10-25-2018 Tri-City Area Obituaries

JOHN TARANTINO Jr. John’s life began October 8, 1927, in Chicago, Illinois. When John was a teenager his parents moved to Southwest Michigan, settling in Benton Harbor. John was a 1946 graduate of Benton Harbor High School and continued his education at Western Michigan University. His college education was cut short when John was called on to serve his country in the United States Army. Upon returning home John went to work for Whirlpool Corporation until retiring. Outside of work he enjoyed golfing, old cars, and he was a lifetime member of the Watervliet Lion’s Club.

John’s greatest joy was spending time with his loving family which includes: his wife of 68 years Beverly (Means) Tarantino; three children, Gary (Eula) Tarantino, Gail (Gary) Kessler, Bruce (Judy) Tarantino; six grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; a sister, Barbara Smith; and several nieces and nephews. John died Sunday, October 21, 2018 at Brookdale Delta in Lansing. He is preceded in death by a great-grandson Collin Tarantino, parents John and Goldie (Kinkade) Tarantino Sr., and two brothers Jim and Ross Wm. Tarantino. A memorial service will be celebrated Thursday, November 1, at 12:30 p.m. with visitation prior from 11:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Hutchins Funeral Home in Watervliet. Memorials may be made in John’s name to Watervliet Lions Club or Michigan Premier Hospice, 312 E. Houghton Ave., West Branch, MI 48661. You are welcome to leave a message of comfort for John’s family at hutchinsfuneral.com.

GEORGE PAUL REINHARDT George Paul Reinhardt was taken to heaven on October 4, 2018. George was born on March 17, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois to Amelia (Paul) Reinhardt. He was raised in Berrien Springs, Michigan. After graduating from Andrews University High School, George went into the Navy for four years and was station on the battleship Oriskany as a gunner. George was so proud to show family his part as an extra on the film “The Bridges of Toko Ri,” as it was filmed on his ship. Upon returning home from the Korean War, George studied at the University of Michigan where he played football and earned his bachelor’s degrees in both human resources and psychology.

George’s stellar career included City Commissioner of Benton Harbor, Michigan, where he was instrumental in the implementation of the first WIC program in Berrien County. As a human resource director, George enjoyed working for Stanley Miller and Benton Harbor Engineering, where he retired. George married the former Charlene Shuberte Calvert. After retiring, George enjoyed spending time with his family and his dogs. He was also a 50-year member of Masonic Lodge 437 in St. Joseph, Michigan. George was a past Grand Master and reached the level of 32nd degree Mason. Leaving behind to love and cherished memories is his wife, Charlene; one sister, Elsie Hoffman; four step-children, Terry, Charlie, Mary, and Libby Calvert; his grandchildren, Ricky and Dawn Reinhardt, Andrew and Megan Diener, Jackie Norris and his beloved Katie Ritchie; great-grandchildren, Robert Diener, Sarah Hebert, Dalton Pearce and Autumn Diener; a nephew, Charles Calvert along with many nieces and nephews waiting to meet him. Family received friends on Wednesday, Oct. 10 from 10-11. Funeral service was at 11 a.m. at Davis Seawinds Funeral Home, Melbourne FL. Burial was in Cape Canaveral National Cemetery.

Death Notices Jerry D. Stevens, 77, of Coloma died Oct. 16, 2018 at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph. Duffield & Pastrick Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Coloma Kally J. Bergstrom, 73, of St. Joseph died Oct. 14, 2018 at home. Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Services, St. Joseph Eldonna Crockett Wehmann, 81, of Benton Harbor died Oct. 18, 2018 at Royalton Manor Nursing Home. Fairplain Chapel – Florin Funeral Services, Benton Harbor Samuel Carlyn Sage, 51, of Niles died Oct. 11, 2018 at home. Brown Funeral Home and Cremation Service, Niles Gerald “Jerry” Pechtel, 86, of St. Joseph died Oct. 21, 2018 at Pine Ridge Nursing Home, Stevensville. Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Services, St. Joseph Melba Edgerly, 78, of Hartford died Oct. 20, 2018 at home. Clark Chapel, Dowagiac Josephine Ione (Jensen) Brown, 88, of Watervliet died Oct. 22, 2018 at home. Purely Cremations – Starks Family Funeral Homes, Benton Harbor