Jane Kretchman

Glorian Jane Kretchman, 83, of St. Joseph, went to meet her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Sunday, December 22, 2013 at Lakeland Specialty Hospital, Berrien Center. A Celebration of Life Eternal will be held 11:00 A.M. Monday, at Zion Evangelical United Church of Christ, 3001 Veronica Dr., St. Joseph, with Rev. Eric Thorsen officiating. Burial will follow at Spring Run Cemetery, Scottdale. Friends may call from 3:00 until 6:00 P.M. Sunday, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Zion Evangelical UCC or Royalton Township Fire Department-checks made out to Scottdale Volunteers. Those wishing to sign Jane’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Jane was born January 9, 1930 in Stevensville, Michigan to Emil A. & Glorian G. (Rowe) Fritz. She graduated from Stevensville High School in 1948 and was Secretary of her Senior Class. On November 25, 1952, she married Edward James Kretchman at the Zion Evangelical and Reformed Church in St. Joseph. They were married for 60 years. Jane lived with her family in a large house, which is still standing, on John Beers Road overlooking Hickory Creek on the eastern edge of Stevensville, during much of the 1930’s & 1940’s. She spent many summers working on the neighboring Rutz and Risch farms, and also on the Rowe family homestead in Hartford, Michigan. One of the many memories she would recall was of the times Heavyweight Boxing Champion Joe Lewis would come into Stevensville from his nearby training camp. Jane was very proud of the military service her four brothers gave to this country. Her older brothers were all in the United States Marine Corps. during World War II and her youngest brother became a career officer in the United States Air Force, serving in Vietnam. Jane would recall the many anxious moments she and her parents would have waiting to hear from her brothers during the war years, and the relief they felt when they all returned safely. Jane was employed in the Berrien County Treasurer’s office under William Bartz and worked her way up to Deputy Treasurer. She retired when her son was born and spent her entire married life working with her husband, son and daughter on the family farm. Jane enjoyed cooking, sewing, and growing a garden with her family. She also enjoyed playing the piano and often provided accompaniment for family get togethers in her younger years. Jane was a member of Zion Evangelical United Church, Michigan Farm Bureau, and a member of National Grape Cooperative for 57 years. Jane is survived by her son Edward L. Kretchman and her daughter Susan J. Kretchman, both of St. Joseph; her brother Lt. Col (ret) Paul F. (Patsy) Fritz of Grand Praire, TX; two sisters-in-law-Marian E. (McDermott) Fritz of Peru, IN, Ruth E. (Kretchman) Steinke of St. Joseph and many loving nieces & nephews. Jane was preceded in death by her husband Edward J. Kretchman on January 10, 2013. her parents Emil and Glorian, three brothers- E. Kenneth Fritz, Richard A. Fritz, Marshall J. Dolph, and a sister-in-law Kathleen I. (Struble) Dolph.