SYRACUSE – John Michael “Mick” Williams, 88, of Tippecanoe Lake, Syracuse, died June 17, 2012, in his residence.
He was born Nov. 7, 1923, in Elwood, to Joseph and Anna Williams. On June 24, 1950, he married Mary Ann Biltz, who died Sept. 14, 1968.
He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, Elwood, until moving to Tippecanoe Lake, and was a current member of St. Martin dePorres Parish, Syracuse. He was a member of Knight of Columbus Council 6323. He graduated from Elwood High School in 1942 and attended Butler University, where he was a member of the football team. He graduated from International Business College, Fort Wayne. He served his country as a cryptographer as a staff sergeant under General Hap Arnold in the U.S. Army Air Corp in Italy and North Africa in World War II and was offered a position in the Diplomatic Corp at the end of the war. He retired from Farm Bureau Insurance, having worked in Muncie, Anderson, Fort Wayne and Warsaw. He was a member of the American Legion Post 253, North Webster, and the Benevolent Protectorate of Elks, Elwood.
Surviving are seven children in whom he instilled the importance of family, faith and having fun in their lives: Terri Wentz (and Orv Myers), Goshen; Karen (and spouse Randy) Tunis, Elwood; Joe (and spouse Debbie) Williams, Goodyear, Ariz.; Tim Williams, Muncie: Ann Williams, Denver, Colo.; Betsy Williams, Leesburg; and Vince Williams, Indianapolis; nine grandchildren: Lisa (and spouse Eric) Bishop, Columbus; Angela Wentz, Atlanta, Ga.; Julia (and spouse Christopher) Bernard, San Francisco, Calif.; Michele Wilson and Stephanie (and spouse Zach) Head, all of Elwood; Chris (and spouse Julie) Williams and Clint (and spouse Christina) Williams, all of Goodyear; and William and Michael Theime, both of Denver; 12 great-grandchildren: Erica Bishop; Madyson Lane; Alexandra Rudig; McKenzie, Macy, Mya, Jada, Kami and Keith Wilson; Quentin Head; Connor Bernard; and Gabby Graham; a great-great-grandchild, Eli Miller; two sisters, Joanne Prieshoff, Elwood, and Margaret Brenner, Alexandria; and a brother, Tom (and spouse Abby) Williams, Inverness, Fla. He also was preceded in death by his parents; a little brother, Larry Williams; and a grandson, Eric Wentz, who shared his birthday.
A funeral mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Martin dePorres Catholic Church with Father Richard Hire officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Elwood, with full military honors at 3 p.m. Family members will receive those wishing to express their condolences at the cemetery after 2:30 p.m.
Calling is from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Eastlund Funeral Home, 7458 E. CR 1000N, Syracuse, with a rosary service at 7:30 p.m. ***** Memorials may be made to Kosciusko Home Care & Hospice or The Tippecanoe Watershed Foundation.
Condolences may be sent via eastlundfuneralhome.com
