Conrad Balkin

Conrad “Chip” Balkin, 62 of Coloma, passed away Thursday, July 19, 2012 at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 11:30 A.M. Monday, July 23, 2012 at St. Matthews Evangelical Lutheran Church, 671 McAllister in Benton Harbor with Pastor Richard Hennig officiating. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens in Coloma. Friends may visit from 4:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. Sunday, July 22, 2012 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to St. Matthews Church or the Humane Society of Southwest Michigan. Those wishing to share a memory of Chip online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Chip was born September 13, 1949 in St. Joseph, MI to Richard & Norma (Heimbuch) Balkin. A Vietnam Veteran, he served his country in the United States Army from 1967 until 1970. On May 1, 1971 he married Barbara Hall in Benton Harbor. Chip worked for Bosch Manufacturing for 17 years. In his spare time he enjoyed traveling, spending time with family and took pride in doing projects to improve his home. Chip is survived by his wife Barbara Balkin of Coloma; son Matthew (Jamie) Balkin of Coloma; daughter Christey Balkin of Orlando, FL; granddaughter Josie Balkin of Coloma; and was a special uncle to his nieces and nephews. His canine companion Chewchi. Chip was preceded in death by his father Richard Balkin, mother Norma Broadhurst, brother Ronald Balkin and infant daughter Kellie Balkin.