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James Ellis Grear
WATERVLIET - James Ellis Grear, 67, of Watervliet passed away on Tuesday, May 5, 2009, at his home.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, May 8, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. A visitation will be held on Thursday, May 7, from 4 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Jim was born on March 5, 1942, in Jonesboro, Ill., to Ellis and Lillian (Geveden) Grear. He married Pamela Waldo on Nov. 29, 2003, in St. Joseph.
Jim was loved by his wonderful neighbors and friends. Jim will be remembered for his passion for tractors and car restorations, as well as his imagination and thirst for the next project.
Jim is survived by his wife, Pam, and his three sons, Michael (Susan) Grear of Lawton, Gregory (Gina) Grear of Watervliet and Samuel (Lori) Grear of Paw Paw. He is also survived by two sisters, Sharon (Jerry) Gilbert of Ridgetop, Tenn., and Jean (Tom) Warren of Frankfort, Ind.; and nine grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and his first wife, Patricia (Wissler) Grear.
Donald E. Mielke
BENTON HARBOR - Donald E. Mielke, 81, passed away Sunday May 3, 2009, at his residence in Benton Harbor.
A service celebrating Donald's life will be held 11 a.m. Friday, May 8, at Duffield and Pastrick Family Funeral Home in Coloma where visitation will be Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m. Cremation will take place following the service. Memorial donations in memory of Donald may be made to the Moose Lodge 697 of South Haven or a charity of the donor's choice. Those wishing to sign the online guest book or leave a message of comfort for the family may do so at www.duffieldpastrick.com.
Donald was born Dec. 2, 1927, to Mathilda and August Mielke. He retired in 1994, from Whirlpool Corporation after 47 years of service as a mechanic. He was a longtime member of the National Rifle Association, the Moose Lodge 697 in South Haven and the American Legion Post 105.
Donald was an avid fisherman and hunter, loved Michigan, the Upper Peninsula and Canada. He shared his garden with everyone and will be dearly missed by those who knew him.
Survivors include four sons, Timothy (Sandra) Mielke of South Haven, Craig Mielke of Coloma, Donald (Barb) Mielke of South Haven, Robert (Maryann) Mielke of South Haven; three daughters, Donna (Rick) Lentz of Coloma, Sandy (Rick) Jensen of South Haven, Ranee (Rick) Hill of Flushing, Mich.; and several grandchildren.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents, one son, Rick and four brothers and sisters.
Ruth M. Shimer
WATERVLIET - Ruth's life began Sept. 21, 1915, in St. Joseph. Her proud parents were Oscar and Matilda (Bauman) O'Riley. Ruth was a member of Midway Baptist Church and the Eastern Star 232.
Her loving family includes three children, Joan Gernoat of Kalamazoo, Kaye (Roy) Smithley of Benton Harbor and Earl "Chip" (Gwen) Shimer of St. Joseph; eight grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; six great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Ruth died Monday, May 4, at the The Willows in St. Joseph. Her husband Earl, four sisters, two brothers, and her parents preceded Ruth in death.
Cremation has taken place and a memorial service will be celebrated at a later date. Hutchins Funeral Home in Watervliet in assisting Ruth's family with arrangements. Memorials may be made in Ruth's memory to Gideon Society.
Bessie Wright
BENTON HARBOR - Born as Bessie Wright in Grenada, Miss., Bessie (also known as Jessie) was raised in Benton Harbor. She was the 9th of 13 children to John and Ender Wright. She married Curtis Wofford and moved to Detroit, in 1964.
Upon arriving in Detroit, Jessie worked for the Chrysler Corporation. She left Chrysler to care of her children during their childhood years. In 1973, she attended Marygrove College and earned her Certification as an EKG Technician.
She returned to work as a caregiver in 1980 and retired July 1, 2007. She enjoyed her retirement doing her favorite things; going to the casino, playing bingo and spending time with her grandchildren.
Jessie leaves to cherish her memory, four children, Nicholas, Calvin, Derrick and Anthony, two stepchildren, Cedric Pringle, seven grandchildren, Menyoun and Derrick Griffin, Amber Harris and Malik Wofford of Detroit, John and Aleisha Wright of Oceanside, Calif., and Clavin Wright of Denver, one great-grandchild, Derrick Griffin II of Detroit, four siblings, Mildred Tisdel, M. L. Meeks and Geraldine Montgomery of Benton Harbor and John Wright of Milwaukee. Jessie leaves a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws and friends who will miss her dearly.
Jessie passed away April 28, 2009.
Jessie was preceded in death by her husband, Curtis, her parents, John and Ender, her brothers, James, Lonnie, A. C, Randolph and C. J., sisters, Wealthy, Christine and Wanda, and a stepson, Danny Pringle
Funeral services will be held at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church, 1105 E. Main Street, Friday, May 8, visitation at 11 a.m. and service at 12 p.m. Family Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Donna L. Schmidtman
BENTON HARBOR - Donna L. Schmidtman, 79, of Benton Harbor passed away on Sunday, May 3, 2009, at her home.
A Celebration of Life service will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 7, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. A visitation will be held on the same day from 12 to 2 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to the Humane Society.
Donna was born on April 21, 1930, in Niles to Halford Smith and Bessie (Davis) Daisy. She married Donald Schmidtman on Sept. 13, 1983, in Bainbridge Township.
Donna is survived by her three daughters, Sylvia (Audie) Moore of Benton Harbor, Cheri (Wes) Schreiber of Coloma and Deborah (Andy) VanDerbeck of Niles and her two sons, Ollie (Kris) Wagner of Gobles and Max (Debra) Wagner of New Haven, Conn. She is also survived by 16 grandchildren, Wes, Tonia, Marc, Jessica, Christopher, Kimberley, Jennifer, Eric, Ryan, Steven, Scott, Mandy, Brandi, Jack, Crystal and Natalie, along with 19 great-grandchildren, and one sister, Earlene Abel.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and two siblings, Norma Jean Brink and Donald Smith, and a great-grandson, Andrew Knight.
Donna June Ferrier
NEW TROY - Donna June Ferrier, 80, of Barefoot Bay, Fla., and formerly of New Troy died Sunday, May 3, 2009. at Royalton Manor.
Donna was born July 30, 1928, in New Troy to William and Justeena (Waters) Boyd.
She graduated from New Troy High School in 1946.
She continued her education, earning her master's degree in clinical psychology.
Donna was employed as a social worker in Kalamazoo, and recently made her home in Florida.
She enjoyed playing tennis, tending her flowers, and being outdoors.
Survivors include her sister, Jeannine Krieger of New Troy; brothers, Allen Boyd of Bridgman, Dean (Ann) Boyd of Bridgman and William (Lois) Boyd Jr. of New Troy; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Barbara Horan and brother Donald Boyd.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 7, at the Christian United Church of Christ in Sawyer, with the Rev. Wayne Root officiating.
Memorials may be made to the Christian United Church of Christ, P.O. Box 275, Sawyer, Mich. 49125 or to the charity of the donor's choice.
Pobocik Funeral Home is serving the family.
