Gerald “Chub” Hand, 79, of Warren Woods Road in Niles, died Friday, July 9, 2010 at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka of a brief illness.

He was born May 5, 1931 in Sumnerville to the late Cecil “Pat” and Anna Tillie (Smith) Hand.
He graduated from Niles High School with the class of 1949 and later served in the United States Army during the Korean conflict at Eielson Air Force Base in Fairbanks Ark., as chief radar operator.

He was honorably discharged with the rank of Sergeant in 1953.

He married Betty A. Smith on May 7, 1955 in Dowagiac, who survives.

Also surviving are brothers Warren “Zeke” (Cookie) Hand of Niles and Jack (Jan) Hand of Antioch, Tenn. and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by sisters Audrey Skelton of South Bend and Judy Hand of Niles.
He and retired in 1987 from the Whirlpool Corporation in Benton Harbor after 23 years of service. During that time he served as a deputy undersheriff for the Cass County Sheriff’s Department and was also a police officer with the Dowagiac Police Department.

He established the Howard Township Police Department in 1971 serving as its chief of police.
He also worked at the Dowagiac Union School District with the maintenance department retiring from there in 1994.

Gerald was a member of the Elks Lodge in Dowagiac and the Fruit Belt Woodcarvers in Cassopolis.

One of his favorite things to carve was eagle heads put on walking sticks given to many family and friends.

He enjoyed Thursday luncheons at Old Tavern Inn with family and friends, talking of old times and traveling for many years with his wife to Nashville, Tenn. and other areas of interest.

He was faithful Lions and Michigan football fan throughout his lifetime.

Funeral services for Gerald “Chub” Hand will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Patricia Haas of Pokagon United Methodist Church in Niles officiating.

Interment will be at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens in Niles and will conclude with full military honors by American Legion Post No. 51 in Buchanan.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday at the funeral home.
Contributions in memory of Gerald may be made to St. Jude’s Research Hospital, P.O. Box 58, Memphis TN. 38101-9929 or the Southwestern Michigan College Scholarship Fund in Dowagiac.