Thomas Cloutier

Thomas H. Cloutier, age 73 years of West River Road in Niles, Michigan died at 6:27 a.m. on Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at his home following a brief illness.
He was born on December 21, 1938 in Jackson, Michigan to Homer Joseph and Marie Kathleen (Miller) Cloutier. He was graduated from Niles High School in 1956, and lived here most of his life. He was a Veteran of the Viet Nam Era, serving in the United States Army.
Tom was a heavy equipment operator, owning and operating Cloutier Custom Dozing. He worked on several significant projects including the demolition of the former Central High School in Niles, construction of the Harding’s Supermarket mall in Buchanan, and Signal Point Country Club. He was currently employed by the Southeast Berrien Landfill Authority, where he has been for twenty-one years.
He was a member of Saint Mary Catholic Church in Niles, and of American Legion Post #26 in Niles. He was certified in SCUBA diving, and enjoyed exploring with a metal detector. He also enjoyed working in his home shop where he was capable of household repairs and working on cars, trucks, and heavy equipment.
On November 4, 1967 at Saint Anthony Catholic Church in Buchanan he married the former Sharon Elaine March with whom he celebrated the forty-fifth anniversary of their marriage last Sunday.
Surviving family includes his wife, Sharon Cloutier; their children, Lori R. Cloutier of Arlington, Virginia and Daniel T. (& Lindsey) Cloutier of Niles; Tom’s sister, Barbara Jesswein of Berrien Springs, Michigan; Sharon’s brothers, Leonard March and Richard (& Mary) March, both of Buchanan, and sister Janice (& Dennis) Carpenter of Dowagiac, Michigan and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Homer and Marie Cloutier, and a brother, James J. Cloutier, who died on June 21, 2010.
The Mass of Christian Burial for Thomas Cloutier will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at Saint Mary Catholic Church by the Rev. William Melody of Notre Dame, Indiana. Committal Rites will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery in Buchanan, and will conclude with Full Military Honors by the United States Army Honor Guard and American Legion Post #51 of Buchanan.
The family will receive relatives and friends from 2:00 until 4:00 and 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with recitation of The Rosary at 7:30 p.m. Contributions in memory of Tom may be made to the Saint Mary Catholic Church.

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