Ivan W. Burkepile

Ivan W. Burkepile, 94, of St. Joseph, passed away, Wednesday, November 16, 2011 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center, St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 1:00 P.M. Monday at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. Wade Panse officiating. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens, Coloma. Friends may call from 12:00 until 1:00 P.M. Monday at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to Berrien County Cancer Service, American Heart Association or Humane Society of Southwest Michigan. Those wishing to sign Ivan’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Ivan was born December 1, 1916 in Fredericksburg, Ohio to Daniel E. & Goldie May (Coffelt) Burkepile. He served his country in the US Air Force beginning in 1941, earning the Asiatic Pacific Theater Ribbon and the American Defense Service Medal, and was discharged in 1945 as a staff sergeant. Ivan worked at International Harvester & earned his degree as a master wool inspector in Australia. He started selling salt water taffy at trade shows and fairs throughout the US and found his way to Silver Beach in St. Joseph. It was there that he met the former Goldie Daisy, and they were married on November 11, 1961 in St. Joseph. Ivan and Goldie operated Atlantic City Salt Water Taffy at Silver Beach for many years. He was a generous, kind and loving person who will be missed by many. Ivan is survived by his daughter Lynette Horton; his son Kenneth Burkepile; four grandchildren-Gayle Horton, Brad (Tammy) Horton, Brian Horton, Johanna Burkepile Phillips; five great-grandchildren-Nathan & Nickolas Horton, Daniel, Dale & Derek Phillips; his sister Thelma Ross; a sister-in-law Mae Likes; nieces & nephews-Vi (Sid) Stark, Betty Mihlhauser, Diana (Larry) Meek, Sheila Hall, Theresa (Jerry) Baisden, Dennis (Marian) Ross, Jenny (Art) Snyder, Daniel (Nancy) Burkepile, Deborah (Don) Ellis, Michael (Julie) Ross, Darlene (Tim) Ish,Corey Stark & Larry Weber; several cousins & many great nieces & nephews. Ivan was preceded in death by his first wife Rylice, the mother of his children, and his second wife Goldie on October 4, 2004, his step-son Mathew “Bud” Schlutt on March 7, 2007, and by two brothers-Floyd & William Burkepile.