By Staff
Millard J. Griffis, 84, of Niles, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Thursday, May 21, 2009.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 27, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Niles with the Rev. Wayne Shearier officiating.
Internment will be at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens, Niles.
The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.
He was born on March 11, 1925, in Decatur, the son of Archie and Verna (Mott) Griffis.
He worked as the youngest cream tester in Michigan during his high school years.
After graduation, he joined the United States Air Force and was stationed in several cities in the United States during World War II.
He met his beautiful wife Betty at a Polish Hop in Dowagiac and they married on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, 1948. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary together at their home.
Millard worked at Jessup Door in Dowagiac and Kawneer in Niles. He later retired as supervisor from Jessco in Dowagiac. He was a past member of the American Legion Post No. 26 in Niles.
He loved spending time with his loving family both at home and up north. He was always ready to go fishing and his favorite team was the Chicago Cubs.
He was a kind and loving man and was dearly loved by his family. He will be greatly missed by all.
He was the beloved husband of Betty E. (Harman); and beloved father of Gail (Richard) Ross of Owosso and Gwen (Chris) Gessinger of Niles. He is survived by six grandchildren, Gregory (Monica) Ross of Lima, N.Y., Christopher (Beth) Gessinger of Niles, LeeAnn (Keith) Reynolds of Fort Wayne, Ind., Michael (Brande) Gessinger of South Bend, Ind., Katie (Doug) Julien of Halifax, Nova Scotia and Nicholas (Kara) Gessinger of Niles; 11 great-grandchildren, Abigail, Anna and Micah Ross, Anisa, Isaiah, Alianna, Gabrielle and Elijah Reynolds, Avarie, Grace and Carson Gessinger and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father and mother; sister, Ida Mae Flagg; a brother, Wilbur Griffis and his only son, Gregory James Griffis.
Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1819 Oak St., Niles or Hospice At Home in Buchanan.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.