Freda Schilke

Freda Schilke, 97, formerly of St. Joseph, passed away, Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at her granddaughter’s home in Cromwell, Indiana, where she received loving care for the past five years. A Celebration of Life Eternal will be held 1:00 P.M. Saturday at Grace Lutheran Church, 404 E. Glenlord Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. Noah Headrick officiating. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens, Coloma. Friends may call from Noon until 1:00 P.M. at the church. Memorial may be made to Grace Lutheran Church, Michigan Lutheran High School or Hospice of your choice. Those wishing to sign Freda’s Memory Book online may do so at www.stark-menchinger.com. Freda was born August 23, 1915 in Dowagiac, Michigan to Gottlieb & Marie (Fiege) Disterheft. On September 28, 1940, she married Adolph Schilke at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Benton Harbor, celebrating 50 plus years before his passing. Freda was the bookkeeper and office manager for the family business-Schilke Auto Parts-in Benton Harbor for more than 40 years. She was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church, and formerly St. Matthew’s. She enjoyed tending to her gardens, both flower & vegetable, using the vegetables in her kitchen to promote her healthy living beliefs. Her church, her family and her gardens were very important to her. She is survived by her son, Henry (Kathy) Schilke of Benton Harbor; daughter, Mary (Martin) Raddatz of Staples, Minnesota; sister, Clara (Arnie) Klug of Berrien Center; brother, Herbert (Thelma) Disterheft of Sister Lakes; five grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Freda was preceded by her parents; husband, Adoph Schilke; sisters, Helen Schilke, Ida Janke, Elsie First, Dorothy Garalts Dochovitch and Martha Steinke; and brothers, Harry, Oscar and Rudy Disterheft.