Fay Gordon Quardokus

Fay Gordon Quardokus, 84, of Stevensville, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, April 4, 2008 at his home. A Celebration of Life Funeral Service will be celebrated at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, April 9, 2008 at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd; St. Joseph with Rev. Phil Quardokus of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church officiating. Burial will follow with military rites at Hickory Bluff Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be on Tuesday from 6-8 PM. Memorial donations may be made to the Arthritis Foundation. Those wishing to send a condolence message online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Fay was born on November 23, 1923 to Harry and Hattie (Herman) Quardokus in St. Joseph, MI. He was one of five children. Fay graduated from St. Joseph High School in the Class of 1942. Fay retired after more then 30 years from Whirlpool Corporation as a mechanical engineer. He proudly served his country in WWII as a Marine staff sergeant and in the Korean War as a Naval Gunner’s mate. In Korea, he was awarded the Korean Service Medal. He participated in aerial action against the enemy at treasury – Bougainville, B.S.I; at Bismarck Archipelago; New Georgia and in the consolidation of the southern Solomon Islands. He married the love of his life, Helen Fish in St. Joseph on November 15, 1944. Together they raised 3 children, Susan, Sally and Michael. Fay lived an active life always quenching his thirst for knowledge. He loved to read and collect books. His family said he could fix anything. Fay had an unbelievable memory. He was a self taught craftsman whether it was building his house from the ground up or adding to his collection of banjos. Fay loved Southwest Michigan and loved to swim in Lake Michigan. He loved to hike and was a proficient gunsmith. Fay was instrumental in designing the WWII monument in downtown St. Joseph. He organized many of his class reunions. Fay was involved with the Marine Corps League working in Toys for Tots. Fay loved to be outdoors and would be found outside proudly working in his yard. Most of all, he loved his family and cherished spending time with them whenever he could. Fay was survived by his wife of 63 years, Helen; his children, Susan of Stevensville, Sally (William) Lyons of Caledonia, MI, Michael Fay Quardokus of Stevensville; his grandchildren, Mark (Tonya) Lyons of Wayland, MI, Gary Lyons of Caledonia; great grand child Jack Robert Lyons; brother Harlan (Connie) Quardokus of St. Joseph, sisters, Claire Black and Jane Elson of Mesa, Arizona; and many nieces and nephews. Fay was preceded in death by his parents Harry and Hattie, and a sister Jacky Reitz.