Heinz Urban

Heinz Robert Urban, 85, of St. Joseph, has passed away on Tuesday, March 18, 2008 at Lakeland Regional Hospital. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, March 20th at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Pastor Anthony Fields will officiate the service. Fellowship with the family will be from 9:30 to 10:30 A.M. Thursday at the funeral home. A private burial will follow. Memorials may be made to the University of Michigan Alzheimer’s Research. Those wishing to send the family a message of condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mr. Urban was born on June 28, 1922 in Schneidemuehl, Germany to Johannes and Juliana (Lessnick) Urban. Heinz married his lovely wife, Hildegard Kampf in Bassum, Germany on November 1, 1946. Heinz emigrated from Germany to the United States in 1949 with his wife, Hildegard and daughter Renate. Together, they raised 3 daughters, Renate, Irene and Karen. He worked as an inspector with Bendix Corporation in St. Joseph until his retirement in 1985. He was very handy, someone who loved to fix cars and was a skilled craftsman. Heinz enjoyed traveling especially to Germany. But most of all, he was a family man and loved to spend time with them. Heinz is survived by his wife of 61 years, Hildegard; his three daughters, Renate (Glenn) Wilson, Irene Hudson (Glen Zimmerman), both of Stevensville, and Karen (Tom) White of St. Joseph; his eight grandchildren, Adam, Evan, Aaron, and Erik Wilson, Ryan (Jessica) and Camille Hudson, Amanda and Vanessa Schoudt; great grandson, David Hudson and many close friends.