Vernon E. Swanstrom, 85, of Terminal Road in Niles, died at 1:28 a.m. Saturday, April 9, 2011 at Hospice House in South Bend following an extended illness.

He was born on March 7, 1926 in Superior, Wisc. to John William and Bertha (Bernstrom) Swanstrom and graduated from Superior East High School.

He was a veteran of World War II, serving as First Lieutenant in the United States Army and has lived in Niles since 1947.

Vernon was employed as a technical writer for Bendix Aerospace for 35 years, retiring in 1989.

He attended Berrien Center Bible Church. He has always enjoyed travel, visiting many foreign destinations.

On Aug. 23, 1947 in Two Harbors, Minn., he married the former R. Arlene Bredesen with whom he celebrated the 50th anniversary of that wedding just prior to her death on Sept. 28, 1997.

On June 16, 1998 in Carmel, Ind., he married Shirley H. (Tout) Peterson, who survives.

Also surviving are his children, David (Carol) Swanstrom of Niles and Rebecca (Michael) Craven of Indianapolis; Shirley’s children Dawn (Ron) Pol of Pahrump, Nev., Doris (Paul) Gregory of Cottage Grove, Minn. and Michael (Connie) Peterson of Vernon Center, Minn.; grandchildren Carrie Hullinger, Sommer (Josh) Kelly and Phillip Swanstrom; great-grandchildren Chase Caden, Cooper Hullinger, Ava and Vivian Kelly; several step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; Vernon’s brother Willard Swanstrom of Santa Rosa, Calif. and sister Eileen Samuels of Windsor, Calif.

The funeral service for Vernon E. Swanstrom will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles with Rev. Mark J. Smith of Berrien Center Bible Church officiating, assisted by the Rev. Maynard J. Schoen of Berrien Center, Mich. Committal will follow at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.

Contributions in memory of Vernon may be made to the Berrien Center Bible Church.