Harold Conklin

Harold Conklin, 80, of St. Joseph, passed away Thursday, March 9, 2006 at Rose Arbor Hospice in Kalamazoo. A Celebration of Life Eternal will be held at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 2673 W. John Beers Rd., Stevensville, with Rev. Gerald Schroer & Rev. Jonathan Kruschel officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph. Friends may call from 6:00 P.M. to 8:30 P.M. Monday at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Michigan Lutheran High School, or Animal Aid. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mr. Conklin was born February 15, 1926 in Benton Harbor to Roscoe & Watie (Wheaton) Conklin. He graduated from Benton Harbor High School, Class of 1943. Harold served his country during WWII in the US Navy aboard the USS Yorktown CV-10. On July 6, 1946, he married the former Luella Geisler in Stevensville. In 1973, Harold founded The Country Carpet Shoppe in South St. Joseph. His work was his life. He was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, and in his spare time enjoyed watching his grandchildren participate in their various sporting events. Harold is survived by his son Kenneth (Connie) Conklin of St. Joseph; two grandchildren-Karla (Tony) Heyn & Kenneth P. Conklin; his brother Gerald (Doris) Conklin of St. Joseph; and two sisters-Geraldine (Rush) Kowerduck of Zephyr Hills, FL, and June Wagner of St. Joseph. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Luella on July 15, 2005, and two brothers-Carl & Lester Conklin.