Loretta E. Petzke

With her family by her side, Loretta E. Petzke, 90, of St. Joseph, was called to her eternal heavenly home on Wednesday, June 6, 2012. A Celebration of Life Eternal will be held on Monday, June 11 at 10:00am at Trinity Lutheran Church, Court & Market Sts., St. Joseph with Rev. Michael Roth officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph. Visitation for Loretta will be held on Sunday, June 10 from 4:00pm to 6:00pm at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church or Trinity Lutheran School. Those wishing to sign Loretta’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Loretta was born October 19, 1921, in St. Joseph to Emil & Elsa (Klatt) Frobel. She graduated from Trinity Lutheran School and then St. Joseph High School in 1939. On December 9, 1945, she married the love of her life, Edward L. Petzke, in St. Joseph. She was employed for twenty-plus years at St. Joseph Savings & Loan, retiring as assistant manager. Loretta was a confirmand and a life member of Trinity Lutheran Church, where she was active with the Ladies Aid and several other church and school related functions. She & her husband Ed were members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, spending many beautiful summer days at West Basin Marina & on Lake Michigan. Loretta enjoyed cooking, baking, sharing ice cream treats, spending time with her many friends, and most of all, every single opportunity to spend time with her loving family. Loretta is survived by two sons-Wayne (Bonnie) Petzke & Roger (Christine) Petzke, both of St. Joseph; five grandchildren-Bradley (Erika) Petzke, Lars (Elizabeth) Petzke, Nils (Melinda) Petzke, Tracy (David) Nyberg, Linnea Petzke; three great-grandchildren-Carter, Audrey and Wyatt Petzke; a sister-in-law Doris Frobel of Grand Rapids, MI; and several nieces & nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Edward on April 6, 1999, her grandson Frans Petzke in 1987, and brothers Victor and Luther Frobel. The most important things in Loretta’s life were her strong Christian faith in her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as well as her unending love for her family.