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Edith Natalie Seltman
ST. JOSEPH -- Edith Natalie Seltman, 74, of St. Joseph, passed away at home on Thursday, Sept. 23, 2004, following a long illness.
Edith was born Dec. 26, 1929, in Lodz, Poland, to Robert and Hedwig (Koehler) Gellert. She immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1950, became a United States citizen in 1960, and lived in St. Joseph her entire adult life.
On April 24, 1954, she married Heinz Fritz Seltman, who survives. They recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Edith was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Her God and her family were very important to her. She devoted her life to serving others. At Oakridge Baptist Church, Edith sang in the church choir, served as a Sunday School Teacher, was president of Helping Hand and, whenever requested, filled numerous other roles.
Edith had many interests. She was a wonderful cook who enjoyed preparing great meals for her family and friends. She loved ceramics and was an extremely talented knitter who often made beautiful clothing for others. In addition to being proud of her husband and children, she loved to be with and to spend time with her grandchildren. Edith was also an eternal optimist, as reflected by her enduring devotion to the Chicago Cubs.
Survivors, in addition to her husband, Heinz F. Seltman, include her four children -- Robert F. Seltmann of St. Joseph, Karin S. (John) Fields of St. Joseph, Christina (Frank) Nails of Stevensville and Nancy J. Seltman of St. Joseph; four grandchildren -- Sara M. Seltman of St. Joseph, Erica C. Nails of Stevensville, Jennifer E. Fields of St. Joseph and Laura K. Fields of St. Joseph; one great-grandchild, Alexander J. Bryant of St. Joseph; one sister, Verena Herzig, and one brother, Max Gellert, both of Germany.
Edith was preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Hedwig Gellert, her brothers, Klaus Gellert and Gert Gellert, and by her grandson, David Seltman Fields.
Visitation will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 26, at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. A funeral service celebrating her life will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Sept. 27, at Oakridge Baptist Church, 766 Oakridge Drive, St. Joseph, with Pastor Dave Broome officiating. Burial will take place immediately thereafter at Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph.
Memorials may be made to The Oakridge Baptist Church, St. Joseph, Michigan.
Sally Ann (Zantui) Rose
ST. JOSEPH - Sally Ann Rose was born to Lawrence and Valentine Rose on March 2, 1947, in St. Joseph, and graduated from St. Joseph High School. In 1969, she married Martin Charles Huggett and moved to Maine. Sally (Zantui) then moved to Asheville, N.C., and lived most of her adult life there. She fought a long battle with ALS and died there on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009.
She was active in the Asheville community, dedicating most of her last 20 years as a therapist.
Sally is survived by two sisters, Judy Rose Scofield of Berrien Center and Nancy Rose Williams of Baton Rouge, La.; and three children - Nicholas Huggett of Cleveland, Ohio, Brady Huggett of New York, N.Y., and Ami Huggett of San Francisco, Calif.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Larry and Tiny Rose.
William D. 'Bill' Fizzell
WATERVLIET - William Dean Fizzell, 62, died unexpectedly at his Chicago home on Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009. It is presumed that he had a cardiac event. Better known as "Bill" or "Billy" to his many friends and family, Bill grew up on Dan Smith Road and Pleasant Street in Watervliet, where he was a lifelong member of the fire department. He was the son of Dr. ("Doc") Deane Fizzell, a prominent dentist, and Theo Fizzell, a noted humanitarian and social leader.
Bill started school in a little, white house, next to former Watervliet High School, that was pressed into service to accommodate the first year's wave of the Baby Boom. In 1965, he was a member of the last class to graduate from the same high school. Bill was a starring member of the 1964 undefeated Watervliet High School football team, played trombone, was always elected as a class officer, and was one of the most popular students to pass through the halls of Watervliet schools.
Bill was a Western Michigan Alumni and continued to play football for the semi-pro southwest Michigan Hawks. He then began his 40-year paper career, starting at the Watervliet Paper Company and then going to Champion International Paper, International Paper, and closing with Verso Paper. Always modest, Bill referred to himself as "just the tech rep, " but was in fact was one of the most expert and sought after paper mill troubleshooters in the country. His children are thankful this created an East Coast childhood. Bill's career took him to New Jersey for nearly 25 years, then on to Connecticut, Tennessee before returning back to the Midwest for an anticipated Jan. 1, 2010 retirement.
Bill lived a life he wanted to. He enjoyed his children, Deane Fizzell of Michigan, Ashley Fleming of South Carolina and Dana Goetter of Wisconsin. He was a wonderful father and found great entertainment in his children. He cherished his grandchildren, Tyler, Melanie and Chelsea, and not to anyone's surprise the three of them will have plent of 2009 Christmas gifts from their PapaSnappy. Bill was an extremely generous father and friend who lived life fully and well.
Bill is survived by his former wife and friend, Vida (Stennecke) Dockter, his three children and three grandchildren. He is also survived by the Watervliet class of 1965, a uniquely cohesive and dedicated class, which respects and honors Bill. He was preceded in death by his sister, Patty Hunt.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial visitation will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, at Duffield & Pastrick Family Funeral Home in Coloma, where a time of sharing will begin at 3 p.m. Memorial donations in memory of Bill may be made to The University of Texas, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, P.O. Box 4486, Houston, Texas 77210-4486.
Pauline H. Johnson
ST. JOSEPH - Pauline H. Johnson, 83, of St. Joseph passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009, at The Fountain View of Monroe Nursing Home, Monroe, Mich.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 2, at St. Bernard's Catholic Church, 555 Delaware, Benton Harbor, with Fr. Bill Jacobs officiating. Burial will follow at Spring Run Cemetery, Scottsdale. Visitation with the family will be from 2 to 7 p.m. Sunday, with Liturgical prayers recited at 7 p.m. Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph.
Memorials may be directed to Heartland Hospice of Monroe or Berrien County Cancer Service.
Pauline Helen (Sila) Johnson was born on July 28, 1926, to Frank and Mary (Mihalic) Sila in Benton Harbor. She graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1944. Pauline married Loren Johnson on Oct. 25, 1947, in Benton Harbor. She was a switchboard operator with Michigan Bell for many years. Pauline and her husband, Loren, were founding members of St. Johns-Bernard Parish in Benton Harbor. Mrs. Johnson was also a member of St. Joseph Kickers Club and St. Joseph Senior Center. She loved baking fruit pies, flower gardening and traveling to Bradenton, Fla., in the winter. Most of all, she loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be fondly remembered for her sense of humor and kindness.
Pauline is survived by two daughters, Cathy (Mike) Brown of Lowell, Cindy (Dennis) Wagasy of Monroe; two sons, Larry (Joy) Johnson of Mundelein, Ill., Doug (Jennifer) Johnson of Portage, Mich.; seven grandchildren, Missy, Andrea, Madalyn, Grace, Carter, Chase, Bryce; two great-grandchildren, Dylan and Bella; sisters, Mary "Mitzi" Martorono of Benton Harbor and Ann Kapuga of Jackson; sisters-in-law, Vee and Ann Sila of St. Joseph/Benton Harbor; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Loren; four brothers and sisters, Kate Kling, Paul, Frank and John Sila; and her parents, Frank and Mary Sila.
Bob C. Teel
COLOMA - Bob C. Teel, 79, of Coloma, passed away Friday morning, Aug. 14, 2009, at his residence.
Bob was born on Nov. 18, 1929, in Alikchi, Okla., to Maude Marie (Ellis) Teel. Following his graduation from Benton Harbor High School, he served his country in the United States Army. Bob married the former Dolores "Dee" Espinosa on Nov. 7, 1959, in Crown Point, Ind. They would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this fall. After residing in Gary, Ind., for a number of years, the couple moved to Michigan in 1971, where they have lived for the past 37 years.
Mr. Teel retired from the Mammas/Zeheralis Tile Company where he had worked for many years. He was a member of the Paw Paw Lake Association, the Paw Paw Yacht Club, the Northwest Indiana Regional Council of Carpenters, and the Save The Whales Poker Club. Bob also loved to water ski and play golf.
Cremation has taken place and no local services are planned. Duffield & Pastrick Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting with the arrangements. Those interested in making a memorial donation may do so to the Berrien County Cancer Service.
Mr. Teel is survived by his wife, Dee.
Todd Michael Findlay
SODUS - Todd Michael Findlay, 38, of Sodus passed away Friday evening, July 31, 2009, in Riverside.
Visitation services honoring his life will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5, at the Davidson Chapel of Florin Funeral Service, 249 E. Center St. Burial will be private at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to his family.
Todd was born Oct. 12, 1970, in St. Joseph to Scott and Cathy Findlay. He was a 1989 graduate of St. Joseph High School. Todd worked at the Cook Nuclear Plant in Bridgman. In his leisure time, Todd enjoyed boating, going to the casino and traveling. An avid sports fan, he was particularly fond of the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He also loved caring for his dogs. Todd was very much loved by his family and will be dearly missed.
Todd is survived by his father, Scott Findlay of Riverside; mother, Cathy (Steve) Bond of Boulder, Mont.; sister, Shawanna (Mike) Wood of Arizona; grandmother, Trudy Ingram; nieces and nephews, Mandy, Miranda, Brett, Rachelle and Mikey; aunts and uncles - Dennis (Pauline) Monte, Sandy (Larry) Barker and Terry Schmaltz; and by his cousins - Brian (Jamie) Monte and their children, Porsche and Brian Dennis, Jennifer (Michael) Schuhknecht and their children, Mihaela and Maya and by Michael Findlay and his children, Cheyenne, Shelby and Austin.
Todd was preceded in death by his grandfather, Bennie Ingram, and his uncle, Cary Lee Findlay.
Lorena Mae Zachary
SAWYER - Lorena Mae Zachary, 92, passed peacefully away Tuesday, July 28, 2009, at her home.
Funeral services celebrating her life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, at the Fairplain Chapel of Florin Service, 1053 E. Napier Ave., in Benton Harbor, with Pastor Jill Schoeplein officiating. Burial will follow in Hagar-Lakeshore Cemetery in Hagar Shores. Visitation will be held from 12 to 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to Lakeland Hospice.
Lorena was born Aug. 29, 1916, in Crawfordsville, Ind., to Elba and Alice Zachary. She enjoyed attending church. Additionally, she enjoyed the outdoors and particularly loved flowers. Lorena loved children and was often found taking care of them. Most of all, Lorena cherished time spent with her family - particularly with her nieces and nephews.
Lorena is survived by her sister, Laverne Freeman; sister-in-law, Marjorie Zachary; and by numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews; and great-great-nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, Lorena was preceded in death by her brothers, Milton and Alan Zachary; and by her sister, Viola Abrams.
