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Leo Sauer
ST. JOSEPH - Leo H. Sauer, 86, of St. Joseph, passed away on Thursday, July 16, 2009, at Royalton Manor in St. Joseph.
A funeral service celebrating his life will be held at 12 p.m. on Monday, July 20, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. A visitation will be held prior to the service from 11 a.m. until 12 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice at Home.
Leo was born on Oct. 23, 1922, in Roatia, Poland, to Edward Heinrich and Martha (Hekert) Sauer. He married Marian Virkus on Oct. 29, 1944, in Bridgman. Marian recently preceded Leo in death on Sept. 8, 2008. He worked for many years at Whirlpool Corporation, retiring in 1979.
Leo is survived by his daughters - Vicki (Stuart) Welham of St. Joseph, Kathy (Raymond) Hisaw of St. Joseph and Beverly (Brian) Bock of Traverse City, Mich. He is also survived by his four grandchildren - Jill, Ian, Drew and Megan.
Leo was preceded in death by his wife; parents; a daughter, Diane Sauer in 1944; and a brother, William Heinrich.
Darlene Suberlak
THREE OAKS - Darlene Suberlak, 69, of Three Oaks, died Thursday, July 16, 2009, at her home.
Darlene was born Sept. 18, 1939, in Lakeside, Mich., to Lawrence and Fern (Brown) Springer. She graduated from New Buffalo High School in 1957. On July 23, 1958, in New Buffalo, Darlene married Robert Suberlak. Darlene lived in the Three Oaks area for most of her life and worked for many years at the Three Oaks Laundromat. She enjoyed spending time with her crafts, crocheting and working with ceramics.
Survivors include her husband, Robert; brothers - Ralph Springer of Westville, Ind., Daniel Springer of Peoria, Ill., and Victor Springer of Galien; and sister, Maureen Lubke of New Buffalo.
Darlene was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Phillip Springer.
Memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Monday, July 20, at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church in Three Oaks, with the Rev. Fr. Donald Suberlak, C.R. as celebrant. Interment will follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Three Oaks. Visitation will be from 9 to 10 a.m. on Monday at the church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The American Diabetes Association, 301 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2015, Chicago, IL 60602.
Martin S. Glupker
COLOMA - Martin S. Glupker, 53, of Coloma, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, July 16, 2009, at Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph.
Funeral services will be held at noon Monday at Duffield & Pastrick Family Funeral Home, 6548 Paw Paw Ave., Coloma. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens. Visitation with family and friends will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Memorials in Marty's honor may be given to the Humane Society of Southwest Michigan or the American Heart Association. Those wishing to sign the online guest book or leave a message of comfort for the family may do so at www.duffieldpastrick.com.
Marty was born Nov. 24, 1955, in Benton Harbor, to Arnold and Donna (Brady) Glupker. He and the former Rosemary Deja were married on March 28, 1998. He was employed at MAC Engineering in Benton Harbor as a machinist. Marty was a devoted husband, father and grandfather who always put family first. He was an avid golfer and very proud of the hole in one he shot several years ago. Marty also enjoyed playing softball, was a devoted Detroit Tiger fan, and participated annually in the St. Joseph Elks Lodge 541 fishing outing for American veterans.
Marty is survived by his wife, Rosemary; sons, Jeremy Glupker of Grand Rapids and Brandon Glupker of Coloma; mother, Donna Cockerel of Coloma; very special step-mother, Willodean Glupker of St. Joseph; sister, Brenda Glupker of St. Joseph; brothers - Harold (Rose) Shuck of St. Joseph, Lloyd Glupker of Coloma, Darrell Glupker of Coloma and Rodney Cockerel of Covert; grandchildren, Thomas Ross and Martin Glupker; his constant companion, Boll Weevil, the dog; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
George J. Kroger
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - George J. Kroger of South Bend, Ind., and Donnell Lake, Mich., passed away after a brief illness on July 6, 2009, the Dujarie House, Notre Dame, Ind.
George was born on Sept. 21, 1925, to George H. and Amelia (Keller) Kroger in South Bend.
George was preceded in death by his parents; a brother-in-law, Frank J. Knapp; a niece, Susan A. Knapp; a nephew, Michael J. Knapp; a nephew in-law, Larry Aichele; and an uncle, Father Edward A. Keller C.S.C.
George is survived by his sister, Evelyn M. Knapp of South Bend, and her children and their families - Linda Aichele of South Bend, Frank (Darlene) Knapp of Long Valley, N.J., Edward (Martha) Knapp of Granger, Ind., John (Debbie) Knapp of Concord, N.C., and James (Roxann) Knapp of South Bend.
George was a graduate of South Bend St. Joseph Grade School and Central Catholic High School, South Bend. Upon graduation George enlisted in the U.S. Navy at the age of 17, where he served in the South Pacific. He was honorably discharged in 1946.
Upon his return, George enrolled at the University of Note Dame and graduated cum laude in 1950.
George retired from Whirlpool Acceptance Corp., Benton Harbor, 1989 as senior vice president.
George was a lifelong member of the Notre Dame Alumni Club, Sorin Club of St. Joe Valley and University Club.
George was a world traveler and enjoyed visiting new places. He was an avid Notre Dame football and basketball fan. He took great pride in the fact that Notre Dame never lost a football game in his four years there.
Funeral services were on Thursday, July 9, 2009, at Christ the King Catholic Church, South Bend. The Rev. Neil Wack officiated the Mass. Hahn Funeral Home, Mishawaka, was entrusted with handling the arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to Christ Child Society, P.O. Box 1286, South Bend, IN 46624, or Center for Hospice & Palliative Care, 111 Sunnybrook Court, South Bend, IN 46637.
Thomas Pillow Jr.
ST. JOSEPH - Thomas Pillow Jr., 82, of St. Joseph passed away Sunday, July 19, 2009.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Friday, July 24, 2009, at Benton Harbor Church of Christ, 1495 E. Empire, Benton Harbor, with Rusty Stark officiating. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, July 23, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Benton Harbor Church of Christ or Hospice at Home.
Mr. Pillow was born Aug. 8, 1926 in Leachville, Ark., to Thomas and Henri (Hill) Pillow. On July 7, 1950, he married Betty Cook in Lake City, Ark. Thomas was part-owner of M-139 Plumbing and Heating for many years. In his spare time, he enjoyed rose gardening, bowling, watching football and spending time with his family.
Mr. Pillow is survived by his wife of 59 years, Betty Pillow, of St. Joseph; two sons, Brian (Julie) Pillow of St. Joseph and Clayton (Melody) Pillow of Coloma; two daughters, Paula (James) Tysar of Florida and Rebecca (Raymond) Sawyer of California; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Aretta Sayle of Colorado and Dorothy Morgan of Watervliet. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Lisa Pillow; brother James Pillow; and sister Joyce Reed.
Patricia Gardner
STEVENSVILLE - Patricia Ruth Gardner, 80 of Stevensville, passed away on Monday, July 20, 2009, at her residence in Stevensville. A funeral service celebrating her life will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 23, at the Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. Visitation for family and friends is from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday. Memorial donations may be made to Berrien County Cancer Service, Baroda Church of God Building Fund or Hospice at Home.
Patricia was born on March 14, 1929, in Plymouth, Ind., to Glen and Dorothy (Benson) Books and married William H. Gardner Jr. on January 6, 1946 in Benton Harbor. She belonged to the Chemosabies Cancer Support Group and was a youth leader at Camp Warren for more than 40 years.
Patricia is survived by William, her husband of 63 years; daughter Cyndi Ann (Larry) Kuball of Benton Harbor; daughter in-law Kelly Gardner; grandchildren - Chris (Scott) Kurland, Dawn Singleton, Larry (Linda) Kuball Jr., Scott Anderson, Brian (Jody) Anderson, Aimee Eva, Melissa (Justin) Eva, William H. Gardner IV, Gabriella Humphrey; 14 great-grandchildren; a sister, Mary Irvin; and brothers Ralph Jr., Ronald and Marc Pelton.
She was preceded in death by her parents, daughter Deborah J. (Gardner) Eva, and son William H. Gardner, III.
Albert L. Witmer
SOUTH HAVEN - Albert "Al" Witmer died on July 16, 2009, at the Beacon Hill Retirement Community in Lombard, Ill.
He was born on Oct. 22, 1920, in Clinton, Iowa, to Walter and Florence (Shirley) Witmer.
Al lived in South Haven, Michigan for 42 years, 24 years with his wife Tanya, before their recent move to Lombard. Before retirement he was General Manager of National Motor Castings, served on the South Haven City Council and was a Board member at Shoreline Bank. After retirement he became a certified financial planner. He graduated from the Aviation Operations School of Parks College of Aeronautical Technology of St. Louis University, and was awarded the BS Degree in Aviation Operations. Al was an officer in the U.S. Air Force, directing a singing/marching ensemble and serving as an Information Education Officer.
Survivors include his wife, Tanya Witmer; sons, Paul (Janice) Witmer of Janesville, Wis., and Neil (Mary Pat) Witmer of Naperville, Ill.; stepdaughter, Jan Foster of Downers Grove, Ill.; stepson, Tom (Mary Jo) Foster of Liberty Hill, Texas; grandchildren, Paige and Hallie Witmer: and step-grandchildren, Thomas and Gerald Foster, and John Coulson.
He was preceded in death by his parents and wife, Marga.
Friends and family members will gather for a memorial visitation on Saturday, July 25, from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Friedrich-Jones Funeral Home, 44 South Mill Street, Naperville, IL 60540. A memorial service will follow at 12 p.m. For more information, please call 630-355-0213.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to St. Thomas Hospice, 8230 South Madison Avenue, Burr Ridge, IL, 60527, 630-856-6990.
