John F. Heier

John Floyd Heier, 66, of Benton Harbor, passed away, Tuesday, November 23, 2004 at The Meadows Hospice at Home in Buchanan. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 11:00 A.M. Friday at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph with Rev. Randy Mitrovich officiating. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens with military rites conducted by Coloma American Legion #362, VFW Post #1137 of Benton Harbor, and VFW Post #6803 of Watervliet. Friends may call from 4-7 P.M. Thursday at the funeral home with the Elks Rites conducted by St. Joseph Elks #541 at 7:00 P.M. Memorials may be made the St. Joseph Elks #541 or the American Cancer Society. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. John was born October 9, 1938 in St. Joseph to Floyd & Louise (Shersmith) Heier. John served his country in the United States Navy. He was employed as a firefighter for the City of St. Joseph for twenty-five years retiring on March 27, 1989. John was a member of St. Joseph Elks Lodge #541, FOP Lodge #96 in St. Joseph, and American Legion Post #105 in Benton Harbor. Mr. Heier is survived by three sons-John Heier of Yokohama, Japan; Andy (Linda) Heier of Bridgman; Steven Heier of Watervliet; three grandchildren-Christopher, Jessica, & Gretchen Heier; two sisters-Wanda (Lloyd) Lamphere of Durand, MI; Linda Fowler of St. Joseph; and three nephews-Dean, Larry & Mark Lamphere. John was preceded in death by his father Floyd Heier; his mother Louise Heier Eluskie and his step father-Steve Eluskie.