John Foster.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Frances Joan Quirk will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Friday, May 30, 2014 at Saint Mark Catholic Church, Niles, by The Rev. Thomas King, C.S.C. of the church. Interment will follow at Mission Hills, Niles.
The family will receive relatives and friends from 4-8:00p.m. on Thursday, May 29, 2014 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Donations in memory of Frances may be made to the Berrien County Youth Fair.