Ralph De Vries

Ralph R. DeVries Sr., 77, of Berrien Springs, Michigan went home to be with his Lord and Savior on July 25, 2002 following a short illness. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Monday, 11:00 a.m., July 29, 2002 at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. The family will receive friends from 1:00 ? 5:00 pm Sunday, July 28, at the funeral home. Military rites will be conducted at Rose Hill Cemetery in Berrien Springs following the service. Memorials may be made to Hinchman United Methodist Church, 8154 Church St., Berrien Springs, MI 49103. Those wishing to share a memory on line may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mr. DeVries was born January 20, 1925, to Richard and Gertrude (Vandenberg) DeVries. Following his service during WWII in the Unites States Marine Corp., he married Jean A. Nichol on April 24, 1947. Mr. DeVries was a long-time member of the Hinchman United Methodist Church and Stover-Wagner Post 85 of the American Legion. Mr. DeVries was a man of many talents, enjoying gardening, hunting, fishing, singing, and playing with his grandchildren. He will be missed. Survivors include his wife, Jean DeVries and his mother-in-law, Dorothy M. Nichol of Berrien Springs, four daughters, Mary L. (Jeffery) Porter of Allendale, MI., Dorothy J. (Neil) Strefling of Troy, Mil, Hilda M. (Douglas) Montey of Coloma, MI., and Kathy L. (Dennis) Mallon of Carmel, IN and one son, Ralph R. (Sally) DeVries, Jr., of Niles, MI., Eleven grandchildren ? Amy (Jim) Langell, Christopher R. (Karla) Porter, Adam W. DeVries, Anne M. Porter, Sara J. Harris, Jennifer L. Harris, David B. Mullen, Elizabeth M. Mullen, Neil A. Strefling, Michael A. Strefling, Elinor R. Mallon, and three great grand children ? Alexander K. Porter, Summer N. Langell, and Karissa K. Porter. Mr. DeVries is also survived by four sisters and three brothers. He was preceded in death by grandson Ryan Tyree, one sister and two brothers.