Douglas R. Ehman

Douglas Richard Ehman, 74, went peacefully to be with his Lord on April 13, 2005. He was born in Benzonia, Mich. on Feb. 5, 1931. Doug grew up in Beulah, Mich., with many relatives and friends. He proudly served in the 101st Airborne in 1952 and 1953. A longtime resident of Stevensville, he enjoyed a long career as a car salesman in the Twin Cities. He at one time owned Transworld Volkswagen in Benton Harbor, where his customers turned into longtime friends. Doug also enjoyed working at Schroeder Motors at the end of his career before retiring. He was a loving father adored by his five children, who will cherish the memory of his gentle spirit, selfless love and the shelter of his bear hugs. His wit, warm personality and laid-back outlook will be deeply missed by all who knew him. We are comforted in knowing his memory will live on in all of those whose lives he touched. Doug is free from all of his physical suffering and has a new body in Christ. We were blessed with the time the Lord gave him to us. He was preceded in death by his father, Philip Ehman; his mother, Lucile Ehman; and his sister, Margaret Ehman Hicks. He is survived by his beloved wife of 53 years, Shirley Cozette (Motyer) Ehman; his brother, Fred (Carol) Ehman and his children ? Douglas Richard (Laura) Ehman, II, Thais (David) VanGinhoven, Claudia (Paul) Shibelski, Erin (Bo) Allen, Todd (Karen) Ehman and his grandchildren ? Douglas Richard Ehman, III, Matthew VanGinhoven, Laurelin VanGinhoven, Kathryn Shibelski, Seth Shibelski, Claire Shibelski, Jonathan Allen, McKenzie Ehman, Mitchell Ehman and Spencer Ehman, as well as many nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends on Monday, April 18, from 5 to 8 p.m., at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, St. Joseph. A service to celebrate Doug?s life will be held Tuesday, April 19, at 11 a.m. at Stevensville United Methodist Church, 5506 Ridge Rd., Stevensville. In lieu of flowers, donations in Doug?s memory may be made to the American Stroke Association, 3816 Paysphere Circle, Chicago, IL, 60675, or the National Eye Institute (macular degeneration), Building 31, Room 6-A16, 31 Center Drive, MSC 2510, Bethesda, MD 20892. ?Where you end up is not the most important thing. It?s the road you take to get there. The road you take is what you?ll look back on and call your life.? T.S. Eliot.