Feb. 17, 1927 — Oct. 17, 2015

James Howard Burrows, Sr., 88, of Niles, Michigan died unexpectedly at 1:59 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2015, at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana.

He was born on Feb. 17, 1927, in South Bend to Richard I. and Mildred E. (Ginther) Burrows. The family moved to Niles in 1936, and Jim was graduated from Niles High School in 1945. He entered the United States Navy, served on the destroyer USS Zellars (DD-777), and was discharged as a veteran of World War II. Back in civilian service, he became the City of Niles Health Officer for seventeen years, and then was a State of Michigan Food Inspector for 23 years. He continued his education at Michigan State University (East Lansing), eventually earning the degree of Registered Sanitarian. His dedication to protecting the public health through thorough inspections earned the respect of those whose grocery stores and commercial kitchens he inspected.

Jim was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church of Niles. He held life memberships in the former Niles chapters of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled American Veterans; and was a life member and Past Commander of the American Legion Post #26 in Niles. He was a co-founder of the Niles Westside Notre Dame Fan Club, and enjoyed big band music, and movies. After a long career of visiting people in their workplaces, he continued to enjoy the fellowship of friends in the Men’s Fellowship at church, and over coffee at the Martin’s Supermarket Side Door Deli. His greatest interest was his family.

On June 6, 1948, in Niles he married the former Maxine V. Figg, with whom he celebrated the remarkable 62nd anniversary of their wedding prior to her death on Dec. 2, 2010. They were preceded in death by an infant daughter, Judy Kay Burrows; and Jim was also preceded in death by his siblings, John, Bill, and Paul Burrows and Mary A. Miller.

Surviving family includes their children, James H. (Karen) Burrows, Jr. of Niles, Joy (Kenneth) Mapel of South Bend, and Kimberly (Richard) Word of Milan, Ohio; 12 grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, one great-great-granddaughter, and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for James Burrows will be at Noon on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2015, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with the Rev. Fran Lane-Lawrence of First Presbyterian Church officiating. Committal will follow at the grave at Saint Joseph Valley Memorial Park in Granger, Indiana and will conclude with Full Military Honors by the United States Navy Honor Guard and American Legion Post #51 in Buchanan, Michigan.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday at the funeral home beginning at 11 a.m. Contributions in memory of James Burrows may be made to the Niles Veterans Memorial.

www.halbritterfunerals.com