Robert Lee Sturch

Robert Lee Sturch, 98, formerly of Stevensville passed away Monday, December 15, 2009 at Lakeland Continuig Care Center where he was a resident the past four and half years. A Celebration of life will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, December 19, 2008 at First Church of the Nazerene, 3351 Niles Rd., St. Joseph with Pastor J. Dean Pickett. Burial will follow at Hickory Bluff Cemetery. Friends may call 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Thursday at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to First Church of the Nazerene Missions. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Bob was born December 22, 1909 to Mac and Minnie Sturch of Grand Glaze, Arkansas; a rural community nestled in the hills of the Ozarks. He was the eldest of seven children. He attended a one room school house up to eighth grade. High school was not on option for Robert due to the lack of transportation. As a boy through his young adult years growing up on Tuckers Ridge, Bob worked on the family farm planting and harvesting crops, picking cotton, raising live-stock, cutting timber and working odd jobs off the farm as well. Bob was always of a mind that a body was made to work and not to set idle. He firmly believed in an honest day’s work for a honest day’s wage. In 1927 Bob had acquired a bicycle, on his way to a job down the mountain he met up with a young girl riding in her wagon with her dogs running along side her. The dogs got after him but the young girl left quite an impression on him.he later told his family “We didn’t know each other, but that was it. I just knew that was the girl who’d be my wife.” Robert and Vera met again in church and began their yearlong courtship where he exclusively walked her home from church every Sunday. They were married March 4, 1928 in Bradford at her parent’s home. Bob worked long hours to provide for his wife and 3 children; over the next 20 years he would take jobs with the Great Eastern Coffee & Tea Company of St. Louis, MO being a route driver/deliveryman. He also was the head operator of the rice-drying plant in Newport; he even guarded a munitions factory during World War II. With jobs being scarce his sister Thelma and brother-in-law Emery urged Robert and Vera to “move north, where industry was booming”. On April 8, 1949 they took their families advice packed the truck and set their sights on Michigan. Arriving in Lincoln Township the new comers settled in before they knew it Bob obtained gainful employment with Whirlpool Corporation where he would retire with 25 years of service under his belt. Bob was a self taught electrician and continued to hone his skills moonlighting wiring houses after his day job anywhere from Hager Shores to Union Pier and everywhere in between. He eventually became the electrical inspector for the townships of Royalton, Lincoln, as well as, the Village of Stevensville. He also did occasional work for St. Joseph and Lake Township’s. Bob was a devout republican, that came about when he was 21 years old and a democrat pushed to have a one dollar per voter poll tax. They “got off on the wrong foot” he stated “there are some democrats I like and even tolerate”. Sturch wasted no time writing representative Fred Upton on a regular basis. Sturch served 5 or 6 terms on the Village Council of Stevensville on and off from 1970 until he retired one year before his term was up at age 97. He took pride in the fact that he never paid one dime trying to get him-self elected. He just put his name on the nomination ticket and if the people wanted him they would vote for him. Bob was truly a statesman he was always ready to support what the people wanted, unlike politicians that would say or do anything to hold office. Robert was honored by the Village of Stevensville as they proclaimed July 26, 2003 Bob Sturch Day; where he received a proclamation from the Governor and a State Flag that had been flown over our State Capital. It was believed that Bob was the oldest serving elected official in the State of Michigan. He was also given the honor of being the Grand Marshal of the Discover Stevensville Days Festival Parade. For hobbies Robert enjoyed hunting, gardening, canning, woodworking, assembling electronic kits and baking bread. For Sturch church played a very import roll in his life, he was a life time member of the Church of the Nazarene. Robert had a local preacher’s license, taught Sunday school, served as secretary to the church board, was an usher and helped with the maintenance of the building. He felt compelled to do mission work making a trip to Costa Rica. He was a man of moral fortitude, unwavering in his faith. He and Vera were presented with a Distinguished Service Award from the Church of the Nazerene for over 40 years of service they faithfully provided. Roberts’s life exemplifies patience, perseverance, discipline and dedication to family and God. He truly was the kind of man every one would aspire to be. His soft spoken presence allowed you to feel the love and respect he had for all. He will be greatly missed by all those that knew him. Robert is survived by his children: Leon (Caryl) Sturch of Ault, CO., Medrith (Fred) Teichert of Stevensville, and James (Elaine) Sturch of Kennesaw, GA., His grandchildren:Robert Leon Sturch of Evans, CO., Cynthia (Dennis) Wetherington of Mitchell, NE, Beatrice (Greg) Brueggeman of Vernon, CO., Janet Frasher, Lori (Hal) Gibson, Yvonne (Al) Urbain all of Stevensville, Sarah (Larry) Dowell of Dallas, GA., Amity (Scott) Leverone, of Douglasville, GA., and Emaline Sturch of Dallas, GA. He is also survived by 18 great grandchildren and 12 great-great grandchildren. Sisters: Mrs. Mable McKee, and Mrs. Ruth Razor both of Bradford, Arkansas. He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 69 years Vera Emaline Sturch, 3 brothers, Kenneth, Ray, and Wilson Sturch and 1 sister Thelma Poole.