Henry Petruska

Henry Benedict “Hank” Petruska, age 100 years of Niles, Michigan died peacefully at 3:00 a.m. on Sunday, June 5, 2016 surrounded by his family at his home following a brief illness.

He was born on September 5, 1915 in Niles to Carl C. and Maria (Kuna) Petruska. He was graduated from Niles High School, and has lived in Niles all of his life. He was employed at the former Niles Printing Company until he responded to the call to arms of World War II. He served in the United States Army Signal Corps, and returned as an Honorable Veteran. He resumed his career at Niles Printing, and completed a remarkable Forty-seven years with his employer before retirement.

Hank was a member of Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles, and of the Holy Name Society, the Father Allouez Council #708 of the Knights of Columbus, and the Saint Vincent de Paul Society. He served the City of Niles as the elected 4th Ward Alderman to the Common Council for two years prior to his military service and two more years after his return; and then was appointed for eleven years to the city’s Board of Public Safety. He continued his military service as a member of the Michigan National Guard from which he retired as a Sergeant First Class, and was a member of the American Legion Post #26 in Niles.

In his spare time, Hank enjoyed reading, puzzling, traveling, needlework, Notre Dame sports, socializing with his many friends from the YMCA, sunsets, clouds, and nickel rides. He will be well remembered for his colorful sense of humor, his quick wit, the twinkle in this eye, and for his great love of his community, his country, his church, and – most of all – his family.

On December 27, 1948 at Sault Saint Marie, Michigan he married the former Norah Mary Simpkin with whom he celebrated the Fifty-fourth anniversary of their wedding prior to her death on October 11, 2003. They were sadly preceded in death by a son, Henry John “Pat” Petruska who died on September 22, 1969. Hank is also preceded in death by a grandson, Benjamin Henry Skalla who died on October 19, 2014; a son-in-law, Tom VanDyke; and Hank’s siblings, Anna Petruska, Mary Wolfe, and William, Joseph, Carl, James, Paul, Frank, and Edward Petruska.

Surviving family includes his children, Peggy VanDyke of Commerce Township, Michigan, Cece (& Jay) Skalla of Niles, “Geri” (& Randy) Moore of Niles, Susan (& Kevin) Ketchum of Gobles, Michigan and Chris (& Karen) Petruska of Niles; grandchildren Julia (& Adam) Wilson, Lisa Skalla, Nick Moore, Patrick (& Aliyah) Moore, Josh (& Chrissy) Moore, Joel Moore, Rebecca (& Keenan) McFall, Tina (& Ethan) Sivewright, and Elizabeth Ketchum; great-grandchildren Caeden, Norah, Maeve, Ashton, Kaelyn, Lauren, and Jace; sisters-in-law Sue Polden of Pacific Grove, California, Nancy Petruska of Novi, Michigan, and Carole Simpkin of Venice, Florida; and many nieces and nephews.

The Mass of Christian Burial for Henry B. Petruska will be celebrated at Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 8, 2016 by the Rev. Alphonse Savarimuthu, MSFS of the parish assisted by Deacon Roger Gregorski. Committal Rites will follow at the Calvary Cemetery in Niles, and will conclude with Full Military Honors by the United States Army Honor Guard and American Legion Post #51 of Buchanan, Michigan.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with recitation of The Rosary at 7:30 p.m. Contributions in memory of Hank may be made to the Christian Service Center Food Pantry, 322 Clay Street, Niles, Michigan 49120.