Norman L. Holben

Norman L. Holben, 92, formerly of Stevensville, went to meet his Lord & Savior Friday, September 24, 2004, at Caretel Inns of Royalton. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, October 3, 2004 at Stevensville United Methodist Church, 5506 Ridge Rd., Stevensville. Burial of ashes will take place at Lincoln Township Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Stevensville United Methodist Church, Hospice at Home, or Berrien County Cancer Service. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home. Mr. Holben was born April 28, 1912 in Kent City, Michigan to Antone & Mattie (Clark) Holben. He graduated from Michigan State College in 1937 with a degree in music. He worked his way through college directing choirs and singing at funeral services. On January 21, 1938, he married the former Margery Loring in Painesville, Ohio. Norman was State Technical Supervisor of Music and Drama and Folk Dance in the Work Progress Administration which was a federal recreational program. Most recently he had been employed by Sears-Roebuck in Benton Harbor. He retired in 1972 as manager of the appliance department after 24 years of employment. Norm was a member of Stevensville United Methodist Church where he spent 21 years as the choir director. He was an avid rock hunter. Norm was a past president of the West Michigan Gem & Mineral Society. He has made many, many beautiful pieces of jewelry with the rocks that he found and finished. In 1994, he donated an extensive collection of mineral specimens to the Science Department of Lake Michigan College. It is on display today in the halls of the college. Mr. & Mrs. Holben enjoyed traveling. They have been winter residents of Tuscon, Arizona for the last 25 years. Mr. Holben is survived by his wife of 66 years, Margery; his son Larry (Muriel) Holben of St. Joseph; two daughters Ann (Fred) Schmaltz of Baroda, Sue (Mike) Callihan of Rockford, MI; eleven grandchildren-Pam (Phil) Thompson, Gerald (Debra) Schmaltz, Tris (Jerry) Vigansky, Mike (Kim) Schmaltz, Miriam (Andy) Barbott, Scott Holben, Suzanne (Jason) Yonker, Kim (Robert) Ebel, John Eric (Kristin) Anderson-Bricker; seventeen great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. He was preceded in death by a daughter Barbara McAlvey in 1977 and a brother Raymond Holben.