Jerome G. Belke

Jerome G. Belke, 85, of St. Joseph, a devoutly religious man, departed from this life to be with the Lord on Thursday, February 24, 2005. A Celebration of Life service will be held 11:00 A.M., Monday, February 28, 2005, at St. Matthew?s Lutheran Church, at the corner of Colfax and Kline, Benton Harbor, with Pastor Martin Weigand officiating. Burial will be in Green Acres Cemetery in Scottsdale, Arizona. Visitation will be held from 3:00 ? 5:00 P.M., Sunday at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorial donations may be made to St. Matthew?s Lutheran Church. Those who wish to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Jerome was born on November 1, 1919 to Herman and Ruth (Karstens) Belke in St. Joseph and graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1937. He served in the Army Air force during WWII, from June 1942 to October 1945 when he was honorably discharged as a Tech Sergeant. Then he served in the Korean Conflict from September 1950 to May 1952 in the US Army, being honorably discharged as a Master sergeant. Jerome married the former Elsie Breinling on May 19, 1945 in Benton Harbor. In 1964 they moved their family to Arizona where Jerome worked for Sealy Mattress Manufacturing, retiring in 1984 as purchasing agent. After his retirement, Jerome was a loving caregiver to his wife Elsie who suffered from Alzheimer?s disease in her declining years, until her death on April 2, 1991. Jerome moved back to the St. Joseph area in 2001 to be closer to his family. Jerome is survived by his son Wayne (Helen) Belke of St. Joseph; brother Richard (Mary) Belke of St. Joseph; sister Elaine (James, II) Woodruff of Lansing; and numerous nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, and brother Russell.