Karl Kettelhut

Karl H. Kettelhut, 86, of Stevensville, passed away Monday, May 29, 2006 at his daughter’s home in Benton Harbor. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 A.M. Thursday at Grace Lutheran Church, 404 E Glenlord Rd., St. Joseph with Rev. Carl Pagel officiating. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens, Coloma with military honors. Friends may call from 5-8 P.M. Wednesday at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made either to In-House Hospice or Grace Lutheran Church in St. Joseph. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mr. Kettelhut was born July 4, 1919, in St. Joseph to Charles & Emma (Kading) Kettelhut. He served his country in the United States Navy during WWII. He married Marianne Smira in 1965. Karl was employed at Modern Plastics for 30 years and retired from Bendix in 1985. He was a longtime member of Grace Lutheran Church, and the Michiana Two-cylinder Club. He also was a life member of Stevensville American Legion Post #568. Karl is survived by his wife, Marianne; four daughters, Peggy (Tom) Anderson of Tennessee, Beverly (Patrick) Kelley of Coloma, Mary Lou Wetmore of Benton Harbor, and Cassandra (Edwin) Iliff of Ardmore, OK; step-daughter, Mary D. (Charles) Butcher-Putzer of Pickett, Wisconsin; 16 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild; and his sister Doris (Ray) Marske of Berrien Springs. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son Donald; brothers, Lawrence and Irving Kettelhut; sister, Hattie Graham; and his first wife, Thelma Kettelhut.