Jeffrey Luke Sanders

St. Joseph, MI – Jeffrey Luke Sanders, 61 of St. Joseph, MI went to be with Our Lord on Friday, February 26, 2010. Jeff was born and raised on the north side of Chicago, graduated from Loyola Academy in Wilmette, Illinois and received a B.S. in Political Science from Loyola University of Chicago. He married his teen sweetheart Patricia Gibbons Sanders on July 17, 1971 at Queen of All Saints Basilica, Chicago and began his professional career in retail management at J.C. Penney in Michigan City, IN. The couple relocated to St. Joe, MI in 1978. Jeff went on to found Wedding Belles Bridal Boutique in Stevensville, MI in 1982. Together, Jeff and his wife, Patty expanded their business to include special event and pageant gowns and were avid supporters of the Blossomtime Festival. In addition to his business, Jeff devoted significant time to coaching youth soccer and baseball, and was the Junior Varsity Soccer Coach at Stevensville Lakeshore High School for several years. He also became a supporter of the Special Olympics, volunteered regularly at the St. John Community Center and was instrumental in the formation of The Forgotten Man Ministry at the Berrien County Jail and the St. Vincent De Paul Society. Jeff & Patty traveled extensively, finally settling in the Dominican Republic as their “Home away from Home.” Jeff and Patty were also former members of Berrien Hills Country Club, where they each enjoyed their dual passion for the game of golf and comfort of friends and family. Jeff's other main passion was his love of the game of Duplicate Bridge, largely taught to him by his dear friend, Jean Ryan. Anyone who met Jeff enjoyed his terrific sense of humor. His biggest accomplishment was his love and marriage to Patty and what he was most of proud of were his son William and daughter Julie and her husband John, in addition to his four grandchildren: Jack, Madeline, Melayna & Luke. He will be dearly missed and greatly remembered by all of them. Jeff is survived by his wife, Patricia (Gibbons) Sanders (61), daughter Julie (John) Van Gessel (37) of East Grand Rapids, MI, son William Luke Sander s (35) of Phoenix, AZ, grandchildren Jack (13), Madeline (9), Melayna (5) and Luke VanGessel (2), and sister Mary Kay Sanders of Wichita, KS. He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Edna (Foley) Sanders. Visitation will be Wednesday, March 3rd at 10:00 AM at the Rose Center, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 AM at St. Joseph Catholic Church. Arrangements are with Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, MI. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Home. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the memory book online may do so at: www.starks-menchinger.com