Edna F. Patzer

STEVENSVILLE – Edna F. Patzer, 84, of Stevensville, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, February 21, 2007, at home. Per her wishes, cremation has taken place. A memorial service celebrating her life will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 24, at Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Joseph with Rev. Tom Batsky officiating. A private interment of ashes will take place in Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph at a later date. Friends may visit with the family on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home in St. Joseph. Memorial donations may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church. Edna was born on July 17, 1922, in Benton Harbor, to Lum and Nannie (Dunagan) Strunk. She worked for Western Union Telegraph Company when telegrams were delivered by boys on bicycles. She also spent many years at Michigan Bell Telephone Company as a long distance operator. Later, she went on to work for the Wm. C. Roney Investment Firm in the Fidelity Office Building in Benton Harbor. She retired in 1980 from Clark Equipment Company where she worked in the office. She spent several years in Scottsdale, Ariz., before returning to be closer to her family. She loved reading and golfing, but most of all loved spending time with her family, all of whom were her pride and joy. She also enjoyed traveling to Arizona to visit with her close friend and “sister” Mary Phairas. She was a life-long and active member of Trinity Lutheran Church. She is survived by her four sons, Ronald (Mary) Patzer of Stevensville; Donald (Debra) Patzer of Mishawaka, Ind., Garry (Sue) Patzer of Benton Harbor, and Larry Patzer of Sister Lakes; a sister, Virginia “Peggy” Wright of Kalamazoo; her grandchildren, Christopher Patzer, Kristen Patzer, Lindsay Patzer, Tracy Patzer, Holly Patzer, and Tessa (Terry) Davis; her great-grandchildren, John Muday III, Teriana Davis, and Joshua Davis; and many nieces and nephews; and her special friends, June Niccolls and Mary Phairas. She was preceded in death by her parents; her former husbands and special friends, Wally Patzer and Ralph Kimmel; and her great-granddaughter, Tessia Davis.