Kenneth GrubbsApril 7, 1936 - Dec. 11, 2016NILES - Kenneth Grubbs, age 80 years of Niles, Michigan, died peacefully at 2:52 p.m. on Sunday, December 11, 2016, at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana, following an extended illness.He was born on April 7, 1936, in South Bend, to Kenneth and Irene M. (Barts) Grubbs. He was graduated from Niles High School in 1954 and earned a business certificate from Southwestern Michigan College. He served a required tour of duty in the United States Army during peacetime, mostly in Missouri and Wisconsin. He returned to Niles, and was first employed in the offices of the former Buchanan plant of the Clark Equipment Company, and later was retired from the former Tyler Refrigeration Corporation in Niles.Ken was a member of the Church of Christ in Niles where he was very pleased to serve as the song leader. He also sang in the former men's chorus, the “Tyler Blue Notes.” He formerly served on the board of Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and had volunteered with the FOP and Babe Ruth baseball leagues when his son was an active player. He has enjoyed boating and water skiing, and hunting; and has more recently been an avid fisherman, answering every invitation to go fishing on area rivers and lakes.On April 13, 1963, at the Church of Christ, he married the former Linda Gail McAbee, with whom he celebrated last April the fifty-third anniversary of their wedding.Surviving family includes his wife, Linda Grubbs, and their children, Scott Grubbs of Alvaton, Kentucky, and Lisa Hemphill of Sumter, South Carolina; grandchildren, Courtney (& Tim) Stueber, Ashley (& Matt) Knight, Jacob Hemphill, and Alexandria Grubbs; and great-grandchildren, Tahlon Stueber, Tate Stueber, Ella Knight, Gabrielle Knight, Sawyer Knight, and Faith Stueber.He was preceded in death by his mother, Irene Grubbs, and stepfather, Kenneth Grubbs.The funeral service for Kenneth Grubbs will be at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 17, 2016, at the Church of Christ in Niles, with Mr. David Thompson of the church officiating. Committal will follow at Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles, and will conclude with the Veterans Flag Presentation and “Taps” by the United States Army Honor Guard.The family will receive relatives and friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Friday at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home in Niles. Contributions in memory of Ken may be made to the Church of Christ.www.halbritterfunerals.com