Edward A. Tiefenbach

Edward A. Tiefenbach, 88, of New Troy, passed away Tuesday, December 06, 2005 at Lakeland Specialty Hospital in Berrien Center. A Celebration of Life Eternal will be held at 10:00 A.M. Saturday at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph with Rev. Gerald Schroer officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph with graveside military rites conducted by the American Legion Weechick Post #518 of New Troy. Friends may call from 5-8 P.M. Friday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Stevensville. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mr. Tiefenbach was born January 7, 1917 in Lincoln Township to William & Minnie (Witt) Tiefenbach. He attended Evans School, and graduated 8th grade at St. Paul’s Lutheran School before joining his father on the farm. Ed attended St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and was confirmed there in 1931. Ed served his country in the Army Air Force during WWII attaining the rank of Sergeant. On December 4, 1948, he married the former Ada Loewen in Glendora, Michigan. Ed and his family operated a 150 acre fruit farm in New Troy for many years as well as his full time employment at Whirlpool, from which he retired in 1981 after 41 years. Ed was a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and the Whirlpool Oldtimers, and a life member of American Legion Weechick Post #518 of New Troy. He was an avid fisherman, spending many an hour fishing Hickory Creek or on the North Pier fishing for perch. His love of farming continued in his later years on a smaller scale with his vegetable and flower gardens. Ed also enjoyed hunting and bird watching. Ed is survived by his daughter Kathy (Bill) Groves of Berrien Springs; his grandson Jay Groves, and many nieces & nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Ada on March 6, 1987, by three brothers-Emil, Julius & Charles Tiefenbach, and by two sisters-Elsie Priebe & Lydia Rochau.