John T. Demos
July 4, 1923-July 28, 1996
The Niles Daily Star (Niles, Berrien Co., MI), Monday, July 29, 1996, page 2, col. 2, microfilm Niles District Library
John T. Demos
1923-1996
Decorated Purple Heart Army veteran
A mass of Christian burial for John T. Demos, 73, of 1410 Barron Lake Road, Niles will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Saint Mark Catholic Church, Niles, by the Rev. Joseph W. Koma, C.S.C., of the church.
Burial will follow in Silverbrook Cemetery, Niles.
Mr. Demos died at 2:30 a.m. Sunday at his home, following an extended illness.
He was born July 4, 1923 in Niles, and was a lifetime resident.
He was married to the former Dorothy M. Gross in Niles on April 9, 1945; she survives.
Mr. Demos retired from Tyler Refrigeration in 1971, where he had been employed as an inspector.
He was a member of St. Mark Catholic Church.
He served in the U.S. Army’s 27th Infantry Division in the South Pacific during World War II, belonged to the Michigan chapter of the Pearl Harbor Survivors’ Association, the American Legion Post 26 of Niles and the D.A.V. Chapter 55 of Niles.
He received the Bronze Star at Pearl Harbor in 1942, and received the Purple Heart Award Nov. 12, 1981.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a son, Tom Demos of Niles; two daughters, Shirlee Wakkinen of Hurley, Wisc. And Margaret C. Clubb-Piszker of Niles; three granddaughters, Kellie, Bella, Keri Burtzlaff and Amber Clubb, all of Niles; a grandson, Nicholas Bella of Niles.
Friends may call from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles. A rosary will be said at the funeral home at 7 p.m. Tuesday, and full military honors will be given at graveside by American Legion Cmdr. John McLaughlin.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association.