Milton H. Essig

Milton H. Essig, 94, of St. Joseph, passed away Monday, November 26, 2007 at Caretel Inns of Royalton. A Celebration of Life Eternal will be held at 11:00 A.M. Friday at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 2673 W. John Beers Rd., Stevensville. Burial will follow at Lincoln Township Cemetery in Stevensville. Friends may call from 5:00 until 8:00 P.M. Thursday at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Building Fund. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mr. Essig was born September 5, 1913 in Bridgman to Henry & Katherine (Herzog) Essig, Sr. Milton was active in scouting as a youth, earning the rank of Eagle Scout. He graduated from Bridgman High School in the class of 1931. As a young man, Milton worked at Emlong’s Nursery in Stevensville. In 1934, he married the former Anna Marie Tabbert. She preceded him in death in 1942. In 1945, Milton married Edith Marie Hendrix Hoge. She preceded him in death in 1997. Milton was employed at Gast Manufacturing Corp. in Benton Harbor, retiring in 1978 as an assembly supervisor after 35 years of employment. He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Stevensville. In his spare time, Milton enjoyed hunting & fishing at his cabin in Manistee. He also enjoyed the time spent in his workshop. There was nothing that he couldn’t build or repair once he set his mind to it. Mr. Essig is survived by his children-Gerry Essig of St. Joseph, Roger (Judy) Hoge of Stevensville, Darlene (Ed) Odachowski of Ridgefield, CT, Diana (Ron) Ott of Stevensville, Randy (Cindy) Essig of Floral City, Florida; seven grandchildren-Rhonda Patterson, Michael Hoge, Cheryl Schadler, Rick Ott, Jim Ott, Dan Ott, Emily Cunningham; fifteen great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and two sisters-Marcella Guy of Grand Rapids, MI & Joyce Embrey of San Juan Capistrano, CA. In addition to his two wives, Milton was preceded in death by his parents, four brothers & one sister.