Wanda Groth

Wanda Groth, 91, of St. Joseph, formerly Stevensville, passed away peacefully with family by her side on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at Caretel Inns of Lakeland in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 5, 2014 at St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 2673 W. John Beers Road, Stevensville. Burial will follow at Lincoln Township Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family Sunday from 2:00 until 5:00 p.m. at Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Services, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to The Ladies Aid Society of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Those wishing to sign Wanda’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Wanda was born March 24, 1923, in Poland. She was one of 9 children born to Karl and Wilhelmine (Zipple) Jeske. She married Gustav Groth on December 24, 1943 in Germany. Together they had three sons. Her family immigrated to the United States in 1952 and she became a U.S. citizen. A baptized Lutheran, Wanda was a long-time member of St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Benton Harbor and later at St. Paul’s in Stevensville. She retired from Whirlpool Corporation in 1985. Wanda volunteered on the quilting circle at St. Matthew’s. She enjoyed many activities including gardening, canning, crocheting and she was an excellent cook. Most of all, she cherished family gatherings and particularly being with her children and grandchildren. Wanda is survived by her sons Gary (Sherry) Groth of Holland, Harry (Janet) Groth of Bridgman, and Ron (Janel) Groth of St. Joseph; grandchildren Jessica (Joshua) Pennington, Rebecca Groth, Tyler Groth, Gillian (Cody) Korfmacher and Alyssa Groth; step-grandchildren Rachel (Tolga) Kayan and Sarah (Geoff) Willson; great grandchildren Leyla, Ayla and Eren Kayan; Grace, Liam and Adele Willson and Rylee Korfmacher; sisters Olga Sauder, Marta Kropp, Marie Bastian, Emma Schlieper and a brother Walter (Erika) Jeske; as well as many nieces and nephews. Wanda was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Gustav; and by her siblings Elsa Meyer, Adolf Jeske and Arthur Jeske.