Alvina Kelm

Alvina Kelm, 102, of St. Joseph, went to meet her Lord & Savior Jesus Christ, Sunday, January 1, 2012 at Royalton Manor in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Eternal will be held 11:30 A.M. Thursday at Grace Lutheran Church, 404 E. Glenlord Rd., St. Joseph with Rev. Glenn Rosenbaum officiating. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens, Coloma. Friends may call from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Wednesday at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Grace Lutheran Church. Those wishing to sign Alvina’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Alvina was born December 1, 1909 in Prussia to Carl & Florentine (Hoffman) Wagner. She moved to the United States with her family as a young girl, settling in Benton Harbor. In 1926, she married Leopold Kelm in Benton Harbor. Together they owned & operated Kelm’s Bakery in Benton Harbor for 20 years before moving the bakery to Stevensville and retiring after 15 years. Alvina was devoted to operating the bakery. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, and in her spare time enjoyed cooking and baking for her family and tending to her flower gardens. Alvina is survived by her son LeRoy (Marion) Kelm of St. Joseph; her daughter Connie (Charles) Phillips of Eau Claire; eleven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and several great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Leopold on June 30, 1993 and her son Richard on February 21, 2008.