James Wegner

James P. Wegner, age 84 years of Niles, Michigan died at 10:20 p.m. on Saturday, December 27, 2014 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana following an extended illness.

He was born on June 29, 1930 in Buchanan, Michigan to Ralph H. and Virginia A. (Bell) Wegner. He was a graduate of Niles High School and had lived here most of his life. He was first employed in the former Montgomery Ward & Company Store in Niles until its closing. He continued in retail sales at the former Williams Brothers Lumber and Home Center, and in retirement he worked at Tyler Automotive.

On July 25, 1953 in Dowagiac, Michigan he married the former Nancy E. Parmeter with whom he celebrated this year the remarkable Sixty-first anniversary of their wedding.

Jim served as an elected member of the Niles City Council for twenty-two years. He also served on the Michigan Municipal League transportation and insurance committee. He volunteered at the Niles Senior Center, driving its Veteran’s van to appointments at the Battle Creek VAMC, and also volunteered with the Four Flags Apple Festival, and the Niles City Police Volunteers in Police Service (VIPs) program.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Niles, the B.P.O.of Niles Elks #1322, and the American Legion Post #26. He served a two year tour with the U. S. Army and was a veteran of the Korean Conflict.

Jim and his family enjoyed fishing and camping in the area, and traveling throughout the Unites States. Jim and his wife spent ten winters at Lake Okeechobee in Florida where he served as a navigational lock operator.

Surviving family includes his wife, Nancy Wegner and their sons, Chris James (& Marti) Wegner of Niles and Robert Michael (& Joyce) Wegner of Niles; grandchildren, Chris James Wegner, Jr. and Katie Erin (& Alan) Furner; great-granddaughter Genevieve Josephine Wegner; and a brother-in-law, Helmut Kolig of Flintstone, Maryland.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, John Wegner and sister, Judith A. Kolig.

The funeral service for James Wegner will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 2, 2015 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Pastor Donald Fleischman of Fairland Christian Church officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and will conclude with Full Military Honors by the United States Army Honor Guard and American Legion Post #26.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday at the funeral home with Elks’ Rites performed at 7:30 p.m. Contributions in memory of Jim Wegner may be made to the Niles Senior Center.

---