Keitha B. Dase

Keitha B. Dase, 87, of St. Joseph, passed away, Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at Whitcomb Towers where she resided. Celebration of Life Eternal Services will be held 10:00 A.M. Monday at Trinity Lutheran Church, Court & Market Streets, St. Joseph, with Rev. Michael Roth officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph. Friends may visit with the family from 2:00 P.M. until 5:00 P.M. Sunday at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association-Michigan Great Lakes Chapter-Chelsea or Maude Preston-Palenske Library. Those wishing to sign Keitha’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Keitha was born February 27, 1926 in Battle Creek, Michigan. On August 15, 1953, she married Elmer J. Dase in St. Joseph. She attended Lake Michigan College and graduated from Western Michigan University with a Bachelor’s Degree in 1976 and a Master’s Degree in 1979. Keitha taught at Benton Harbor High School for fifteen years retiring in 1991. She implemented a reading program for 9th graders to help those having problems. Keitha was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church where she was active in Ladies Aide and bible study. She volunteered at the Krasl, Maude Preston Palenske Library, The Box Factory, and Whitcomb Towers, and acted in many plays with the Twin City Players. Keitha drove her convertible in many Blossom Parades carrying parade dignitaries. In her free time, she enjoyed reading, movies, painting with oils & watercolors, and most of all, the time spent with her family. Keitha is survived by her children-Daniel Dase of White Cloud, MI, Laura (Bruce) Williams of Canton, MI; daughter-in-law Cathy Neuendorf of St. Joseph; and three grandchildren-Ashley Dase, Andrew Dase, & Emily Williams. She was preceded in death by her parents-Charles Goldstein, Hilda (Stevens) Goldstein & Irene (Hahn) Jaycox, her husband Elmer J. Dase on May 31, 1988, her granddaughter Heather Dase on July 21, 1994, and her son Jeffrey Dase on February 21, 1996.