John Michael “Mick” Williams, 88, of Syracuse, Ind., died on June 17, 2012, at his home on Lake Tippecanoe. He was surrounded by his seven children.

He was born in Elwood, Ind., to Joseph and Anne Williams on Nov. 7, 1923. He married Mary Ann Biltz on June 24, 1950.  She passed away on Sept. 14, 1968.

He graduated from Elwood High School in 1942 and attended Butler University, where he was a member of the football team.  He graduated from International Business College in Ft. Wayne.  Mick served his country as a cryptographer as a Staff Sergeant under General Hap Arnold in the US Army Air Corp in Italy and North Africa in WWII and was offered a position in the Diplomatic Corp at the end of the war.  He was retired from Farm Bureau Insurance, having worked in Muncie, Anderson, Fort Wayne and Warsaw.  He was a member of the American Legion Post 253 in North Webster and the Benevolent Protectorate of Elks in Elwood.

He was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Elwood until moving to Lake Tippecanoe and was a current member of St. Martin dePorres parish in Syracuse. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 6323.

Mr. Williams is survived by seven children in whom he instilled the importance of family, faith, and having fun in their lives: Terri Wentz (Orv Myers), Goshen, Ind.; Karen (Randy) Tunis, Elwood; Joe (Debbie) Williams, Goodyear, Ariz.; Tim Williams, Muncie, Ind.; Ann Williams, Denver, Colo.; Betsy Williams, Leesburg, Ind.; and Vince Williams, Indianapolis; nine grandchildren: Lisa (Eric) Bishop, Columbus; Angela Wentz, Atlanta, Ga.; Julia (Christopher) Bernard, San Francisco, Calif.; Michele Wilson, Elwood; Stephanie (Zach) Head, Elwood; Chris (Julie) Williams, Goodyear; Clint (Christina) Williams, Goodyear; William Thieme, Denver; and Michael Thieme, Denver;  12 great-grandchildren:  Erica Bishop, Madyson Lane, Alexandra Rudig, McKenzie Wilson, Macy Wilson, Quentin Head, Connor Bernard, Gabby Graham, Mya Williams, Jada Williams, Kami Williams and Keith Williams; one great-great-grandchild: Eli Miller;  two sisters: Joanne Prieshoff, Elwood; and Margaret Brenner, Alexandria; a brother: Tom (Abby) Williams, Inverness, Fla.

He was preceded in death his parents; his wife; a little brother: Larry Williams; and a grandson: Eric Wentz, who shared his birthday.

Calling will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 19, at the Eastlund Funeral Home, Syracuse, with a Rosary service at 7:30 p.m. A funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 20, at St. Martin dePorres Catholic Church, Syracuse, with Father Richard Hire officiating. Interment will be at the St. Joseph Catholic cemetery in Elwood with full Military Honors at 3 p.m. Family members will receive those wishing to express their condolences at the cemetery after 2:30 p.m..

Memorial contributions may be made to: Kosciusko Home Care & Hospice or The Tippecanoe Watershed Foundation.  Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.