Mary Lou Ziemke

Mary Lou Ziemke, 88, of St. Joseph, MI passed away Sunday, January 3, 2016 at Pine Ridge Rehabilitation Center and Nursing Home in Stevensville.  A Celebration of Life Service will be held 1:00 P.M. Friday, January 8, 2016 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 2673 W. John Beers in Stevensville with Pastor Brett Ehlke officiating. Burial will take place at North Shore Memory Gardens in Coloma. Friends may visit from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Thursday, January 7, 2016 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Service, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church or St. Joseph Lincoln Senior Center. Those wishing to share a memory of Mary Lou online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com  Mary Lou was born January 21, 1927 in Coloma, MI to Louis and Julia (Bocher) Damon. She graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1945. On October 25, 1946 she married Walter Ziemke in Benton Harbor. Mary Lou worked in food service for Benton Harbor Schools for many years. She was a member of the St. Paul’s Ladies Guild the “OWLS” and also volunteered wherever she could including Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph Lincoln Senior Center and the American Red Cross. Mary Lou ushered at the Mendel Center and was a mentor for Benton Harbor elementary school. In her spare time she enjoyed cooking, baking, gardening, animals and spending time with friends.    Mary Lou is survived by her daughter, Susan (Milan) Sicko of Union, MI; son, Jeff Ziemke of St. Joseph; six grandchildren, Traci (Mike) Garland, Heather (Ben) Dellay, Daniel Ziemke, Stacey (Shaun) Mcloed, Joe (Sara) Jackson, and Christina Jackson; eight great grandchildren Justin, Megan, Jason, Ty, Ciera, Conner, Rex, and Taylor; and sister Ruth Wilson. Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents, husband Walter, sons William and Robert Ziemke, and sisters, Elizabeth Fox and Anne Gassoway.