Dec. 27, 1943 — Feb. 4, 2014

William J. Whisenant, 70, of Niles, died at 1:25 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014, at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles following an extended illness.

He was born on December 27, 1943, in Benton Harbor, Mich. to Lloyd Burley and Mozelle Gladys (Barnwell) Whisenant. He attended Eau Claire, Michigan schools and Southwestern Michigan College. He has lived in Niles since 1964. He was employed at the National-Standard Corporation for twenty-eight years, and then for several years at Berrien Metal Products, Inc. in Buchanan.

Bill loved God, and prior to his illness was active at the Community Evangelical Free Church in Niles. He was an accomplished artist, practicing in oil painting and photography.

On Aug. 2, 1963, in Eau Claire he married the former Pat M. Prillwitz with whom he celebrated last year the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding.

He was preceded in death by their son, William T. Whisenant on March 6, 2002 and by Bill’s parents and brother, Dave Whisenant.

Bill is survived by his wife, Pat Whisenant and by their son, Rob (Carrie) Whisenant of Niles; grandchildren William Charles Whisenant and Charles Franklin Whisenant; and Bill’s sister, Sandy Whisenant of Dowagiac, Mich. and brothers Jim Whisenant of Niles and John Whisenant of Dowagiac and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Bill Whisenant will be at 3: p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014, at the Community Evangelical Free Church with the Rev. Collin D. Seitz of Crossroads Evangelical Free Church in Plymouth, Ind. officiating. Interment will be private, next week at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends on Saturday at the church, beginning at 2 p.m. Arrangements were made at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

www.halbritterfunerals.com