Ronald A. Manthe

Ronald A. Manthe, 85, of Benton Harbor, passed away Saturday, March 4, 2017 at Lakeland Medical Center.   A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday, March 11, 2017 at Grace Lutheran Church, 404 E. Glenlord Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. Glenn Rosenbaum officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph.  Friends may visit with the family from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. Friday at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Grace Lutheran Church, St. Joseph.  Those wishing to sign Ron’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.   Ron was born December 30, 1931 in Pemberton, Minnesota to Arthur & Viola (Precht) Manthe. He graduated from New Ulm High School, Class of 1949 and from Dr. Martin Luther College in 1952.  On December 30, 1956, he married the former Marion Lober at Zion Lutheran Church in Columbus, Wisconsin.  Ron was employed as principal and teacher at Grace Lutheran School in Eau Claire, Michigan from 1952 until 1972.  He spent his summers working for R.G. Rogien Construction in Eau Claire doing masonry and carpentry until he went full time upon his retirement from Grace Lutheran School.  Ron retired from Rogien in 1995.  Ron was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in St. Joseph.  He enjoyed tending to his flower & vegetable gardens and fruit trees around the house, and traveling the US and other countries with his wife Marion.  Ron cherished the time spent with his family.  Ron is survived by his wife Marion; his children-Peter (Sherry) Manthe of Crown Point, IN, Sharon (Steven) Hasse of Benton Harbor, Thomas Manthe of Niles, MI, Carl (Penelope) Manthe of Santa Monica, CA; son-in-law David Cooper of Beaver Dam, WI; fifteen grandchildren-Stacy (Brian) Lopez, Lanny Manthe, Victoria Manthe, Kyle (Christa) Manthe, Jessica (Tim) Hoffman, Caleb (Stacey) Cooper, Ashley Manthe, Lee (Samantha) Hasse, Jamie (MJ) Torres, Christian Cooper, Monica (Fiancee Michael Grix) Hasse, Collin Cooper, Dakota Manthe, & Maxwell & Anderson Manthe; nine great-grandchildren-Roycelynne, Angelina, Adriana, Ava, Preston, Alexander, Vera, Carson & Liam; his brother Dean (Gloria) Manthe of Antigo, WI; and numerous nieces & nephews. Ron was preceded in death by his daughter Susan Cooper in 2014, a great-great grandson Ryan Merx, his parents, two brothers-Dale & Lyle Manthe, and his sister Janice Westphal.