Marion J. Manthe

Marion J. Manthe, 80, of Benton Harbor, passed away Tuesday, April 25, 2017 at The Willows in St. Joseph.   A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, May 6, 2017 at Grace Lutheran Church, 404 E. Glenlord Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. Glenn Rosenbaum officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph.  Friends may visit with the family from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. Friday at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Grace Lutheran Church, St. Joseph.  Those wishing to sign Marion’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.   Marion was born May 15, 1936 in West Bend, Wisconsin to Arnold & Emma (Wolf) Lober. She graduated from Dr. Martin Luther Prep in New Ulm, MN in 1954, attended Dr. Martin Luther College from 1954-1955 and did her student teaching in Neenah, WI from 1955-1956. Marion earned her Bachelor’s Degree  from Western Michigan University in 1985 and went on to earn her Master’s  in Library Science. On December 30, 1956, she married Ronald A. Manthe at Zion Lutheran Church in Columbus, Wisconsin.  Marion was employed as a teacher & librarian with Benton Harbor Area Schools, retiring in 2003 after thirty years.  She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in St. Joseph & volunteered at the Krasl Art Center, Sarett Nature Center & The Symphony League.  Marion enjoyed traveling the US and other countries with her husband Ron, watching movies, was an avid reader and cherished the time spent with her family.  Marion is survived by her children-Peter (Sherry) Manthe of Crown Point, IN, Sharon (Steven) Hasse of Benton Harbor, Thomas Manthe of Niles, MI, Carl (Penelope) Manthe of Santa Monica, CA; son-in-law David Cooper of Beaver Dam, WI; fifteen grandchildren-Stacy (Brian) Lopez, Lanny Manthe, Victoria Manthe, Kyle (Christa) Manthe, Jessica (Tim) Hoffman, Caleb (Stacey) Cooper, Ashley Manthe, Lee (Samantha) Hasse, Jamie (MJ) Torres, Christian Cooper, Monica (Fiancee Michael Grix) Hasse, Collin Cooper, Dakota Manthe, & Maxwell & Anderson Manthe; nine great-grandchildren-Roycelynne, Angelina, Adriana, Ava, Preston, Alexander, Vera, Carson & Liam; two brothers- John (Anna Marie) Lober of Immo, SC, Paul (Marlene) Lober of Jackson, WI; and numerous nieces & nephews. Marion was preceded in death by her husband Ron on March 4, 2017, daughter Susan Cooper in 2014, a great-great grandson Ryan Merx, her parents and her sister Emma Jean Krebs.