William C. “Bill” Mallers

William C. “Bill” Mallers, 82, a former Bluffton resident, living at 4776 South Prairie, Bass Lake, for the past 11 years, died in the Porter Community Hospital, Valparaiso, on Thursday, March 27, 2008, at 6:38 p.m., from injuries sustained that day in a single vehicle accident. Born in Lima, Ohio, on June 6, 1925, Bill was the son of Charles G. and Edna N. (Swaney) Mallers.

He graduated from Bluffton High School with the class of 1943. There he was active in the performing arts and band programs; he continued to play the trumpet throughout his life.

Bill attended Butler University and earned a degree from Fort Wayne Business College.

He served his country from1943 – 1946 during WWII in the United States Navy. He was a crew member aboard the U.S.S. Eldon and has for many years to date has organized their annual reunion.

On December 13, 1947, in Bluffton’s St. Joseph Catholic Church, Bill and Ann McNown were married. Ann is the daughter of Andy and Grace McNown.

Bill was involved in the second generation of the family-owned business; Mallers Theaters Inc., and was active in the operation of the Bluffton, Indiana, Park Forest and Lansing, Illinois theaters. While residing in Park Forest, he was also instrumental in forming the Boys Baseball League.

He then worked for the State of Illinois’ Springfield I.R.S. office for 17 years, retiring in 1996, and relocated to Bass Lake.

Bill loved the Chicago Cubs, attending his grandchildren’s events and traveling to various family members. He enjoyed working crossword puzzles, dining and dancing, yard work and collecting Lighthouses.

He was a woodworker and was quite the fix-it man in the family.

Bill attended St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Knox and was a member of the Knox; VFW, American Legion, Masonic Lodge and the Elks. He celebrated his Greek heritage as a HEPA member.

Bill is survived by Ann, his devoted wife of sixty years and by their five children, two sons, three daughters and families.

Their sons are Phil C. (Sue) Mallers of Crown Point, Ind. and children; Chris, Todd and Brad with (great-grandson) Landon. Charles E. Mallers of Knox, Ind. and children; Kimberly, Justin, Paul and Scott. Daughters are: Kathy J. (Paul) Kachanoski of Columbus, Ind. and son; Joel. Becky L. (Jack) Black of Park Forest, Ill. and children; Carrie and R P. and Julie A. (Bob) Boczek, Glenview, Ill. and children; Mallery and Brant.

A sister, Martha Jane Pautsch, Estero, Fla., a brother, James C. and Pat (Thoma) Mallers, Fort Wayne, Ind., and several nieces and nephews also survive.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, granddaughter Kimberly, a brother; Robert Mallers and a sister; Mary Kay Reilly.

Friends are invited to celebrate the life of William Mallers at the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth, Ind., on Thursday, April 3, 2008, from 3 to 9 p.m. EST.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, April 4, 2008 at 11 a.m. EST or 10 a.m. CST., at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Student Center, 1509 LaPorte Avenue, Valparaiso, Ind. The Rev. Fathers John Scott, pastor of St. Thomas Aquinas and Kevin McCarthy, Chaplain at St. Teresa’s, will officiate.

Interment will be in the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery of Elwood, Ill. Memorial gifts in Bill’s memory may be made to the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation, Knox V.F.W. Post or St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church of Knox.