Darlene Burgess

Darlene J. Burgess, 68, of St. Joseph, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on May 24, 2009 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, May 29, 2009 at St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 671 McAllister, Benton Harbor, MI 49022 with Rev. Martin Weigand officiating. Visitation will be at the church from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. prior to the start of the service. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens, Coloma. Memorials may be made to her daughter, Tammie Hines, to help with the funeral. Those wishing to send the family a message of condolence may do so online at www.starks-menchinger.com. Darlene was born on October 13, 1940 to Reinhold and Huldena (Arndt) Kliemchen in Benton Harbor, MI. She worked at the Herald Palladium delivering newspapers to the St. Joseph/Benton Harbor area for over 20 years. She married Charles Burgess and together raised 7 children. She loved cookouts, playing Soduko, going out to eat at the buffet and watching television. Most of all, she cherished her family especially her great-grandkids. Darlene is survived by her children, Tammie Hines, Toinette Ishmael, Tristan (Julia) Hanson, Thomas (Stephanie) Hanson, Robert James, and Amanda James (Robert Davidoff); Grandchildren, Michael (Tabitha) Young, Joseph (Shenna) Ward and Kimberley Ward; Twenty Great Grandchildren; and several cousins. She is preceded in death by her husband Charles Burgess on October 21, 2002, her son, William Hines in July of 1999 and her father, Reinhold in 1986 and mother, Huldena in 1998.