John Karas

John Karas, 76, of Stevensville, passed away Thursday, March 22, 2007, at Lakeland Regional Hospital, St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 1:00 P.M., Tuesday, March 27, 2007, at Stevensville United Methodist Church, 5506 Ridge Rd., Stevensville, with Rev. Gordon Barry officiating. Burial will follow at Lincoln Township Cemetery. Visitation is from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Monday, at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorial donations may be made to Pacific Garden Missions. Those wishing to sign the guestbook online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com John was born on November 4, 1929, in Benton Harbor, MI, to Jessie (Hastings) and John Karas, Sr. He worked for Quality Cork & Seal distributing materials, before his retirement in 1989. John served his Country in the U.S. Army and in the U.S. Marine Corps. On July 10, 2002, John married E. Karas in St. Joseph. John enjoyed many interests in life – including motorcycles, live radio shows, traveling, trains and trolleys, gardening, nature. John’s love for trains and trolley cars led him to pursue his passion all the way to Melbourne, Australia 8 times in his lifetime. He was a member of the Central Electric Rail fan’s Association. John was a very loving, sweet husband and will be greatly missed. John is survived by his wife E. Karas, and his daughter Maria (Salvador) Rocafort of Ft. Lauderdale, FL, cousins Frieda Mae Theesfield of O’Dessa, TX, and Margie Paschel of Joplin, MO. He is preceded in death by his parents.