Henry Gietler

Henry Gietler, 92, of St. Joseph, passed away Monday, August 15, 2011 at Caretel Inns of Lakeland in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 10:00 A.M. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church, Court & Market St., St. Joseph, with Rev. Michael Roth officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery with Military Rites conducted by the North Berrien Military Rites Team. Friends may call from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Thursday at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church or School. Those wishing to sign Henry's Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Henry was born May 22, 1919 in Chicago to Fred & Dora (York) Gietler. He served his country in the US Navy during WWII stationed in California & Hawaii. On April 8, 1945, he married the former Elsie R. Schmidtke in St. Joseph. Henry was employed at Whirlpool Corp. St. Joseph Division, retiring after 38 years. He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, was an avid reader, and coached Little League Baseball for St. Joseph for many years. Henry enjoyed Chicago baseball & football-rooting for the Cubs, White Sox, & Bears. Henry is survived by his children-Karen (Roger) Priebe of Stevensville, Richard (Dottie) Gietler of St. Joseph, Sandee (Ray) Hurt of St. Joseph; four grandchildren-Heather (Mark) Denekas of St. Joseph, Ryan (Traci) Smith of Clyde, OH, Ann (Eric) Shafer of Portsmouth, VA, Carly Gietler of Chicago; four great-grandchildren-Ellie, Lanie, & Henry Smith and Sydney Shafer; and numerous nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Fred Gietler, his sister Lydia Sharp, and his wife Elsie on February 20, 2000.