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Patricia L. Behnke
DOWAGIAC - Patricia's life began on March 18, 1925, in Dowagiac, the daughter of Ivan and Catherine (Ferrell) Howard. She was a 1943 graduate of Dowagiac Central High School. Patricia went to work for James Heddon and Sons, following school. She was united in marriage to Edwin A. Behnke on Oct. 6, 1945, in Dowagiac. Patricia worked with Edwin on the family farm for many years and worked with him when he began the family business, Turf Services, all the while raising their children and caring for their home. After Edwin's death in 1972, Patricia went to work at the Dowagiac Schools in the lunch program.
She was known to many as either Grandma, Aunt Patty or Momma B, however, it was the nickname "Angel" given to her by her late father-in-law Gottlieb Behnke, that describes her best. She will be greatly missed for her wisdom and kindness, and her selflessness was far reaching. Patricia will be remembered for her cooking and baking - yeast breads and coffee cakes were the best. She was an active little lady and belonged to several organizations that were very important to her including the "Church Mailing Group" at St. John's Lutheran Church, where she was a longtime member, the Chairettes, and the Southern Lake Michigan Lupus Chapter.
Her greatest joy was her loving family, which includes her son, Michael (Sherrie Taylor) Behnke of Dowagiac; her daughters, Patricia Ann Behnke of Dowagiac and Susan (Charles) Barnes of Minooka, Ill.; two granddaughters, Melissa (Brian) Phillips of Dowagiac and Meredith (Aaron) Marrs of Niles; three great-grandchildren, Drew and Nathan Phillips and Audrey Marrs; special brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Joseph Sestric and Janet Peck; and many wonderful nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Patricia passed away on Saturday, Aug. 15, 2009, at Borgess Lee Memorial Hospital. She was preceded in death by husband, Edwin A. Behnke, brothers, Robert Howard and Marvin "Butchie" Peck, and sister, Doris Howard Geer.
Her family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at McLauchlin-Clark Funeral Home, Dowagiac, where her memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday led by Dr. Charles Burling. Memorial contributions in her name may be directed to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan and Cass Co. Council on Aging.
Michael Payovich
ST. JOSEPH - Michael Payovich, 83, passed away Saturday afternoon, Aug. 15, 2009, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph.
Funeral services celebrating his life will be held Monday, Aug. 17, at 7 p.m., at Dey Florin Funeral Home, 2506 Niles Ave., in St. Joseph. Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. until time of service. Cremation is to follow, with burial at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Elks Children Foundation and the Alzheimer's Association.
Michael was born June 14, 1926, in St. Joseph, to Joseph and Mary Payovich. He graduated from St. Joseph Catholic Church School. Michael proudly served his country in the U.S. Army, investigating war crimes while stationed in Manila, Philippines, during World War II. He also received an American Theater Ribbon, Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon, Victory Medal, and an Army of Occupation Medal for his years of service.
On June 21, 1945, Michael married Alice Shoemaker in St. Joseph, and together they celebrated 63 years of marriage. He was the manager of labor relations and personnel at Ausco until his retirement in 1984. He was a fun-loving people person who shared himself with the community, volunteering at Lakeland Regional Medical Center for 20 years, and also as a lifetime member of the Elks Lodge 541 where he was the secretary for 14 years and a past Exalted Ruler. In his spare time, he loved to fish, golf and watch football.
Besides his wife Alice, Michael is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Cindy and Al Andrews of New Orleans; a brother, Thomas Payovich of St. Joseph; two grandchildren, Todd and Scott; and five great-grandchildren - Reese, Porter, Cameron, Griffin and Harrison.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and his son, Larry Payovich on Dec. 27, 1969.
Ca'Mari Lena' Crum
BENTON HARBOR - Ca'Mari Lena' Crum was born July 9, 2009, in Kalamazoo, to Jessica Doss and Curtis Crum Jr. She passed Monday, Aug. 10, 2009, at Bronson Hospital, Kalamazoo.
She is survived by her parents; one sister, Avianna Crum; grandparents - Willie and Wendy London, Tammy Powell and Curtis Crum Sr.; and great-grandparents, James and Jose Doss and Willie Mae Powell.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, at the Chapel of Family Funeral Home, Benton Harbor.
Shirley A. Glendening
ST. JOSEPH - Shirley A. Glendening, 82, of St. Joseph, passed away Friday, Aug. 14, 2009, at The Willows.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 211 Church St., St Joseph, with Msgr. Michael Osborn officiating. Burial will follow in Riverview Cemetery. Friends may call from 3 to 5 p.m., with Liturgical Service at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 16, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Hospice at Home or Lake Michigan Catholic Schools.
Shirley was born Aug. 22, 1926, in Waukegan, Ill., to Laurice and Florence (Wallen) Newton. In 1944 she graduated from St. John's Catholic School. On May 7, 1948 she married Major Glendening. Shirley worked in accounting at Sears, Beneficial Finance and Saluto. Shirley was a member of SS. John & Bernard Parish. In her spare time, she enjoyed volunteering at Lakeland Hospital and spending time with family and friends.
Shirley is survived by her husband, Major Glendening of St. Joseph; daughter, Deborah (Paul) Okeley of Niles; two sons, Larry (Chris) Glendening of St. Joseph and Jeffrey (Sara) Glendening of Kalamazoo; six grandchildren - Jennifer (Jason) Wray, Nicole (Brant) Schweigert, Brad (Erica) Okeley, Bryan (Amber) Glendening, Allan Glendening and Liam Glendening; and three great-grandchildren - Katelyn and Allison Glendening and Marcus Schweigert.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Jose Torres Zapata
LAS VEGAS, Nev. - Jose Torres Zapata, 61, formerly of Sodus, passed away Wednesday morning, Aug. 5, in Las Vegas, Nev.
Funeral services celebrating his life will be held Friday, Aug. 21, at 11 a.m., at Dey-Florin Funeral Home, 2506 Niles Ave., in St. Joseph. The service will conclude with military rites, and burial will take place at a later date. Visitation will be held Thursday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorials may be directed to the family.
Jose was born Jan. 9, 1948, in Austin, Texas. He was of Hispanic origin and was a member of the Métis Indian Tribe. Jose proudly served his country during the Vietnam War for two years. During his service, he received numerous metals and citations, including three Bronze Stars, one Army Commemorative Metal and a Purple Heart. He received special mention from President Nixon for his war-related injuries. Jose will be remembered as being a "non-extravagant man" who had a passion for playing pool and for cars. Most of all, he was a loving father, brother and uncle.
Jose is survived by his children - Jose Torres (Teresa) Jr. of Stevensville, Tony of Noblesville, Ind., Amber of Las Vegas and Brandy Jo Zapata of Sawyer; siblings - Angie (Harvey) Bane of Walkerton, Ind., Fernando Hernandez of Mishawaka, Ind., Juan (Angie) Hernandez of Niles and Jesse Hernandez of Niles; grandson, TJ Zapata; and by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Jose is preceded in death by his mother, Manuela Hernandez, and by his siblings, Rose Graham and Oscar Hernandez.
Clotilde M. Ray
ST. JOSEPH - Clotilde M. Ray, 80, of St. Joseph, passed away Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009, at the Whitcomb Tower Retirement Residence.
Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 18, at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 555 Delaware in Benton Harbor, with Fr. William J. Jacobs officiating. Burial will follow in Riverview Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m., with the Rosary recited at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 17, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Hospice at Home or SS John & Bernard Catholic Church.
Clotilde (Clo) was born Aug. 27, 1928, in Chicago, Ill., to David and Rosalie (Metoyer) Llorens. On May 9, 1953, she married James Ray in Chicago, Ill. Clotilde worked as a paraprofessional for Benton Harbor Area Schools for many years. In her spare time, she enjoyed traveling, bingo, attending Benton Harbor sporting events and spending time with family and friends.
Clotilde was the mother of four daughters, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
She is survived by her three daughters - Judy Ray of Atlanta, Donna (Michael) Smith of St. Joseph, and Annette (Mickey) Bishop of Chicago; eight grandchildren - Kristen (Ted) Hamer of Chicago, Natalie Hall of Chicago, Aaron and Lauren Schmitz of Atlanta, Greer, Reed and Cameron Smith of St. Joseph and Miles Bishop of Chicago; one great-grandchild, Malik Miller of Atlanta; son-in-law, Brian Hall (Rita) of St. Joseph, and six sisters.
In addition to her parents and husband James, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Rita Hall, three brothers and one sister.
Eugene Robert Fetters
ST. JOSEPH - Eugene Robert Fetters, 85, of St. Joseph, passed away Thursday, Aug. 13, 2009, at his home.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at the First Congregational Church in St. Joseph at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 18. There will be a visitation on Monday, Aug. 17, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home in St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Hospice at Home or First Congregational Church.
Born on the 9th of December, 1923 in Benton Harbor, to Edith Marie and Clyde Travis Fetters, Gene graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1942. He attended Michigan State University for a year and a half before he was called to serve in the South Pacific during World War II. Prior to being inducted into the military, he met Mildred Lucile Klepser, who he fell in love with and married. Returning from his military duty, he joined his father’s business as a second generation family member in their business of Sanitary Cleaners located in St. Joseph.
Gene was an avid golfer all of his life and was a member of the Berrien Hills Country Club, Point of Woods Country Club and Pinacle Peak Country Club in Scottsdale, Ariz. He was also very involved in Rotary Club for many years, past president of the Easter Seal Society, member and past president of the International Formalwear Association, a member of the Michigan Institute of Launders and Dry Cleaners and the International Fabricare Institute, and served on the board of directors at the Point of Woods Country Club and was a life member of Berrien County Sportsman Club.
He is survived by his wife, Mildred; his children - Sharon Hafer and Skip Fetters; his brother, John (and Marilyn) Fetters; three grandchildren, and many nephews and nieces.
