John Rimpel

John G. Rimpel, 86, of St. Joseph, MI, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, August 5, 2016.  A Celebration of Life Service will be held 11:00 AM Friday, August 12, 2016 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 2673 W. John Beers Rd, Stevensville, MI, with Rev. Jonathan Kruschel officiating. Friends may visit with the family from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM on Thursday, August 11, 2016 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery with Military Rites conducted by the North Berrien Military Rites Team.  Memorials may be made to Hospice at Home or St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Stevensville.  Those wishing to sign John’s guestbook may do so online at www.starks-menchinger.com.  John was born July 15, 1930 in Benton Harbor, MI to Gustave and Pauline (Gruber) Rimpel. He graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1948. John proudly served his country in the U.S. Army from August 1951 to July 1953. He retired from Whirlpool Corp. in 1987, where he was employed as a parts inspector. John was a member of the Stevensville American Legion Post #568, the Dank and the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Union #1918.  He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church since 1961. John enjoyed traveling around the United States and dancing the Polka and the Waltz at the DANK. He never missed an Oktoberfest celebration. John was a devoted father and caretaker of his son, Ron.  John is survived by his sons Ronald Rimpel of St.Joseph, MI, and Richard (Bonnie) Rimpel of Stevensville, MI; daughter Susan Birnie of Philadelphia, PA; 5 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren and brother Harold Rimpel of Stevensville, MI. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sons John and Mark Rimpel; the mother of his children Betty Boyd Rimpel and his sister Lillian Hettig.