Elsie Schwoebel

Elsie Schwoebel, 92-years-old, died peacefully in her sleep on Thursday April 18th, 2013, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph, MI. at 8:00 pm. A Celebration of Life Eternal will be held 10:00 A.M. Tuesday Trinity Lutheran Church, Court & Market Streets, St. Joseph, with Rev. Thomas Batsky officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph. Friends may visit from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Monday at Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church or Hospice at Home. Those wishing to sign Elsie’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Elsie was born on August 21, 1920 in Poland to Godfrey and Julia Deckert. She was the oldest of 4 children. She met her sweetheart, Harold (Hal) Schwoebel, one summer at the House of David beer gardens. The couple was married on September 6, 1941 at Trinity Lutheran Church in St Joseph, Michigan. Married for 43 years, Elsie & Harold raised their 4 children, Sally, John, Janet and Roger in St Joseph, Michigan. She was a woman of faith very involved with Trinity Lutheran Church. Known for her ease in frequent conversation with even total strangers, she possessed a contagious smile and an entertaining sense of humor. Her signature gift of joy, shown through her constant smiling, laughter, and joking around, will never be forgotten. Elsie loved Lake Michigan. Every day that she was able, she would drive by the lake. With a real zest for life, Elsie loved to putter in her garden, sing in the church choir, and spend time with her family especially her Grandchildren. Elsie is survived by her daughter Sally (Jim) Huling; son John (Jack Whitlock) daughter Janet (Schwoebel) Rauschenbach and her 4 grandchildren Aaron Knuth, Emily Knuth, Jarod Knuth and Todd (Sharon) Hocker. Elsie is preceded in death by her parents, Godfrey and Julia Deckert; her husband Harold; her youngest son Roger; her two sisters Anna Varney and Christina Thumm and her brother Don Deckert The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Lakeland Hospital and Hospice at Home for their support in her final days.