The Low Family Foundation was established in 2023 through the generosity of Joseph N. and Rosemary E. Low. Joe practiced law all his life in Niles, Michigan and, with his first wife Wilma, had two sons, Joseph and John. Wilma was Joe’s legal secretary for almost 25 years and a major reason for his career and financial success. After her passing in 1995, Joe married her sister Rosemary and hence Rose was an aunt and stepmother to the sons. Joe passed in 2013, and Rose survived him until 2020. Joe, Wilma and Rose were each integral to the establishment of the Foundation.
Joseph
Joseph was born July 10, 1923, in West Lafayette, Indiana, to Willis and Mary (Healey) Low. Joe was a WW II U.S. Army Air Corps veteran and a retired attorney in Niles. He was a graduate of Niles High School and obtained his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Notre Dame. He was a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Niles American Legion Post #26, Niles Elks, Niles Lions Club and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV).
Joe grew up on a farm just south of Niles. While attending high school, he fell in love with Wilma at first sight. War interrupted and he served courageously in the European Theater as a First Lieutenant navigator/bombardier on multiple B-24’s. He received the Purple Heart after one of his twenty-five missions. He had initially planned to be an engineer but after seeing the destruction of war, he decided to devote his life to helping others. During his legal career he was a counsel and advocate for thousands and a greatly respected and admired member of his profession.
Having grown up during the Great Depression, Joe was naturally frugal and they saved most of what they accumulated. Wilma and Joe spoke often with their son, John, about their desire to give back to the community they so loved and thus the plan for a Low Family Foundation was born.
Wilma
Wilma Virginia Low (Clark) was born November 11, 1922, in Niles. On July 15, 1950, she married Joseph. Wilma worked many years with her attorney husband until she was diagnosed with leukemia, which she fought a courageous battle against for the remaining 14 years of her life. She was a former Civilian Clearance Agent for the Army Intelligence Agency in Frankfurt, Germany post-World War II, former president of Northside (Niles) PTA, former member of the Country Aires Club of Brandywine, and former Sunday school teacher at First Presbyterian Church where she was a member. She was a proud citizen of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi and a favorite of clients at the Low Law Office in Niles.
She was the glue that held this branch of the Low family tree together. She had a strong voice, was quick to laugh and she loved life and those around her. With her husband she traveled the world — throughout the U.S. in their RV, but also to Europe and the Caribbean. She was generous and kind and a source of wisdom. Also a child of the Great Depression, Wilma shared her husband’s frugality and desire to give back to the community that had provided so much to the Low family. She would be excited to see the great organizations the Low Family Foundation is now supporting.
Rosemary
Rose was born on August 18, 1930, in Niles, Michigan, to Goldie and William Clark. A sister to Wilma and a graduate of Niles High School, Rose was a registered nurse and veteran of the U.S. Air Force (retired, Vietnam War era) and a nurse with the Veterans Administration (retired). After her second retirement she returned and made her home in Niles. She married Joe in 1999 and made him very happy. Like her sister, Wilma, she was a proud member of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi.
She, too, embraced the idea of a family foundation and saw it as an opportunity to help others, encourage philanthropy and honor the memories of her sister and husband. The organizations doing good work in the region are many and the need is great, but Joe, Wilma and Rose would be pleased to know that the Foundation continues to honor their legacies and expand opportunities to others.
Mission
The Joseph and Rosemary Low Family Foundation is created exclusively for charitable, religious or educational purposes including, for such purposes, making distributions to organizations that qualify as “not-for-profits.”
The Foundation makes distribution grants in keeping with their many discussions with the Founders about their intentions. The Advisory Committee focuses on charities of known interest to the Founders: for example, Rose loved cats, Wilma was a supporter of nature centers and gardens, and Joe was interested in history. The Foundation generally limits its giving to a 100-mile radius of Berrien County, Michigan with a focus on meeting needs in Berrien County.
Organization
The Joseph and Rosemary Low Foundation is a Donor Advisor Fund (DAF) under the umbrella of the Berrien Community Foundation. Officers of the Low Family Foundation Advisory Committee are:
John N. Low, JD, PhD. Chair
New Carlisle, IN
Keith Fliss, MBA
Germantown Hill, IL
Daniel R. Deja, JD
LaBelle, FL
Barbara M. Low, MSMOB
Alternate
New Carlisle, IN
Giving
In 2025, the following grants were approved by the Committee.
- Fernwood Botanical Garden, Niles, MI, $50,000
- Fried’s Cat Shelter, Michigan City, IN, $50,000
- Chicago History Museum, Chicago, IL, $50,000
- South Bend (Indiana) History Museum, $10,000
- We See You Grants ($5,000 each)
- Caring Clothes Co-op, New Carlisle, IN
- The Acorn Center for the Performing Arts, Three Oaks, MI
- Water Street Glassworks, Benton Harbor, MI
- Roti Roti Art Center, Buchanan, MI
- Scott Club, South Haven, MI
- North Berrien Historical Museum, Coloma, MI
- New Carlisle Community Food Pantry, New Carlisle, IN
- The Soup Kitchen, Benton Harbor, MI
- Mosaic CCDA, Benton Harbor, MI
- Redbud Area Ministries, Buchanan, MI
- Mount Calvary Baptist Church food pantry, Niles, MI
- Harbor Country Emergency Food Pantry, Three Oaks, MI
- Our Lady Queen of Peace, Bridgman, MI
- African American History & Literature Gallery Pantry, Benton Harbor, MI
- Brandywine Community Schools, Niles, MI
- Ferry Street Resource Center, Niles, MI
- Meals on Wheels, Niles, MI
- Neighbor by Neighbor, Union Pier, MI
2025 was the first time the Foundation directed distribution of We See You Grants. We are particularly excited to recognize and highlight all the institutions in and around Berrien County that are dedicated to addressing the physical, cultural and spiritual needs of our area. We hope that with recognition, the support of these fine organizations will continue to grow!
Notice regarding application for grants
The Low Family Foundation collaborates with the Berrien Community Foundation to determine grant recipients, as well as relying on the express wishes of the Founders. There is no process to submit grant requests directed to the Low Family Foundation. Questions may be directed to Berrien Community Foundation. Thank you for your understanding and support.
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