John W. Urban

October 2, 1941 - November 19, 2012

Sister Lakes – John W. Urban, 71, of Sister Lakes, passed away early on Monday, November 19, 2012, at his home surrounded by his family. Funeral services celebrating his life will be held at Noon, on Friday, November 23, at the Fairplain Chapel of Florin Funeral Home, 1053 E. Napier, in Benton Harbor with Pastor Scott Stombaugh officiating. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens. Visitation will be held from 6:00 until 8:00, Thursday evening, November 22, at the funeral home. Messages of condolence may be sent to www.florin.net. John was born on October 2, 1941, in Benton Harbor. He was one of six children born to Frank and Mary Urban. He married Bernice Hosmer and together had four daughters. After serving in the U.S. Navy, John became Industrial Machinist working at Paramount Die Cast, Gast Manufacturing, General Motors Corporation and at LECO. He was an avid swimmer and weightlifter. John enjoyed woodworking, vegetable gardening and exploring alternative medicines. Most of all, John “was always available for his family” – particularly his wife and daughters. He cherished time spent with his grandchildren. John is survived by his wife, Bernice; daughters, Kathy (Patrick) Eichel of Dowagiac, Cheryl (Adam) Niepomnik of Wauconda, Illinois, Debbie (Brian) Smikle of Sister Lakes, and Mary (Jim) DeLaney of South Bend, Indiana; grandchildren, Patrick, Joshua, and David Eichel, Erik and Alex Niepomnik, Anthony Sandora, and Ryan and McKenna DeLaney; great-grandchildren, Brandon, Blake and Maci Eichel; and by his siblings, Mary Lou Herman, Frank Urban, Edna “Cookie” Pipkins, Robert Urban and Ann Bradshaw. John was preceded in death by his parents.