Geraldine Abbe Burandt

Geraldine Abbe Burandt, 87, found peace on August 4, 2009 in her home in St. Joseph. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday, August 7, 2009 at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Burial will be held at a later date at Lincoln Township Cemetery. Friends may call from 10:00 A.M. until 11:00 A.M. Friday, at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the St. Joseph Lincoln Township Senior Center or Lincoln Township Library. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Her life began in Derby, MI on August 5, 1921. The family owned Spear’s store and bought farm produce to sell in Chicago. Unfortunately she suffered from asthma and often missed school but she still graduated from Stevensville High School when she was just 16 years old. Her older brother and sister were able to continue there education and go on to live independent lives but their father, Art Spear, was quite ill and Gerry had to stay home and work in the store. She often drove produce to the Chicago Markets to help her father. While working in the Derby store, she met Arnold Burandt and they married in 1941. They lived in Derby, took care of both mothers, and farmed while raising two children. Eventually they were able to renovate the old Burandt farm house and moved the family along with Gerry’s mother, to their first real home. Arnold and Gerry loved to travel, work in their gardens and square dance. They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary before Parkinson disease made it necessary for Arnold to enter extended care. Gerry visited him almost everyday until his death. She was able to travel to every state and worked in her flower garden every summer. It was a good life. Gerry is survived by her daughter Leanna (Larry) Friesen of St. Joseph; son Craig (Donna) Burandt of St. Joseph; two grand children Amy Burandt of Ann Arbor and Adam Burandt of St. Joseph; sister Lucille Ray of St. Joseph. She will be missed by many Nieces and nephews and friends who shared happy times at the Stevensville Friendship Club, Bridgman Woman’s Club, and The Light House Ladies Red Hat Society.