Elmer Freier

Elmer Freier, 89, of Stevensville, passed away Tuesday, May 18, 2010 at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Eternal Service will be held 10:30 A.M. Saturday, May 22, 2010 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 2673 W. John Beers, Stevensville with Pastor Gerald Schroer officiating. Burial will follow at Graceland Cemetery in Bridgman. Friends may visit from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church or Lakeland Hospice. Those wishing to sign the memory book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Elmer was born March 24, 1921 in Coloma, MI to Frederick & Millie (Friesen) Freier. He graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1947. He served his country in the United States Navy during WWII on board the Submarines USS Albacore (SS-218), USS Bluegill (SS-242) and Destroyers Hamilton (DD-141) and MacKenzie (DD-175). On May 9, 1962 he married Margaret Jane Bennett at St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Benton Harbor. Elmer worked for Gast Manufacturing and Clark equipment for many years. Elmer was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran and in his spare time he enjoyed being around family and friends and working in the garden or grapes. Elmer is survived by his wife Margaret Jane of Stevensville; three sons Edward Freier of Stevensville, Frederick Freier of Stevensville and Thomas Freier of St. Joseph; two brothers Eugene Freier of Orlando, FL, Arthur (Norma) Freier of Barrington, IL; two sisters Elvera Freier of Benton Harbor, and Loretta Turner of Dowagiac, MI, and many nieces and nephews. Elmer was preceded in death by his parents two brothers Irving and Harold Freier; and two sisters Lillian Grahn and Ruth Chesher.