Lawrence Simpson

Lawrence Eugene Simpson, age 77 years of Niles, Michigan died at 11:16 p.m. on Saturday, December 9, 2017 at Lakeland Hospital in Niles following an extended illness.

He was born on October 18, 1940 in Elkhart, Indiana to Joseph and Marie (Anderson) Simpson.  He attended school in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and in La Paz, Indiana, and served in the United States Navy during peacetime.  He was a member of the Ironworkers Union Local #292 in South Bend, working on and supervising many area projects including the dam at Potato Creek, Memorial Hospital, and the Cook Nuclear Plant.  He has lived in Niles since 2001.

Larry was a member of the Wesley United Methodist Church in Niles and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity.  He had a great interest in history especially in Indian Archaeology where he earned a high listing in an edition of the Who’s Who of Indian Relics.  He shared that interest and knowledge with the Fort Saint Joseph Museum, and at the fort excavation.  He also had an interest in antiques, historic firearms, sport collectables, and had a collection of remarkable duck decoys.  He was an early participant at the Shipshewana (Indiana) Auction and Flea Market, holding its #11 auction paddle.  He enjoyed hunting and fishing, and was certified as a Master Angler and Master Trapper.

On June 10, 1967 in Plymouth, Indiana he married the former Barbara J. (Phillips) Vaughn with whom he celebrated the forty-fifth anniversary of their wedding prior to her death on December 2, 2012.

Surviving family includes his daughter, Lisa (& William) Bidlack of Granger, Indiana and granddaughters Amanda and Allison; Barb’s children, Debbie (& Tom) Plummer of Windsor, Colorado and Mark (& Sherri) Vaughn of Elkhart, Indiana and grandchildren Nicki, Drew, and Kyle; and Larry’s sisters, Nancy (& Jess) Ayers of Milford, Indiana, Judy (& Doug) Brumley of La Paz, Janet Maze of Norman, Oklahoma, and Jo Ellen Powell of Albuquerque, New Mexico; and many nieces and nephews.

The family of Lawrence Simpson will gather privately to share memories and honor his life.  Interment will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery in Plymouth, Indiana.  Arrangements were made at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles.