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Walter Koblinski
SOUTH HAVEN - Walter Koblinski, 69, of South Haven died Monday, July 20, at South Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Community.
He was born Aug. 7, 1939, in Flint, Mich., to Claude and Matilda Ann (Bouchard) Koblinski. Walter worked in maintenance for the Michigan Fruit Canners for 23 years. Walter was a member of St. Basil Catholic Church. Walter was faithful to God and loved his family and had a giving heart. Walter enjoyed fishing, putting together puzzles and playing bingo to win prizes for his nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death, along with his parents, by a sister, Patricia Watson, in 1997.
He is survived by his brother-in-law, Erwin Watson Sr. of South Haven; four brothers - Joseph Koblinski of Pullman, Mich., Robert Koblinski of South Haven, Frances Thompson of Hamilton, Mich., and Arnold Thompson of South Haven; four sisters - Helen Brand of Saginaw, Mich., and Judy Bringham, Peggy Tuck and Claudia Sherwood, all of Swartz Creek, Mich.; and several nieces and nephews.
A rosary service will be held at 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 22, at the Filbrandt Family Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Funeral Mass will be 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Basil Catholic Church with Rev. Father Robert Flichinger officiating. Burial will take place at Stephenson Cemetery.
Phoenix Gerber
BLUFFTON, Ind. - Infant Phoenix Lee Gerber, son of Chris and Laura Youngstedt Gerber, died June 20, 2009. Funeral services were held in Bluffton, Ind., on June 23, 2009.
He is survived by his parents, Chris and Laura Youngstedt Gerber; grandparents Glenn and Diane Youngstedt of Stevensville and Lee and Jennie Gerber of Bluffton, Ind.; four uncles; six aunts; 10 cousins; and his great grandmother.
He was preceded in death by his great-grandparents, his aunt SueEllen Gerber and his cousin Benjamin Youngstedt.
Neal 'Pete' Stemm
PORT RICHEY, Fla. - Neal L. "Pete" Stemm, 84, of Port Richey, Fla., formerly of Berrien Springs, died July 2, 2009, at Hospice Home in Hudson, Fla.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 24, at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens in Niles, with military rites conducted by the Berrien Springs American Legion Stover-Wagner Post 85. Allred Funeral Home in Berrien Springs is serving the family, and online condolences may be left at www.allredfuneralhome.com.
Pete was born Oct. 15, 1924, in Berrien Springs, the son of Roy and Cora (Feather) Stemm. After graduating from Benton Harbor High School, he proudly served his country with the United States Army during World War II. He owned and operated the Stemm Floor Covering business in Berrien Springs for many years, then moved in 1981 to Florida, where he worked part time as a carpet salesman for Sears. For the past 15 years, summers were spent in Dowagiac.
In his younger years, Pete was manager and coach for the Berrien Springs youth baseball program, as well as the American Legion baseball program. He was a member of the American Legion Stover-Wagner Post 85 for 63 years, and also held membership with the Masonic Lodge F&AM; No. 39 of Berrien Springs. One of his leisure enjoyments was being an avid Michigan State fan.
He is survived by his wife, Jewel (Halpain), whom he married on April 17, 1949, in Jonesboro, Ark. They had recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. Also surviving are one son, Nick Stemm of Portage, Mich; daughter-in-law, Louann Stemm of Dowagiac; sister, Shirley (Ray) Buckman of Sundance, Wyo.; and brother, Gene (Peggy) Stemm of St. Joseph.
He was preceded in death by a son, Stephen.
Marie Magdeline Tillman
LAWRENCE - Marie Magdeline Tillman, 87, of Lawrence departed this earthly life on Saturday, Aug.1, 2009, at Silverbrook Manor, Niles.
Marie was born Aug. 4, 1921, in Sodus, the daughter of Leopold and Olga (Slender) Nusbeitel, both of whom preceded her in passing. Marie was also preceded by her husband, Gustave on July 19, 2004; a son, Michael Tillman, and brothers and sisters, Ave, Irwin, Lena and Lacoda.
Marie is survived by five children, Keith (Sheli) Tillman and Marsha Stil, both of Sister Lakes, Donald (Sheila) Tillman of Hartford, Robert (Julie) Tillman of Mattawan and Arnold (Chris) Tillman of Lawrence. Marie is also survived by 14 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Arnold and Paul; and three sisters, Antionette, Freida and Martha.
Marie was a member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Sister Lakes. She was formerly employed with the Bronte Champagne and Wines Company in Keeler for many years and a nurses aid at the former Berrien General Hospital in Berrien Center. In her spare time, she loved to play numerous card games, with her favorite being Pinochle and Bingo.
The family will welcome friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 5, at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, Sister Lakes. The service to honor her memory will commence at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, at the church. Pastor David Schaller will officiate. Marie will be laid to rest next to her husband in Keeler Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Marie's name may be made to the family. The family has entrusted the Calvin Funeral Home, Hartford, with handling the arrangements.
Steven Michael 'Peck' Fleming
DOWAGIAC - Steven's life began on July 28, 1983, in St. Joseph the son of Raymond and Laurie (Savage) Fleming. Steven was a 2002 graduate of Dowagiac Union High School, where he was a member of the wrestling team, and earned a nursing degree from Southwestern Michigan College. As early as the age of 5, Steven and his friends considered themselves the "Sister Lakes Posse." Steven was currently employed by Midway Marine in Sister Lakes.
His passions included water sports and snowmobiles. Steven loved and was loved by everyone. He had a fun loving personality. To know Steven is to love him.
Steven's greatest joy was his family, which includes his parents, Raymond and Laurie Fleming of Sister Lakes; two brothers, Kurt (Sarah) Fleming of Sister Lakes, R.J. Fleming of Sister Lakes; his nephew, Logan Mayfield; grandparents, Shirley and Eric Fredman of Sister Lakes and Theresa Reznik of Sister Lakes; many aunts, uncles, relatives and close friends, the Mitchell family of Sister Lakes.
Steven passed away at his home on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009. He is now resting in peace. He was preceded in death by his grandfather Kenneth Savage and uncle Larry Miller.
Steven's family will receive friends on Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at McLauchlin-Clark Funeral Home, Dowagiac, where Deacon Frank Wesolowski will lead the Rosary at 7:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, by Father Patrick Craig at Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Steven will be laid to rest in Sacred Heart of Mary Cemetery. Memorial contributions in his name may be directed to the Berrien County Council for Children - Assessment Center.
Harry B. Traugh Jr.
ST. JOSEPH - Harry B. Traugh Jr., 89, of St. Joseph passed away Saturday, Aug. 2, 2009, at his Woodland Terrace home in Bridgman.
A memorial Mass service will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 211 Church St. in St. Joseph, with Msgr. Michael Osborn officiating. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery. Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. with a prayer service at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 4, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Birthright of St. Joseph or Hospice at Home.
Mr. Traugh was born May 26, 1920, in LaSalle, Ill., to Harry and Ethel (Jones) Traugh. He was a 1938 graduate of Normal (Ill.) High School and attended Bradley University. He proudly served his country with the United States Army during World War II. Harry worked for Whirlpool Corp. for many years, retiring in 1978. For several years after retirement, he made his home in North Palm Beach, Fla., before returning to live in St. Joseph. Harry enjoyed volunteering at Lakeland Hospital for many years.
Harry was preceded in death in 2001 by his wife of 59 years, Catherine (Kay).
Mr. Traugh is survived by three sons, Harry R. (Donna) Traugh of South Bend, Ind., James (Nikki) Traugh of Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., and Thomas (Ann) Traugh of Stevensville; four grandchildren, Amy (Jason) Longtin of Citrus Springs, Fla., Jennifer Traugh of Canton, Mich., Emily Traugh of Windermere, Fla., and Andrew (Nichole) Traugh of Dearborn, Mich.; one great-grandchild, Charlotte Longtin; and a brother-in-law, Robert (Patricia) Forbes of Dubuque, Iowa.
Marion C. Leedy
COLOMA - Marion C. Leedy, 94, of Coloma passed away Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009 at Lakeland Specialty Hospital in Berrien Center.
Visitation with the family will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at First Congregational United Church of Christ at 182 Church St. in Coloma. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, also at the church, with the Rev. Kevin McLemore presiding.
Memorial donations may be made to the church, Sarett Nature Center, or the North Berrien Historical Society, of which she was a founding member. Duffield & Pastrick Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting the family, and friends are invited to sign the online register book at www.duffieldpastrick.com.
Marion was born April 25, 1915, in Chicago to Walter and Lillian (Hamill) Jensen. She moved to Coloma at age 10 and was a graduate of Coloma High School. She and Walter Leedy, her husband of 69½ years, were married on July 5, 1935. The couple raised their five children in the Coloma area. Marion was a writer at heart, and wrote many articles over the years for the News Palladium, South Bend Tribune and the Tri-City Record. She also was one of the founding publishers of the Coloma Community Schools Headliner, where she wrote for many years.
Marion was an avid photographer, having taken tens of thousands of photos over her lifetime. She enjoyed sewing and rock-collecting as well. She and her family had also traveled extensively throughout the United States. She was a member of the First Congregational U.C.C., Sarett Nature and the Y Lensers Camera Club.
Marion is survived by her sons, William (Barbara) Leedy of Cornell, Mich., Robert (Regina) Leedy of Coloma, Bennet Leedy of Coloma, Barry Leedy of Gardiner, Mont.; her daughter, Brenda (Kevin) Kniebes of Coloma; grandchildren, Rebecca Scott, Lana Leedy, Rhonda Cartwright, Tracy (Jason) Spaulding, Brian (Susan) Leedy, Renee Leedy, Robert (Allison) Harper and Michael Harper; 13 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter, in 2004, her great-grandson, Corey, and her lifelong friend, Marion Geisler.
Marie M. Tillman
LAWRENCE - Marie Magdeline Tillman, 87 of Lawrence departed this earthly life on Saturday, Aug. 1, 2009, at Silverbrook Manor, Niles.
Marie was born Aug. 4, 1921, in Sodus, the daughter of Leopold and Olga (Slender) Nosbeitel, both of whom preceded her in passing. Marie was also preceded in passing by her husband, Gustave, on July 19, 2004, and brothers and sisters, Ave, Irwin, Lena and Lacoda.
Marie is survived by five children, Keith (Sheli) Tillman and Marsha Still, both of Sister Lakes, Donald (Sheila) Tillman of Hartford, Robert (Julie) Tillman of Mattawan and Arnold (Chris) Tillman of Lawrence. Marie is also survived by 14 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Arnold and Paul; and three sisters, Antionette, Freida and Martha.
Marie was a member of the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Sister Lakes. She was formerly employed with the Bronte Champagne and Wines Co. in Keeler for many years and as a nurses aide at the former Berrien General Hospital in Berrien Center. In her spare time, she loved to play numerous card games, with her favorite being Pinochle and Bingo.
The family will welcome friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 5, at the Redeemer Lutheran Church, Sister Lakes. The service to honor her memory will commence at 10 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 6, at the church. Pastor David Schaller will officiate. Marie will be laid to rest next to her husband in Keeler Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Marie's name may be made to the family. The family has entrusted the Calvin Funeral Home, Hartford, with handling the arrangements.
