Oct. 2, 1924 — May 24, 2014

Frances Joan Quirk, 89, of Niles died on Saturday, May 24, 2014, at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka, Indiana following a brief illness.

She was born Oct. 2, 1924, in Niles on the family farm to Fred and Alma (Radewald) Foster.

Frances graduated from Niles High School in 1941 and attended Michigan State University until she had to return home to help on the farm during wartime.

Frances was a member of the Berrien County 4-H Club for several years and attended 4-H Club Congress in Chicago as a teenager. She was a member of Junior Farm Bureau, a group for older teenagers and people in their twenties — mostly farmers. This was a state organization with county-wide projects and social activities. She helped with fundraisers to build the Youth Memorial Building at the Berrien County Youth Fair.

Frances worked for First National Bank for 11 years and then worked in corporate payroll and personnel at Clark Equipment Company in Buchanan and South Bend, retiring in August of 1993 after more than 37 years with the company.

In retirement, Frances volunteered many years at the Berrien County Youth Fair and was involved in all of the office work. She also volunteered her time at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles.

On Dec. 18, 1948, Frances married Frank P. Quirk, who preceded her in death on Feb. 24, 1968.

Surviving family includes daughter Joan (Jeff) Johnson of Buchanan, granddaughter Michelle (fiancé Bradley Huebner) Johnson of Buchanan, Frances’ sister, Barbra (Ed) Kolm of Berrien Springs, sisters-in-law, Margaret Foster, Lois Foster, Emily Foster and many nieces and nephews.

Frances was preceded in death by husband Frank and her brothers, Harry, Dale and John Foster.

The mass of Christian burial for Frances Joan Quirk will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, May 30, 2014, at Saint Mark Catholic Church, Niles, by The Rev. Thomas King, C.S.C. of the church. Interment will follow at Mission Hills, Niles.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 29, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Donations in memory of Frances may be made to the Berrien County Youth Fair.

www.halbritterfunerals.com