Julius F. Tilly

Julius F. Tilly, 82, of St. Joseph, passed away Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Eternal will be held 11:00 A.M. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church, Market & Court St., St. Joseph with Rev. Thomas Batsky & Rev. Michael Roth officiating. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens in Coloma. Friends may call from 5:00 until 8:00 P.M. Thursday at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorial donations may be made to Trinity Lutheran Church, Michigan Lung Association, or Michigan Heart Association. Those wishing to sign Julius' Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mr. Tilly was born February 26, 1928 to Julius W. & Selma (Natzke) Tilly at the family home on Tilly Rd. in St. Joseph. He grew to love farming while helping his father on the family farm. On September 18, 1948, he married the former Martha Bartel in Berrien Springs. Julius was employed as a machinist at Whirlpool Benton Harbor Plant, retiring in 1999 after 38 years. In 1977 he purchased property and developed his apple orchard on Miners Rd. in St. Joseph, which he operated until 2008. Julius was a life-long member of Trinity Lutheran Church in St. Joseph, and a long-time member of the United Auto Workers Union. In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing & spending time with his family. Julius is survived by his wife Martha; his daughter Donna (Nick) Stama of Baroda; four sons-Duane (Chris) Tilly of St. Joseph, Dennis (Jane) Tilly of Benton Township, Dave (Betty) Tilly of Berrien Springs, Dan (Cathy) Tilly of Granger, IN; his former daughter-in-law-Sue Tilly of St. Joseph; ten grandchildren-Mike (Kaysey) Tilly, Jeremy (Ashlee) Tilly, Stephanie Tilly, Tim Tilly, Shannon (Greg) Stutzman, Paige Stama, Amanda (George) Lepeniotis, Allison Tilly, Nick Stama, Jr., James Tilly; two great-grandchildren-Aurora & Sorcha Stutzman; his brother Gene (Ginny) Tilly of Berrien Springs; two sisters-Elna Bevins of Bangor, MI & Marilyn Annen of Rodger, Arkansas. He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son at birth, his sister Violet Reisig, his brother Art Tilly, and his grandson Adam Tilly.