Dorothy A. Elmer

Dorothy A. Elmer, 78, formerly of Bacon School Rd., St. Joseph, passed away, Monday, April 15, 2013 at Lakeland Specialty Hospital, Berrien Center. Celebration of Life services will be held 3:00 P.M. Saturday at Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. Robert Schmidt officiating. Burial of her cremated remains will be held at a later date at Spring Run Cemetery in Scottdale. Memorials may be made to the family c/o Starks & Menchinger Chapel. Those wishing to sign Dorothy’s Memory book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Dorothy was born January 5, 1935 in Chicago to John & Lillian (Block) Mursa. She graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1953. Dorothy was employed as bookkeeper at Ferguson Michiana Inc. from 1979 until her retirement in 2005. She was also known as an accomplished accordion player in area polka bands, and served was past-president of the American Federation of Musicians #232. Dorothy was a member of Peace Lutheran Church. Dorothy is survived by her son Albert Pallas of Comstock, MI. She was preceded in death by her parents, three step-brothers-Franz & Heinz Mursa and Claire True, Albert’s father Ralph Pallas, and her second husband Kenneth Elmer.