OBITUARY

Name:   John E. Biggerstaff

From:  The News Dispatch, Michigan City, Indiana
Date:  May 30, 2004

John Biggerstaff, 82, Michigan City, died at 7:55 p.m. Wednesday (May 26, 2004) at his home. He had suffered from heart disease and cancer.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the First Baptist Church, 301 E. Ninth St., Michigan City, with the Rev. Kevin Patterson officiating. Burial will be in Swan Lake Memorial Gardens.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the First Baptist Church. Root Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Mr. Biggerstaff was born July 31, 1921, in McLeansboro, Ill., to Grover and Katie (Wheeler) Biggerstaff. He left his farming community in southern Illinois and ventured north in search of employment and settled in Michigan City where he met and on Nov. 15, 1947, married the love of his life, June Bilyeu, who survives.

Survivors also include five children; Steve (Peggy) Biggerstaff, Michigan City, Dennis (Pat) Biggerstaff, LaPorte, Sandi (Ed) Brooks, Michigan City, Sue Johnson, Michigan City, and Sharon (Earl Pionke) Biggerstaff, Chicago; 11 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two brothers; George Biggerstaff, Michigan City, and Rob (Ruth) Biggerstaff, New Carlisle; two sisters, Lucille Goodwin, LaPorte, and Betty Hazel, Michigan City; and a brother-in-law, Joseph Motta, Michigan City.

He was preceded in death by a son, Bruce Biggerstaff, and a sister Nellie Motta.

Mr. Biggerstaff retired as a cement finisher, working many years at Tonn & Blank and R.E. Olson & Co. He was a proud World War II Army veteran, serving his country in Africa and Italy.

He was a member of First Baptist Church.

Mr. Biggerstaff was a quiet, gentle man with a quick wit, great sense of humor and tender heart and was always ready with one of his famous "one-liners." One of his greatest joys (along with his wife, June) was providing loving daycare for great-grandchildren Xavier, Bryana and Makayla. (Daycare has previously been provided for all 11 grandchildren.) He will be remembered with love and will remain forever in the hearts of his family and friends.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Anthony's Hospice.