By Staff
Robert W. Rose, 78, of Michigan Street, Niles, died at 8:44 p.m. Wednesday, July 9, 2008, at his home, following an illness.
Funeral Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 15, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.
Committal services will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles and will conclude with full military honors by American Legion Post No. 51, Buchanan.
The family will receive friends and relatives from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, at the funeral home, with Masonic Rites at 7:30 p.m. by the John W. Moore Lodge No. 42, F. &A.M.
He was born on March 19, 1930, in Niles, to Harold K. and Sallie Lucille (Whitfield) Rose, Sr.
He graduated from Niles High School, earned a degree in communications and computer science from Ivy Tech, South Bend, Ind. and continued his education at Southwestern Michigan College. He lived in Niles most of his life.
He was a veteran of the Korean Conflict and the Viet Nam Era, serving in the United States Army.
He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for exemplary performance in saving a soldier's life on May 18,,1964, at great personal risk. He earned the Purple Heart Award, having been wounded in action by enemy gunfire on Jan. 21, 1966. He was honored to serve on the Golden Knights Paratrooper Drill Team. Staff Sergeant Rose completed his remarkable and highly decorated military career on Dec. 2, 1972, retiring after 20 years of service.
In retirement, he taught computer classes at Brandywine High School in Niles for 14 years. He also owned his own business, S &B Custom Software and was a manager at Lou Ann's from 1969-76.
He was elected as the City of Niles Councilman of the Third Ward, serving in 1982 and 1983.
He was also state director of MARS (Military Amateur Radio System) for Michigan and had been a licensed operator since 1948 with the call "K8UZC."
He was a member of Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Niles, the John W. Moore Lodge No. 42 T. &A.M. and Wolverine State Chapter No. 33, Disabled American Veterans.
On Jan. 28, 1952, in Yokohama, Japan, he married the former Mitsue Murata, who survives.
He is also survived by his daughter, Jodi (Anthony) Vanlerberghe of Richland; grandchildren, Ashtyn, Macen and Ava; Jodi's mother, Sharon Matthews of Niles and a sister, Ona Fouche of Niles.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Harold K. Rose, Jr., who died on April 22, 1998 and sister, Bettie Bailey, who died in 1988.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Niles District Library.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.