Zoe Shaffer Burkholz

Retired Circuit Judge Zoe Shaffer Burkholz, 83, of Benton Harbor, Michigan died after a valiant battle with cancer on March 8, 2008, at her home in Benton Harbor. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 11, from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Hospice At Home or American Cancer Society. Those wishing to send a condolence message online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com A Celebration of Life service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Benton Harbor, 475 Green Ave. on Morton Hill, Wednesday, March 12, at 2:00 PM, officiated by Rev. Doug Petersen. Judge Burkholz was born in Springfield, Illinois on June 30, 1924 to Downs and Ella (Dobbs) Shaffer. Her family moved to Benton Harbor in 1936 and she attended 7th and 8th grade at Fairplain Elementary School. In 1942 she was graduated from Benton Harbor High School where she was a member of the National Honor Society, a member of the Debate Team and a cheerleader. In 1945 she graduated from the University of Michigan receiving an A.B. Degree after completing her first year of law school from which she received a Juris Doctor Degree in 1947. On April 21, 1955 she married R.J. Burkholz in Concord, IL by her grandfather, Rev. Elder W. I. Dobbs. In 1976 she received an Honorary Associates Degree and Woman of the Year Award from Lake Michigan College. In 1977 she was graduated from the National College of Trial Judges. She practiced law for 25 years in association with and as a member of the law firm of Small, Zick & Shaffer. Judge Burkholz was elected in 1972 a Probate and Juvenile Judge of Michigan for the County of Berrien. She was elected in 1976 a Circuit Judge of Michigan for the Second Judicial Circuit for the County of Berrien and was re-elected in 1982 and 1988. In 1979 she was elected Chief Circuit Judge and held that office until January 1, 1988. She was an Honorary Life Member of the Michigan Probate, Juvenile Court Judges Association, a member of the Michigan Judges Association, served on its Executive Board and Court Rules and Corrections Committees, the Michigan Supreme Court’s Circuit Court representative on the Court Reporting and Recording Board of Review, Vice-President of Children’s Charter of the Courts of Michigan, involved in committee work of the Michigan Probate and Juvenile Court Judges Association, the American Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan and the Berrien County Bar Association. In 1952 Judge Burkholz was appointed by Governor G. Mennen Williams to the bi-partisan Board of State Canvassers, the Board which supervises and certifies State elections. She was re-appointed to this Board by Governors Swainson, Romney and Milliken and served as Vice-Chairman and Chairman of the Board until 1972 when she was first elected to the bench. She served as Governor William Milliken’s at-large delegate to the State Health Coordinating Council and on his Advisory Committee for State Correctional Health Care. She has served as President of the Twin City University of Michigan Alumnae Council, legal counsel and Troop leader for the Girl Scouts of Southwestern Michigan, Advisory Council for the Boy Scouts Explorer Council and YMCA of St. Joseph and been active in other national, state and community civic activities. She was an Honorary Member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. She was an Honorary Member of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. In 2002 she won the Women’s Community Association’s annual Tribute to Women award. She is survived by her husband, R.J. (Bob) Burkholz of Benton Harbor; a daughter, Susan Burkholz of South Bend, IN; a former daughter-in-law, Barbara Burkholz of Portage, MI; two grandsons, Michael and Alex Burkholz of Portage, MI; a brother D.R. (Shirley) Shaffer, Jr. of Wildwood, FL; a sister, Peggy Joan (Lee) Doctor of Glenview, IL; and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her son, Robert Conrad Burkholz on May 24, 2007 and her parents, D.R. Shaffer, Sr. and Ella Frances Shaffer.