Leona L. Peters

Leona Peters, age 86, lifelong resident of Benton Harbor, entered her Eternal Home Sunday, September 6, 2009. A Service of Victory will be held at 10:00 A.M on Friday, September 11, 2009 at Grace Lutheran Church, 404 E. Glenlord Ave., St. Joseph with Rev. Glenn Rosenbaum officiating. Visitation with the family will be held on Thursday, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at Starks and Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, MI. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Grace Lutheran Church. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Leona was born April 28, 1923 at the Britain Ave. family farm in Benton Harbor to the late Gottlieb and Caroline Freier. She was a graduate of Benton Harbor High School with the class of 1941 and attended Michigan State University. In 1943 she married her high school sweetheart Martin Peters, who preceded her in death on October 16, 2007. They were blessed with three children; Carol (Gary) Wallman of Strugis, MI, Donald (Susan) Peters of West Hartford, CT and Linda (Kurt) Froning of Lincolnwood, IL. Also surviving are seven granddaughters; Laurie Wallman of Sturgis, MI, Jennifer (Bill) Barnett of Saline, MI, Emma Peters of West Hartford, CT, Eliza Peters of Hartford, CT, Julia Peters of Boulder, CO, Caroline Froning of Steger, IL and Anastasia Froning of Lincolnwood, IL. Three great-grandchildren: Michael, Sarah and Jonathan Barnett of Saline, MI. Leona is survived by a sister Elinor Potter of St. Joseph, a brother George (Pat) Freier of Columbus, NC and many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by six brothers and four sisters. Leona was a devoted member of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Benton Harbor. Later she became a member of Grace Lutheran Church where she especially enjoyed Bible Study and Sunday Morning Bible Class. She was very accomplished at cross-stitching and crocheted numerous Lord’s Prayer communion table covers for church use. She was famous for her Christmas cookies and fudge, Leona took great pleasure in family gatherings, which she often hosted in her home.