Libby R. (Bucha) Bitantis

Sep 19, 1919 - Jul 21, 2008

Libby R. Bitantis, 88, formerly of Niles, died at 3:10 a.m. Monday, July 21, 2008, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, Saint Joseph. Funeral services will be held at noon July 26, at New Apostolic Church, Niles, Evangelist John Lindstedt of the church officiating. Burial will be in Highland Cemetery, South Bend, Ind. Friends may call one hour before services at the church on Saturday.

She was born on Sept. 19, 1919, in Chicago, Ill. to Vaclav Bucha and Catharine Mazouch Bucha. She graduated from Central High School, South Bend, Ind. and move to Niles in the 1940s. 

In the 1960s, she was a co-owner of the former JCJ and JOB Wood Pattern Maker, Niles. She was employed for many years at Robert Lee Construction, Niles and more recently employed at the Country Bake Shop, South Bend, Ind. She was a long-time, active member of the New Apostolic Church, Niles.

She was also a member of the Business and Professional Women in Niles and served as secretary at the Salvation Army Citadel in Niles. She was proud to have earned and maintained a pilot's license.

On Jan. 1, 1958, in Niles, she married Edward Bitantis, who died on Dec. 7, 1980. She was also preceded in death by: a son, Paul Kruggel, who died in 1992; a daughter, Judith Coultas, who died in 1962; two sisters, Margaret Salay and Agnes Palmer and two brothers, Charles and Thomas Bucha.

Surviving family includes two granddaughters, Denise Westfall of Berrien Springs and Michelle Kruggel-Greenlaw of Saint Louis; two grandsons, Jason Kruggel of Detroit and Steven Kruggel of Detroit; nine great-grandchildren; 12 great-great-grandchildren; a daughter-law, Theresa (Mrs. Paul) Kruggel of Cape Coral, Fla. three brothers, Jerry Bucha, Lloyd Bucha and Joseph Bucha, all of Niles.

Memorials may be made to New Apostolic Church, Niles.

Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home

Sources: Ancestry.com, Newspapers.com and FindAGrave.com

10/26/2025 EJS

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/227523949/libby-r-bitantis