Joseph Kella

BENTON HARBOR – Joseph T. “Ted” Kella, 61, of New Carlisle, IN, formerly of Benton Harbor, passed away on Tuesday, May 15, 2007, at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center in South Bend. A service celebrating his life will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, May 17, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home in St. Joseph with Rev. Jim Stilwell officiating. Cremation will take place following the service. Friends may visit with the family on Thursday beginning at 12:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the Lung Cancer Alliance. Ted was born on April 17, 1946, in Dayton, OH, to Joseph and Beatrice (Haskins) Kella. He graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1964 and received an Associates Degree in Journalism from Southwestern Michigan College. He proudly served his country as a sharpshooter in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. On December 27, 1995, he married the former Elizabeth “Betty” Wyatt in South Bend. He worked for Schneider National as a truck driver for the past 15 years. He was member of the American Legion Post in New Carlisle, IN. He is survived by his wife, Betty Kella of New Carlisle, IN; his parents, Joseph and Beatrice Kella of Benton Harbor; his children, Theadora “Teddi” (Albert) Fuller of Niles, Pauline “Reeni” (Larry) Hyatt of Dowagiac, and Jerry Thompson of New Carlisle, IN; two brothers, Daniel (Nancy) Kella of Asheville, NC, and Matt Kella of Kalamazoo; a sister, Elizabeth “Liz” Kella of Uppsala, Sweden; three grandchildren, Tyler, Taylor, and Triston; and many special friends.