Born: Jan. 12, 1949

Died: Jan. 25, 2013

Ruth Lynn Lagoni passed away on Jan. 25, 2013, at her home in Garland, Texas. She resided with her mother and sister. She was born Jan. 12, 1949 in Osaka, Japan, the daughter of Master Sergeant Ditlef J. Lagoni (POW-MIA Korea 1950) and her mother Ruth L. Lagoni.

Ruth Lynn was a graduate of Niles High School in 1967 and graduated from Michigan State University in 1971. She was employed for a year in the Lansing area by a security company just prior to accepting a position as the director of the Greater Niles/Buchanan Senior Center, which she held for 27 years. She later worked for the Berrien County Cancer Service and the University of Notre Dame. She was a representative of the Selective Service Board for Berrien County. She had made two trips to Japan and one trip to China — all three were major highlights of her life. She was a current member of both the Niles Elks club and The American Legion. She loved her home town.

Preceding her in death was her father Ditlef J. Lagoni and her dad Gerald Stephen “MONK” Pridavka. Surviving family members include her mother Ruth L. Pridavka, brothers, Lance Lagoni (JoAnn Lagoni) and Gary Pridavka, her sister Jill Pridavka, Chase Pridavka, Julia Pridavka, Garret Pridavka, Karen Demore, Suzie Englehart, Raliegh and Camille Demore, Rene Kruze, Paula Wilson, Patricia Turner, and the Michael Pridavka family.