Submitted by: Dan Rich
Oct. 30, 1948 - May 22, 1998
South Bend Tribune 5/25/1998
NILES - Miss Nancy Jean Ham, 49, of
Barron Lake Road, Niles, Mich., died following a brief illness at
11:35 p.m. on Friday, May 22, in Memorial Hospital, South Bend,
Ind.
She was born on Oct. 30, 1948, at South
Bend, to Robert W. and Evelyn M. (Helmick) Ham, and had
lived in Niles all of her life. She was first employed by Logan
Industries, South Bend. For the past eight years she had been
employed at the Stride-Rite Bootery in Scottsdale Mall. When not
at work she enjoyed the community and social activities offered
at the mall, and was a friend to the mall staff and other
retailers.
Nancy had participated in the Special
Olympics of St. Joseph County, Ind., for several years,
specializing in swimming, basketball and the long-jump. She
attended the 1976 International Special Olympics where she earned
several gold medals. She also practiced the visual arts,
preferring to use color pencils or oils, and enjoyed visiting
Disney World in Florida. She is survived by her father, Robert W.
Ham, who is well known in Niles as ''Ham the Wrecker'' of Ham's
Home Improvements. Her mother, Evelyn M. Ham, preceded her in
death on July 7, 1989. She is also survived by her sisters,
Judith Coughlin of Waterford, Conn, Roberta ''Chubb'' Lierly
and Karen Lenox, both of Niles; and by three generations
of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Nancy Ham will be at 11
a.m. on Wednesday, May 27, in the Halbritter Funeral Home, with
Rev. Leon Roggen of Niles officiating. Interment will be at St.
Joseph Valley Memorial Park, Granger, Ind.
The family will receive friends from 2 to 4
and 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Contributions in
memory of Nancy may be made to the Special Olympics of St. Joseph
County.