Esther Marquardt

Esther E. Marquardt, 84 of St. Joseph passed away Sunday, December 19, 2010 at Woodland Terrace in Bridgman. A celebration of Life Service will be 10:00 AM Thursday at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. Dan Miller and Doug Hoyh officiating. Burial will follow at North Shore Memorial Gardens in Coloma. Friends may call from 5:00 until 8:00 P.M. Wednesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Lakeland Hospice. Those wishing to sign Esther's Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mrs. Marquardt was born on January 16, 1926 in Detroit to Nicklaus and Rose (Scharif ) Lesch. On January 27, 1945 she married William Marquardt in Benton Harbor. Esther was a member of First Assembly of God, the manager of Helaines clothing store for 30 years, and was a church Pianist for 30 years. She volunteered at Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph, and was very devoted to her family. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, cooking, baking and was an avid reader. Mrs. Marquardt is survived by her husband William Marquardt of St. Joseph, daughter; Dr. Linda (Dr. Norm) Mintle Chesapeake, Virginia, son Rev. Dennis (Bevie Jo) Marquardt of Portland Maine, daughter-in-law Wanda Rothwell, sister; Betty (Harold) Fischer of Benton Harbor, 9 grandchildren; Christopher Rothwell, Patrick Rothwell, Michelle Graff, Ryan Rothwell, Justin Rothwell, Christel King, Jeremy Marquardt, Matthew and Kaitlyn Mintle. Mrs. Marquardt was preceded in death by her son Captain Gary Marquardt, Rose Sprecher, Helen will, Nick Lesch, Charles Lesch, John Lesch, and Frank Lesch.