Vincenta Glaess

Vincenta R. Glaess, 100, of St. Joseph, went to be with her Lord on Saturday, February 8, 2003. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:30 A.M. Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Joseph, with Rev. Tom Batsky & Rev. Jon Bendewald officiating. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens, Coloma. Friends may call from 4-7 P.M. on Wednesday at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Trinity Lutheran School. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Vincenta was born on November 10, 1902 in Tipton, Indiana to John and Anna (Shepler) Sandmann. She lived in Tipton before moving to Cincinnati, OH where she owned & operated a millinery shop. On July 11, 1925 she married Arnold J. Glaess in Cincinnati after which they moved to Harbor Beach, MI where Arnold was the principal & teacher at Zion Lutheran School. They lived there from 1925-1946. Vincenta was a self-employed seamstress, upholsterer, hat maker, and taught some art classes. While in Harbor Beach, she and her husband were in charge of her brother?s grocery store-Sandmann Grocery, while Paul was serving in WWII. They moved to St. Joseph in 1946 when her husband became principal of Trinity Lutheran School. Vincenta was involved in starting the Hot Lunch Program at Trinity. She also became a dietitian at Mercy Hospital in Benton Harbor, and cooked at Holly?s Landing and the former Heath Company. She will be remembered by her family and friends as an excellent seamstress, sewing for loved ones and also for many people in the community. Vincenta made many wedding and bridesmaids dresses for her family and friends. Her hands were always busy quilting, tatting and crocheting. She started the quilting group at Trinity. Vincenta opened her home after her husband?s death to many student teachers, students working at Whirlpool, and people needing a place to live while they worked at Cook Nuclear. Vincenta enjoyed traveling to Germany, Russia, Mexico, the Holy Land, Alaska, and many places in the United States where her grandchildren lived. Vincenta enjoyed playing cards with her family and friends. She was active in Church work; as a member of the parent-Teacher League; Valparaiso University Guild Concordia Guild; Ladies Aid; and the Lutheran Women?s Missionary League. She was also a member of the Berrien County Quilters for many years. Mrs. Glaess is survived by her son Herman (Ruth) Glaess of Seward, NE; two daughters Eleanor Dorow of Benton Harbor; Marietta (Al) Ziebart of St. Joseph; and a brother Earl (Thelma) Sandmann of Coloma. She will also be missed by her 11 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild, and her many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Arnold in February 1972; and by three brothers-Eugene, Richard, and Paul.