John A. Westgerdes, 87, Coldwater, died at 1:25 a.m. March 14, 2011, at Briarwood Village in Coldwater.

He was born Aug. 26, 1923, in Dayton, to Edward and Helen Wenz Westgerdes Sr. On June 9, 1951, he married Virginia Tangeman, who survives.

Also surviving are five children, David (Dory) Westgerdes, Celina, Thomas Westgerdes, Coldwater, Mark (Brenda) Westgerdes, Celina, Richard (Jane) Westgerdes, Celina, and Cheryl (Daniel) Hoyng, Coldwater; two sisters, Maryann (Bernard) Sampson, Columbus, and Sr. Elizabeth Westgerdes, CPPS, Coldwater; two sisters-in-law, Lucille Westgerdes, Coldwater, and Rita Westgerdes, Coldwater; nine grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and five stepgrandchildren.

Deceased are four brothers, Edward Jr., Robert, Raymond and Vincent Westgerdes; and a sister-in-law, Norma Westgerdes.

He was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus Council 1991 and the Coldwater American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars, all of Coldwater. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He worked at Pax Machine.

Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Thursday at the church, the Rev. Richard Walling officiating. Burial with military rites is at St. Elizabeth Cemetery in Coldwater.

Calling is 3-8 p.m. Wednesday and 9-10 a.m. Thursday at Hogenkamp Funeral Home in Coldwater.

Condolences may be left at hogenkampfh.com.