Jacob Thar

Jacob Thar, 91, of Coloma, passed away Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 9:30 A.M. Saturday at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph with Rev. John Hass of Millburg Christian Church officiating. Burial will follow at Coloma Cemetery. Friends may call from 5:00 until 7:00 P.M. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Coloma Ambulance or Millburg Christian Church. Those wishing to sign the Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mr. Thar was born November 18, 1918 in Benton Harbor to William & Alberta (Beason) Thar. On June 5, 1942, he married the former Kathleen Ruby Long in Arkansas. Jacob was employed at Benton Glass Co., Ross Carrier, Benton Harbor Police Department, and Goodyear Aircraft Co. in Arizona. After returning to Southwest Michigan, he accepted a position at Clark Equipment in Benton Harbor, and it was there he finished his working career. Jacob was a member of the United Auto Workers Union and attended Millburg Christian Church. He was a people person, always caring for others and helping in any way that he could. Mr. Thar is survived by his children-Jacob W. (Mary Beth) Thar of Niles, MI, Kathryn (William) Sims of Town Creek, Alabama, Dolly Shoemaker of Benton Harbor, Cindy (Jack) Kauffman of Niles, MI; thirteen grandchildren; forty-two great-grandchildren; thirty-five great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces & nephews. Jacob was preceded in death by his wife Kathleen on January 3, 2004, by four brothers-Rube, John, Stanley & William Thar, and a sister Dolly Thar.