Malburne W. Williams, 78, of South East Street in Cassopolis, passed away on Friday, Nov. 27, 2009 at Lakeland Specialty Hospital in Berrien Center.

Mal was born on May 4, 1931 to the late Lloyd and Florence (Geisert) Williams in Niles.
In 1950 Mal graduated from Niles High School, where he was on the Niles track and cross-country state championship team in 1949. Mal loved the outdoors, hunting and fishing. He was also a proud Korean War veteran.  He served in the United States Army from Jan. 1952 to Oct. 1953, and was a member of the VFW and Diamond Cove Missionary Church in Cassopolis.

He is preceded in death by his parents; seven brothers, Sheldon, Clayton, Lyle, Darwin, Roland, Martin and Kenny Williams; and one sister, Carolyn Williams.

Malburne is survived by his wife, Joyce; and three sons, Dennis (Candace) Williams, of Harbor Springs, Mich., Donald (Jacalyn) Williams, of Houghton, Mich., and Timothy (Heidi) Williams of Niles; 12 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren with two more on the way; two brothers, Marvin (Marianne) Williams, of Cassopolis, Leon (Dorothy) Williams, of Niles; and one sister, Barbara (Ira) Clark of Niles.

Mal’s church held a memorial service Tuesday, Dec. 1, 2009 at 2 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made in Mal’s memory to Diamond Cove Missionary Church, 22820 Diamond Cove St., Cassopolis, MI  49031, or Lakeland Hospice, 2550 Meadowbrook Road, Ste. 110, Benton Harbor, MI  49022

Condolences, photos and memories may be left for the family at www.brownfuneralhomeniles.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Brown Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Niles.