Lola M. Machota

Lola M. Machota, 88, of Benton Harbor, passed away, Saturday, January 21, 2017 at Serenity Shores Assisted Living in Stevensville.   A private Celebration of Life Service will be held at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, St. Joseph, with burial at Riverview Cemetery. Memorials in Lola’s name may be made to The Unmet Needs Fund at Area Agency on Aging-Region IV, or Caring Circle Hospice.  Those wishing to sign Lola’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.  Lola was born September 11, 1928 in England, Arkansas. She moved to St. Joseph and after raising her family, was employed as a quality control inspector at Bendix/Bosch in St. Joseph, retiring after many years of service.  On September 13, 1997, she married Edwin J. Machota in Michigan City, Indiana.  Lola was a member of the Stevensville American Legion Women’s Auxiliary and volunteered at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph.  She enjoyed cooking, baking and tending to her flower gardens.    Lola is survived by her daughters-Cathy Will of Benton Harbor, Connie Schreiber of Happy Valley, Oregon, Patty (Piet) Keegstra of Eau Claire, Jeanette (Brian) McMahan of New Carlisle, IN; six grandchildren-Justin (Chris) Will, Kyle (Tina) Will, Brett (Amy) Will, Nathan Keegstra, Matthew (Charlie Marie) Keegstra, Jake (Natalie) McMahan; seven great-grandchildren-Sofia, James, Gracie, Sadie, Maesy, Hunter & Riley; and her sister Jeanette Hegi of Conway, Arkansas. She was preceded in death by her mother Elsie McElyea, her first husband David “Buzz” Schlutt on March 11, 2009, her second husband Edwin Machota on September 21, 2016, her son-in-law Dennis Schreiber on March 8, 2016 and her sister Helen McClelland.