Joan L. Mantke

Joan L. Mantke, 67, of St. Joseph, passed away peacefully, on Thursday, December 13, 2007 at her home, with her children at her side, after a courageous battle with cancer. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 A.M. Monday at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Burial will follow at Lincoln Township Cemetery in Stevensville. Friends may call from 3:00 until 5:00 P.M. Sunday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Berrien County Cancer Service. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mrs. Mantke was born June 23, 1940 in Chicago, Illinois to Morris & Leona (Campbell) Bernstein. Her family moved to Berrien Springs, and in 1958, she graduated from Berrien Springs High School. On October 12, 1962, she married Richard Mantke in Berrien Springs. Joan loved to cook. She owned and operated, for many years, The Food Affair in St. Joseph. Most recently, she was employed at Vickie’s Sandbar, also in St. Joseph. Joan was a loving & caring mother & grandmother. She was kind & generous to all who knew her. Joan loved animals, especially her cats. In her spare time, she enjoyed traveling. Joan is survived by two daughters-Laura (Scott) Rosenhagen of Berrien Springs, Linda (Leonard) Dolezan of Benton Harbor; her son Michael Mantke of St. Joseph; six grandchildren-Lisa Mantke, Jenna, & Ryan Dolezan, Marissa Mantke, Jason & Julie Rosenhagen; and one great-grandson-Cade Mantke. She was preceded in death by her parents, her former husband Richard Mantke on May 29, 1989, and her special friend Joseph Marcus on June 2, 2006.