Evelyn Dorothy Heritz

Evelyn D. Heritz, 65 of Benton Harbor, went to meet her Lord and Savior May 13, 2004 at her home in Benton Harbor under the care of her family and Hospice after a gallant battle with cancer for 6 years. Friends may call from 4:00- 8:00 PM Sunday, May 16, at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home. 2650 Niles Road St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service for Evie will be held at 10:30 AM Monday, May 17, at Grace Lutheran Church, 404 E. Glenlord, St. Joseph. Officiating will be Rev. Carl Pagel. Entombment will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens, Coloma. Memorials may be made to Hospice at Home or to Grace Lutheran Church. Those wishing to sign the guestbook or share a memory on line may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Evie, as she was known, was born November 6, 1938 in Dowagiac, Michigan to Arthur and Martha Rupp. She married Walter F. Heritz on May 30, 1959. After 45 years of dedicated loving marriage, he survives her. Evie, with Walt, were farmers on Napier Ave and Blue Creek Road all their lives. They were members together in Farm Bureau for over 50 years where they first met. They were also members of the National Grape Cooperative. Evie, will be remembered by her many customers who purchased mostly asparagus, blueberries, and pumpkins that she and Walt raised and sold from their barn on Napier near Blue Creek Road. She was an encouragement to her customers as she continued to farm despite her frequent cancer treatments. She was a member of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church St. Joseph. She was active in many Bible study and woman?s activities. Her marriage to Walt produced two loving children who will forever mourn her passing. Her surviving children are Mike (Peggy) Heritz of Granger, Indiana, and Kim (Mike) Williams of Kalamazoo. She is also survived by her grandchildren Robbie, Matt, Laura, and Jennifer Heritz also of Granger who were the light and joy of her life. In addition she had many nephews and nieces who remember happy family times on the farm. Evie is also survived by two sisters – Darlene (Bill) Patzer of St. Petersburg, Florida and Sandie (Dick) Judd of Dowagiac; and two brothers – Ken (Karen) Rupp of Goodyear, Arizona and Den (Paula) Rupp of Fort Smith, Arkansas. She was preceded in death by her parents.