Larry Alan Lerke

Larry Alan Lerke, 71, of Stevensville, passed away at the Hanson Hospice Center on Tuesday, June 12, 2018. He had been battling cancer for the last 8 years. He was a courageous fighter, who attacked each battle with a positive and optimistic attitude.   Several times, he beat the odds. And he always had the belief he would beat cancer. Larry was born March 7, 1947 in Benton Harbor to Arthur and Elsie (Klatt) Lerke.  At age 17, Larry joined the Navy.  For the next 4 years, he sailed the Atlantic and Mediterranean aboard the  USS America, as a machinist mate. He was part of her first crew, a “Plank Owner”.  We all enjoyed hearing his stories about his adventures on the high seas. After returning to the area, he worked a short time at Bendix and Benton Harbor Engineering. In 1974, he started working at Gast Manufacturing. He spent the next 31 years as a machinist and set-up man. In 2004, he went to work at Coloma Motor Sports. He loved working around motorcycles. Larry was a very outgoing and happy person. He was quick witted and funny.  He honestly never met a person he didn’t like. Larry loved to go fishing. In his 17 foot Bass Tracker boat, he must have logged thousands of miles on the St. Joseph river, and the many small lakes in the area. He and his dad loved to go to Lake Erie fishing for walleye. He even took that boat to Canada on his camping trips, of all of the fish he caught, he was especially proud of those sturgeon he caught in San Francisco Bay. Larry loved to go camping. It did not matter if it was a tent, or the 27 foot 5th wheel.  He loved to be outdoors. When Larry was 44, he discovered how much fun, it was to ride dirt bikes.  Every chance he could, he would ride the trails in mid-Michigan.  He got to know them like the back of his hand.  After cracking his sternum, breaking his collar bone, and his leg, he began riding road bikes. His goal was to put 100,000 miles on his Yamaha 1100.  He was close. He loved those Tuesday night rides with the Coloma Motor Sports group, and the Sunday rides with friends. He took many trips around Lake Superior and Lake Huron on his Yamaha. His latest passion was riding the quad in the woods.  At age 71, it was safer for him to be on 4 wheels. On November 12, 1994, he married Victoria Bazan.  She was the love of his life. She was his partner, his soulmate and best friend. Larry is survived by his loving wife of 23 years, Vicky; 3 daughters:  Lori Hartline, Sheli (Mike) Sobralski, and Kim (Rod) Curley; grandchildren, Miranda Sobralski, Harlie Hartline, Krista and Walker Curley; great-grandson, Anthony; sisters, Pam (Roger) Williams, Debbie (Ron) Puleo, and Lynn Lerke; in-laws, Theresa (Mike) Rondelli, Nicolas (Brenda) Bazan, Thomas (Paula) Bazan, Elizabeth (Myall) Hawkins, Joyce (Dale) DeLong, and Mary (John) Spear; many nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces; and his 55-pound lapdog, Lady III. Larry was preceded in death by his father, Arthur; mother, Elsie; and brother Craig. A Celebration of Life Memorial service will take place on Saturday, June 16, 2018 at 12 PM at Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Friends may visit with the family from 10 AM until the time of the service at the funeral home. Memorials can be made to the Hanson Hospice Center or the Marie Yeager Cancer Center. Those wishing to sign Larry’s Memory Book may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.