Louis J. Gelder

Louis J. Gelder, 83, of Benton Harbor, passed away Sunday, July 29, 2012 at Caretel Inns of Lakeland. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10:00 A.M. Thursday at St. John’s Catholic Church, 600 Columbus Ave., Benton Harbor, with Fr. William J. Jacobs, Jr. officiating. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens, Coloma. Friends may call on Wednesday from 5:00 until 8:00 P.M. at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph with Liturgical Prayers recited at 7:30 P.M. Memorials may be made to St. John-St. Bernard Parish or St. Joseph Catholic School in Watervliet. Those wishing to sign Louis’ Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Louis was born May 3, 1929 in Detroit to Jonas & Mathilda (Elikann) Gelder. He graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1947and on October 14, 1950, married his high school sweetheart, the former Mary Ann Bley in Benton Harbor. Louis spent his entire working career at the store started by his grandfather in 1910-Louis Gelder & Sons Farm Equipment in Millburg, now operated by the fourth & fifth generations of the Gelder family. He thoroughly enjoyed his work because of all the interaction with all of the area farmers. He developed many long lasting friendships. Louis was a member of St. John-St. Bernard Parish, the North Berrien Senior Center, and a former member of the Coloma Community School Board. He was a gifted and talented man, building two homes for his family to live in. Louis enjoyed the out of doors and tending to his garden, and the traveling that he was able to do in his motorhome. Louis is survived by his wife Mary Ann; five children-Barbara Gelder of Ft. Wayne, IN, Carleen (Frank) Celmer, Bruce (Renee) Gelder of Benton Harbor, Joe (Diane) Gelder of Coloma, Jennifer (John) Kickles; six grandchildren-Cecily (Denis) Shubin, Amanda Gelder, Mathew (Christina) Gelder, Marc Gelder, Daniel Gelder, Mary Gelder; & five great-grandchildren-Anya, Sofia, Roman, Alexander, & Naomi. He was preceded in death by a daughter Mary Hope Gelder and a grandson Sean Celmer.