Theodore Edwin Troff

Theodore E. Troff, 83, of St. Joseph, passed away Friday, October 5 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph after a brief illness. A Celebration of Ted’s Life will be held at 3:00 P.M. Friday, October 12 at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Dr. Glen Chapman officiating. Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Southwest Michigan or The Samaritan Center. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mr. Troff was born August 1, 1924 in Kalamazoo to Reint & Ruth (Gemrich) Troff. He graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1942. Ted attended Western Michigan University for one term before joining the Air Force in March of 1943. After training in Florida, Texas, Kentucky, Missouri, and at Purdue University, Ted was sent over seas to serve during WWII in France. On November 29, 1944 he was captured near Linnich, Germany and became a POW until May 1, 1945. Ted returned to the states to finish his term, being discharged in February of 1946. He graduated from Kalamazoo College in 1948 and from University of Michigan Law School in 1950 with a Juris Doctor with Honors. Ted began his law career with his uncle Garrett Troff in Kalamazoo, joined Dykema, Jones and Wheat in Detroit in 1951 until 1954, when he and his wife, the former Connie Newland moved to Benton Harbor, and he joined Harvey and Fisher Attys. in February 1954. In 1970, the firm moved to the Law & Title building in St. Joseph. Ted was preceded in death by his first wife Connie, and on August 9, 1986, he married the former Marcia Steele Goff in St. Joseph. On July 29, 1999, Ted retired from Troff, Petzke & Ammeson after nearly 50 years of law. Ted led an active life outside of his practice. He served as President of Twin Cities Community Chest in 1966, the Berrien County Bar Association in 1972-1973, the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph Rotary Club, Adjunct Professor of Business Law-MSU Extension at Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor, Co-founder, President and Director of The Samaritan Counseling Center, President and Director of Cinema Arts Society, Atty. and Board Member of Krasl Art Center, Board of Directors of Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra, Member, Moderator, and Chairman of Trustees at Pilgrim Congregational UCC, and a Board Member of The Tiscornia Foundation. Atty. Troff is survived by his wife Marcia; his children Eric (Linda) Troff of Glendale, CA, Teresa Troff of St. Paul, MN, Alicia Meade of Berwyn, IL, Kent Goff of Atlanta, GA, Dr. Phillip Goff of Tampa, FL; daughter-in-law Jill Goff of Lutz, FL; six grandchildren-Daniel Meade, Peter Meade, Ted Meade and Connie Meade of Berwyn, IL, Alec Goff & Jamie Goff of Tampa, FL; Brother-in-Law & Sister-in-Law Michael & Gail Wells of Benton Harbor; five nephews-Jonathon Wells of Chicago, Stephen (Katie) Wells of Holland, MI, Richard, Mike and Mark Steele of Michigan; two nieces Wendy Steele Vrooman of Carefree AZ, and Michele Steele Smuda of Watervliet MI and several cousins in the Kalamazoo Area including Robert Boes, Al Gemrich and Thomas Klimp.