Arthur Tillmann

Arthur Tillmann, 94, of St. Joseph passed away Tuesday, November 29, 2005 at Golden Place Nursing Home in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 9:30A.M., Saturday, December 3, 2005, at St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 121 Kline, Benton Harbor, with Rev. Martin Weigand officiating. Burial will follow in Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph. Visitation is from 3-5 and 7-9P.M. Friday at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church or Lighthouse Hospice. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com As a man that truly embraced the meaning of living life as a Christian, Arthur left this world in the way he lived in this world.singing praises to his beloved Lord. Art’s life reflected a myriad of dramatic experiences – having lived for 94 years, through the strife of wartime Europe, struggling to make a home for his family in a new country, then enjoying the bounties of his newfound home with countless friends and relatives. He has known the sorrow of loss and the joy of watching his family grow and thrive. Arthur was born June 2, 1911 in Olganowka, near Rozyszcze, Ukraine to Adolf and Natalie (Stranske) Tillmann. On September 8, 1938 Arthur married Else Schmidtke in Welnianka, Poland. After serving in the German army as a transport protector, interpreter and medic on a variety of fronts, emigration in May of 1950 brought Art, Else and three of their children to the United States. With the help of friends and relatives, they settled and built a good life in St. Joseph. Arthur was happy to find work at Whirlpool and took great joy in working hard, helping others and hosting many fun times. Survivors of this kind and gentle man include two daughters – Christa (Hugh) Graham of Kalamazoo and Ingrid (Randy) Beres of Palm Bay, Florida and three sons – Kurt (Joyce) Tillmann of Zeeland, Jerry Tillmann of Kalamazoo, and Robert (Danita) Smith of Eau Claire. These children brought to the family ten grandchildren and their various spouses, along with numerous great-grandchildren. Arthur’s sister Alize Radtke still resides in Yorkton Saskatchewan. He was preceded in death in 1999 by Else, his wife of 60 years; sons Diether and Horst; his parents; brother and sisters Emilie, Ewald, Robert, and Heinrich.