John Wenzlaff

John Wenzlaff, 84, of Stevensville, the ?J? of J?s Bit of Everything, also known by some as ?Mr. Silver Beach,? went to his eternal home on Monday afternoon, July 11, 2005. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 15 with Rev. Jon Bendewald at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. Burial will follow at Resurrection Cemetery, St. Joseph. Friends may visit the family Thursday, July 14, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the Silver Beach Carousel Society, which is working to bring back some of the sights and sounds of the old Silver Beach Amusement Park. Messages and memories can be sent to the on-line guest book at www.starks-menchinger.com. John was born June 12, 1921 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, to Richard and Helen (Langer) Wenzlaff. He married Jene Dine on November 7, 1969, and together they raised three children – Jennifer (Doug) Zimmer of Augusta, Mich., Julie Wenzlaff of Aurora, Ill., and Jason (Angie) Wenzlaff of Ann Arbor, Mich. In addition to a house full of kids John always liked to have pets. He leaves behind his dog Jeffrey, and his cats Jasmine and Jeopardy. John ran Silver Beach?s Mirror Maze, Nickel Pitch, Guess Your Age and Weight, and the souvenir stand. When the park closed John was left with a huge inventory of souvenirs for the next season, so he opened an antique and souvenir shop. In recent years he expanded his business to hundreds of satisfied e-bay customers. John was so excited to have lived to become a grandpa to Josiah Zimmer in 2001. He is also survived by his brother, Leo Wenzlaff of Benton Harbor, and by his sister Frances (husband Dewayne) Daisy of Decatur. He was preceded in death by his brother, Richard Wenzlaff, and by his sisters, Gertrude Giustino and Elna Clark.