Martha Villwock, 92
Born: Sept. 8, 1919
Died: June 10, 2012

Martha A. Villwock, 92, of Jones Road in Berrien Township, died at 1:45 a.m. Sunday, June 10, 2012, at Lakeland Specialty Hospital in Berrien Center following an extended illness.

She was born Sept. 8, 1919, in the home of her parents, Emil and Minnie (Preibe) Villwock in Berrien Township. She attended Oak Grove School, and had lived there most of her life, caring for her family and helping on the family farm.

Martha was a member of St. John’s United Church of Christ in Niles. She also participated in the American Cancer Society’s Berrien County Relay for Life.

She enjoyed traveling throughout the United States by train and automobile, and more recently, taking trips to the Four Winds Casino.

At home, “Mart” enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening, feeding the hummingbirds and fishing from a rowboat. She is well remembered for gifts of afghans (crocheted while watching “Wheel of Fortune”), cooking and baking — especially the apple squares — and card games around the dining room table, where she was remarkably successful.

She is best remembered for her caring nature, putting everyone else first and every farewell ending with “be careful.”

On Sept. 24, 1938, at home on the farm, she married Henry “Hank” H. Villwock, with whom she celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary prior to his death on May 26, 2003.

She was also preceded in death by a great-grandson, Nolan Till, and by her siblings, Laura Gold and Albert, Lester and Max Villwock.

Surviving family includes four daughters, Alice (John) Conrad, of Churubusco, Ind., Carol (George) Schmidt, of Niles, Gwen (David) Stark, of Berrien Springs, and Marcia (John) Easton, of Niles; grandchildren, Sean Conrad, Paula (Jamie) Till, Lori (Rich) Byrd, George (Terri) Schmidt II, Stacey (Eric) Mierlak, Ryan (Katie) Stark and Erin (Pat Fortier) Easton; great-grandchildren, Corey Byrd, Keegan Till, Ava Schmidt, twins Jovi and Finn Schmidt and Ashley Burlingame; many nieces and nephews; and many special friends.

The funeral service for Martha Villwock will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 14, at St. John’s United Church of Christ with the Rev. Harry L. Clark, of the church, officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive friends and relatives from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Contributions in memory of Martha may be made to St. John’s United Church of Christ or to Hospice at Home.