Erica Schrag

Erica Schrag peacefully went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, May 7 at Caretel Inns of Lakeland. Her Visitation will be at Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Services on Niles Road in St. Joseph on Saturday, May 11 from 1:30 to 3:00 P.M. A Celebration of Life Service will be held immediately thereafter at 3:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting memorials be made to Lakeland’s Hospice at Home. Those wishing to sign Erica’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Erica was born September 19, 1926 to Gustav and Julianna (Lutz) Nickel in Benton Harbor. The Nickels moved to Benton Harbor from Riga, Latvia and like many other immigrants of that time, only German was spoken in their household. So, just as it was with many other local children, the Nickel boys and girls–Art, Arnie, Dora, Elsa, and Erica had to learn their English in Benton Harbor schools. Erica graduated from Benton Harbor High School and went on to work at several places in our community over the years including Robins Marina, Whirlpool, Saron Lutheran Church, and ASAE (now ASABE). She met the love of her life, Glen (Lefty) Schrag at Whirlpool and they were married on October 20, 1956. They had one daughter, Juli, of whom Erica was very proud. Besides her love for her family, Erica’s great joys in life included bowling, golf, dancing at the old Shadowland Ballroom in St. Joseph, and the Crystal Palace in Coloma, and also her family’s trips to South Carolina and Tennessee. Erica was preceded in death by her husband, Lefty, her parents, and her brothers and sisters. She is survived by her daughter Juli (KC) Gast; grandchildren, Sonya and Erik; sister, Dora; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Ed and Dee Schrag; sister-in-law Annette Schrag; and several wonderful nieces and nephews. On behalf of the family, our thanks to the employees of Lakeland Regional Medical Center, Caretel, and Hospice at Home. Your professionalism and genuine concern for families’ loved ones helped tremendously through this process. And finally, be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.