Jean Borre

Jean Borre, 82, of St. Joseph, passed away on March 11, 2014 after a lengthy illness. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 15, at St. Bernard Catholic Church, Benton Harbor, with Father William J. Jacobs, Jr. officiating.  Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. on Friday, March 14, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Services, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph.  Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Memorial contributions may be made to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation or Michigan Parkinson’s Foundation. Jean was a Christmas baby, born December 25, 1931 in Armada, MI, to Lester and Marion Chevrie.  She attended Michigan State College where she met her future husband, Mathew P. “Bud” Borre, who was serving watermelon at Campbell Hall.  According to Bud, he noticed her when she came back for her third serving of watermelon.  They married on June 13, 1953 and moved to the Twin Cities where they raised 4 children and worked together running Ace Hardware in Scottdale.  Jean enjoyed playing bridge, boating, golf, and playing Scrabble with her grandchildren.  She was an avid reader and volunteered at the St. Joseph Public Library. Mrs. Borre is survived by her husband, children Mary Ann (Joe) Pater, Mathew P. “Chip” Borre III, Steve (Michele) Borre and daughter-in-law Elizabeth Borre.  Her grandchildren, Kelly (Ed) Hearn, Amy (Matthew) Ellspermann, C.J. Pater, Lisa Borre, Mathew P. (Lauren) Borre IV, Kathryn “Kit” Borre, Heather Borre, Michael Borre, Bridget Borre, Mathew J. Borre, Andrew Borre, Nick Borre, Zachary Borre, and Steven (Iris) Tran.  She also has 7 great-grandchildren who survive her. Jean was preceded in death by her parents, her sister and brother-in-law Ann and Orv Krause, brother-in-law Tom Borre and her son Michael.