Born: Feb. 28, 1926
Died: Jan. 29, 2013

Joan A. McNitt, 86, of Niles, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2013, at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles.

She was born on Feb. 28, 1926, in Clyde, Ohio, to the late Irvin and Gertrude (Freeh) Alspaugh.

On April 12, 1947, she wed Gail McNitt at a ceremony in South Bend and celebrated more than 65 years of marriage.

Joan was first and foremost a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. A homemaker most of her life, after raising her children, Joan worked as a secretary at Simplicity Pattern, JC Penney’s and Ft. Wayne National Bank. Joan enjoyed fishing, listening to music, cooking, baking, playing cards with friends and her time on the pontoon with her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Gail McNitt in 2012, and a sister, MaryLou Hoffman.

She is survived by her three sons, Brian (Mary Jean) McNitt, of East Lansing, Terry (Linda) McNitt, of Niles, and Timothy (Amy) McNitt, of Bellingham, Wash. She is also survived by her daughter, Kathleen Lowe, of Linton, Ind.; four grandchildren, James (Jennifer) Lowe, Kendra (Rob) Lasley, Sarah McNitt and Steven Lowe; and her eight great-grandchildren, Ariel, Taylor, Jarika, Meagan, Pattie, Jason, Jakob and Noah.

Those wishing to make a memorial donation may do so to the Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan 641 S. Crystal Ave. Benton Harbor, Michigan 49022 or Hospice at Home 4027 Health Park Lane, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085.

Photos, memories or condolences may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com or www.Facebook.com/brownfuneralhomeniles.

Funeral services will be Friday, Feb. 1, 2013, at 11 a.m. at Brown Funeral Home with Rev. Jan Van Leer officiating. A time of visitation will begin one hour prior. An interment will follow the service at Silverbrook Cemetery.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles.