Richard W. Seils

Richard W. Seils, Sr., 64, of Benton Harbor, formerly of Watervliet, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, May 1, 2008 at his home. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Tuesday, May 6 at 10:00 AM at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd. St. Joseph. Rev. Jim Whitman of Berrien County Baptist Church will officiate the service. Friends may call Monday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery in Watervliet. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Watervliet Recreation Council. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Richard was born on January 4, 1944 in Benton Harbor to Harold and Eilene (Hoople) Seils. Richard was a graduate of St. Joseph High School going back to earn his G.E.D. Richard enlisted in the U.S. Navy to serve his country. Richard was a city worker with the City of St. Joseph retiring in 1966. He previously worked at Jerry Hunt’s Auto Center. Richard loved sports particularly rooting for the Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs. He was an assistant coach with Watervliet Minor baseball league. Richard belonged to the Benton Harbor Moose Club and the Watervliet Recreational Council. Richard is survived by his mother, Eilene (Hoople) Seils of Charlotte, MI; his daughter, Kristina Edge (Dustin Hyrns) of St. Joseph, and son, Richard (Kirsten) Seils, Jr. of South Haven, his three grand-children; Andrew, Rose-Lynn and Elijah Seils of South Haven and two sisters, Rose Ann (Tom) Ripken of Virginia, and Marilyn (Jerry) Slivensky of Charlotte, MI , a niece, Dustin Slivensky of Stevensville and a nephew Eric Slivensky of Charlotte, MI as well as relatives in Texas. Richard was preceded in death by his father, Harold Seils in 1969.