Gary Lee Bluschke

Gary Lee Bluschke, 64, passed away on Friday, December 9, 2016 at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph, MI. Arrangements have been entrusted to Starks & Menchinger Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, MI.   A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, December 17, 11:00a.m. at Napier Parkview Baptist Church, 245 W. Napier Ave., Benton Harbor, MI, with Dr. J.O. Hosler officiating. Visitation is on Friday at Starks & Menchinger Funeral Home from 4:00-7:00P.M. Memorial contributions may be made to the Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Foundation – 1721 N. Boulevard, Houston, TX 77098 or to the Berrien County Humane Society. Friends wishing to leave the family a message of condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com   Gary was born in St. Joseph on April 18, 1952 to Stanley and Eleanor (Grieser) Bluschke. He is survived by his parents-Stanley and Eleanor of St. Joseph; sister-Gloria Veres of Bridgman; and brother-Jim (Holly) Bluschke of St. Joseph; and his best friend-April Smith and her daughter-Elisabeth Smith.   Gary was a lifelong resident of St. Joseph Charter Township. He has been on the township Board of Trustees since 2000; being involved with the Public Safety Team and former Secretary of the Public Safety Committee, the Election Commission, the Zoning Board of Appeals, and the St. Joseph Public Library. He worked at the Berrien County Prosecutor’s Office as a Business Administrator. His lifelong church home was at Napier Parkview Baptist Church where he was past Business Administrator, past Church Board Member and past Chairman & Secretary of the Trustee Board. Gary was also involved with the Grace Christian School in Watervliet where he was a School Board Member, past Vice Chairman, and Chairman of the Bylaws & Public Affairs Committee. His professional affiliations included the Michigan Township Association and the Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan. Gary was a 1970 graduate of St. Joseph High School; a Lake Michigan College graduate; graduate of Bethel College – Summa Cum Laude; and also attended Grand Rapids School of Bible and Music. Gary will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.