John M. Wallenfang

John Wallenfang, 56, died at home surrounded by his family on Monday, December 1, 2003. Friends are invited to visit with John?s family at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home at 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph on Thursday, December 4, from 4-8:00 P.M., with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, December 5, at 5:30 P.M., at St. Bernard?s Catholic Church, 555 Delaware, Benton Harbor (between Union and Ogden), with Fr. Bill Jacobs officiating. The family will accompany John to Calvary Cemetery on Saturday, December 6. In lieu of flowers John requested that you consider being a part of a Habitat for Humanity house that Lake Michigan College will be building. Donations can be mailed to: Lake Michigan College, 2755 E. Napier Ave., Benton Harbor, Michigan 49022 (payable to Lake Michigan College Fund: Habitat). Dr. Katie Smith (927-8167) will be taking names of those who wish to help build. Those wishing to share a memory or send a condolence message online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com John was born on June 7, 1947 to Lee and Ellen Wallenfang and grew up in Niagara, Wisconsin. His passion for faith, family, friends, football and fun started right then and there. John?s brother and sister have always been his best friends, and his parents modeled what ?family? means. All of you who knew john know how he loved football and the Green Bay Packers. And fun ? John knew how to put things in perspective and find the light side in life. John would be the first to tell anyone how much he loved his profession ? teaching. His 30 years at Lake Michigan College went entirely too fast, and the 10,000 students he taught became a special part of his life. Besides teaching Political Science, John served in several interim administrative capacities as the need arose. But his love was teaching. John?s passion for the things important to him led to involvement in the Berrien County Republican Party, numerous volunteer and fund-raising activities at Lake Michigan Catholic Schools, Soccer leagues, LMC football program, Habitat for Humanity, many activities at SS. John and Bernard Catholic Church, and the LifeTeen Program at St. Joseph Catholic Church. John is survived by Linda, his wife of 33 years; two sons ? Donny (Megan) Wallenfang, and Michael, both of Benton Harbor; 3 grandchildren ? Ellen, Aubin, and John Michael; his mother Ellen Wallenfang of Iron Mountain, Mich.; brother Ron (Maryann) of Germantown, Wis., sister Lisa (Bobby) Steeno of Madison, Wis., and a large number of nieces and nephews.