Esther Emily Deutcher

Esther E. Deutcher, 97, of Stevensville, passed away Saturday December 24, 2005 at Lakeland Continuing Care Center, Berrien Center. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:30 A.M. Wednesday at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph with Rev. Terry Tessari officiating. Burial will follow at Lincoln Township Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Hospice at Home or Zion United Church of Christ, St. Joseph. Mrs. Deutcher was born December 26, 1907 in Stevensville to William & Carolyn (Woodske) Broecko. She married Walter Deutcher in Stevensville in 1939. Esther was employed as a waitress at Win-Shuler’s in Stevensville and at St. Joseph Holiday Inn. She also worked at Up-Town Drug Store in St. Joseph. She was a member of Zion United Church of Christ and enjoyed reading and playing the accordion. Mrs. Deutcher is survived by a niece Shirley Essig of Berrien Center, a nephew Bill Hass of Arizona, and a friend Annaliese Linke of Bridgman. She was preceded in death by her husband Walter in 1952 and by eight brothers & sisters.