Sigmund A. Werner, 79, of Capri Drive, Niles, died at 3:05 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2009, at his home peacefully with his family gathered around him.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 10, at Saint Mary Catholic Church, Niles, with the Rev. William T. Melody, C.S.C. of Notre Dame, Ind., officiating.

Committal rites will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles, with recitation of The Rosary at 7:30 p.m.

He was born on Jan. 21, 1930, in Stuttgart-Hofen, Germany, to Franz and Josefine (Muehleck) Werner.

He moved to Niles in 1968, from Germany.

In 1988, he retired after 20 years of service to National Standard Company in Niles.
He was a member of Saint Mary Catholic Church, Niles. He was also a member of DANK in Benton Harbor.

He enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening, creating and inventing gadgets and things in his shop at home.

His greatest joy was spending time with his family and making things for them.
On Jan. 21, 1956, in Stuttgart-Bad Cannstatt, Germany, he married the former, Anni Jelen, who survives.

Additional surviving family include three daughters, twins, Gudrun Werner-Prestine and Dagmar (Bob) Benner, all of Niles and Barbara (Jeff) Cripps of Novi; grandchildren, Tony (Jenny) Prestine, Michelle (TJ) Kushierek, Alex (Brittney) Benner, Tonya and Stephanie Cripps; great-grandchildren, Mitchell, Tyler, Aubrey and Alexis and a sister, Hedy Stoll of Karlsruhe, Germany.

He was preceded in death by a grandson, Henry Benner, who died Jan. 8, 2003; brothers, Erwin Hugo, Paul and Bernhard Werner and a sister, Eugenie Werner.

Memorial contributions may be made to Saint Mary Catholic Church, Niles, Hospice At Home, or DANK.

Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.