John J. Janke
John J. Janke, 80 of Millburg, passed away, Sunday, June 12, 2016 at Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville. A Celebration of Life Eternal will be held 11:30 a.m. Friday at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 1965 Broadway, Benton Harbor, with Rev. Jeff Bolwerk officiating. Burial will follow at Crystal Springs Cemetery in Benton Harbor. Friends may visit with the family from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorial donations may be made to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Michigan Lutheran High School, 4-H Foundation or the Rabbit Barn at Berrien County Youth Fair.Those wishing to sign John’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. John was born July 9, 1935 in Benton Township to Reinholt & Bertha (Steinke) Janke, the youngest of six children. He was baptized in 1935 and confirmed in 1949 at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Benton Harbor. John attended the old Pearl School and St. Matthew’s Lutheran School and graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1953. He served his country in the United States Army from 1955 to 1957. On April 11, 1964 he married Donna Dettmann at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church. John owned and operated Janke Insurance Agency in Millburg for more than 50 years. John was active in 4-H from the age of 10 and was currently Co-Coordinator and Leader for Countysiders 4-H Club. He was a former member of the board of directors of the Berrien County 4-H Foundation and former president of the Berrien County 4-H Leaders Council. Currently he was president of the Outstanding Leaders Committee and was a recipient of the Michigan Emerald Clover Society for 4-H. He was also very active in the Berrien County Youth Fair as a member of the Rabbit Committee, serving as Assistant Barn Superintendent since 2011. John and Donna raised Chocolate Havana Rabbits, showing them at Open Shows in the area and nearby states. John was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church where he currently served as an Elder and held other offices over the years. John enjoyed making dandelion wine and sauerkraut, but his highlight was the family tradition of making Gritzwurst with everyone including the kids, who did the taste test. John’s marriage to Donna was blessed with three children-Laurice Lynn (Don) Boley of Avondale, AZ, Jeanice Joyelle (Dan) McConomy of Stevensville, and his son & business partner Hethe Jonathan (Lauren) Janke of Millburg; nine grandchildren-Crystal & Garrett Meek, Jenny, Matthew & Mitchell McConomy, Mike Boley, and Jacob, Madeline & Evan Janke; his brother Robert Janke of Schoolcraft, three sisters-Irma Krieger of Watervliet, Mildred (Alton) Wendzel of Watervliet, Verna (Frank) Ratter of Navarre, FL; sister-in-law Sherron Janke of Altamonte Springs, FL; brother-in-law Ronald (Sharon) Dettmann; and numerous nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Carlton Janke, brother-in-law Allan Krieger, and sister-in-law Leona “Onie” Janke.
Mary Velek Keyer
Mary Velek Keyer, passed away December 22, 2015, in Fort Myers, Florida where she resided for the past 14 years. Mary was raised in Coloma and was a member of the 1961 graduating class. She resided with her family on Paw Paw Lake on the site of Woodwards Pavilion that was built in 1899 by her family. Summers growing up were spent with family and friends staying in one of the old cottages that remained from the resort. After graduating she worked for years at Baker Insurance and spent many happy times around the lake with friends dancing at the Pleasant View Resort. Later after a vacation trip to Mexico she ended up staying there and attending college. Then it was on to San Francisco where she continued her employment in the insurance industry while starting a very successful pet sitting business. There she met and married Raymond Keyer who has preceded her in death. After 21 years in San Francisco Mary sold her pet sitting business and moved to Fort Myers, Florida to be near her brother. Mary’s love of animals naturally steered her in the direction of starting another pet sitting business which she stayed active in until she became ill. In addition to her husband, Mary is preceded in death by her parents Fred and Margaret Velek. She is survived by her brother Conrad and her step son Steven Keyer who both reside in Fort Myers. Mary has been cremated and a memorial service with her remains will be held June 24 at 1 p.m., at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Watervliet with Father John Peter officiating. A gathering for lunch with friends and relatives will follow. Anyone wishing to remember Mary with a memorial may do so at the Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan.
Lori Lynn Colvin Rohrer
Lori Lynn Colvin Rohrer, 47, ended her fantastic voyages around the sun on Tuesday, June 7, 2016, after a valiant year long battle with cancer, at the Hanson Hospice Center, St. Joseph, MI. Lori will be forever remembered for her strength, honesty, can do spirit, unashamed pragmatism, and a spot on sarcastic streak that always put a smile on your face. Following Lori’s wishes, there will be no formal service and cremation has taken place. The family will host a Celebration of Lori’s Life with details to be published at a later date. The family would like to thank all the doctors, nurses, aides, and caregivers that supported Lori in her time of need. A very special appreciation and love for our friends and family that assisted Lori during the last year, including all the thoughts, prayers, phone calls, cards, flowers, and visits during her illness. Lori was born March 11, 1969, in Gary, Indiana to Jim and Cleone (Walker) Colvin. She graduated from Westville High School (class of 1987) and attended Purdue University North Central while working full-time at LaPorter Federal Credit Union. It was during this time that she met her perfect match and surviving spouse Nathan Rohrer, whom she married on August 13, 1989. Together with Nathan, she continued her studies at Purdue University in West Lafayette before moving to Maryland and completing her Bachelor degree from Towson State University (now Towson University). Lori’s first priority was always her two precious daughters, Madeleine and Hannah. Lori was the ultimate soccer mom for Maddy and HP, volunteering for more than a decade with the local youth soccer organization, AYSO, as a coach and mentor for a generation of young women in Coloma, Watervliet, and Hartford. Lori was also instrumental in bringing the Women’s soccer program to Hartford High School. She forewent a career in order to always be available for the girls when they needed her, working part-time at the school, helping the Hartford Friends of the Library, and in recent years at Lakeland Hospital Watervliet. Lori was a voracious reader, particularly fond of science fiction in her early years and mystery novels later in life. She collected an extensive collection of works and proudly displayed them in her library. Genealogical research occupied Lori quite often and she thoroughly enjoyed trying to find those nuggets of family heritage lost in the hidden treasure of time. Lori rarely found a antique crock she didn’t like and collected them and other items of interest while scouring local garage sales and auctions. Lori enjoyed travelling and though her allotted time was entirely too short, she was happy to have explored much of our beautiful country as well as some wonderful and memorable trips overseas. Large extended family camping trips were a highlight of the year and provided Lori and her family with precious memories that will never be forgotten. Animals were always an important part of Lori’s life. Numerous cats, dogs, horses, and yes miniature donkeys, were mainstays at the homestead and she loved and cared for each of them over the years. Ever the practical warrior, Lori spearheaded the more than ten year renovation of the family’s 100 year old farm house, making it a beautiful home that put her love of antiques, books, and family on full display. Lori is survived by her husband, Nathan; their two daughters, Madeleine and Hannah; her parents, Jim and Cleone (Walker) Colvin; her sister Kelli (Geoff) Lo and nieces Katie and Avery; her brother Brian Colvin and nephews Jonathan and Michael, father and mother-in-law Larry and Carolyn Rohrer; sister-in-law Darla (Scott) Miller and nephew Chas (Shayla) Wilson and niece Brooklyn (Jack) Wilson; and numerous cousins, friends, and neighbors. The family asks that no flowers be sent but rather you contact your local American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) and ask how you can help enrich our children’s lives.
Death Notices
Holly S. Clifford, 58, of Coloma/Watervliet, died Wednesday, June 8, at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph. Hutchins Funeral Home, Watervliet. Maxine Eubanks, 95, of Coloma, died Saturday, June 11, 2016. Starks & Menchinger Chapel, St. Joseph. Joan “Joni” White, 81, of Watervliet, died Sunday, June 12, 2016. Hutchins Funeral Home, Watervliet.
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