Bergliot Zollar

Bergliot “Babe” Zollar, 87, of Benton Harbor-St. Joseph, passed away peacefully Sunday, August 2, 2009, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center surrounded by her family. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:00 pm on Thursday, August 6, 2009, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Rev. Joan Oleson will officiate. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph. Visitation with the family will be on Wednesday evening from 5:30 to 8:00 PM at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the Humane Society of Southwest Michigan or Animal Aid. Those wishing to send the family a message of condolence may do so online at www.starks-menchinger.com. Babe was born April 23, 1922 in Dell Rapids, South Dakota to Arthur and Etta Thompson. She graduated from Dell Rapids High School and subsequently received her cosmetology license. In true Babe fashion she proceeded to buy a beauty shop in Huron, South Dakota becoming a business owner. There she met the love of her life, Charles Zollar. He was stationed in Huron as a naval instrument flight instructor during WWII. After marriage they purchased a farm in Benton Township where she resided the rest of her life. Babe was a strong woman of many talents. Together she and Charles developed many businesses. Babe was a farmer, nursery owner, and antique dealer. There was nothing she couldn’t do if she set her mind to it. She supported Charles in his political endeavors as an avid campaigner, and was committed to democracy. Babe was a gourmet cook, loved reading cookbooks, going to estate sales and was constantly learning about antiques. She attended Saron Lutheran Church where she taught Sunday school for many years. Babe Zollar was a woman of impeccable taste, a can do philosophy, a lover of animals and a deep abiding faith. Babe is survived by and was a wonderful mother to her two daughters, Robin Zollar of St. Joseph, MI and Michele (Brad) Jarvis of Grand Ledge, MI. She was a terrific grandma to Charles Jarvis of Lansing, MI, Emily Jarvis of Grand Ledge, MI and Carrie Smietanka of St. Joseph, MI. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother Robert Thompson, and her husband Charles.