Gerald A. Totzke

Baroda ? Gerald A. ?Bud? Totzke, 74, of Baroda, died Thursday, July 24, 2003 at Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph, MI. Visitation will be held from 2-6p.m., Sunday, July 27, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11a.m., Monday, July 28, at Zion United Church of Christ, 9105 Third St., Baroda, with Rev. Chris Noffke officiating. Burial will be in Hickory Bluff Cemetery, Stevensville. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Berrien County Youth Fair, Lakeshore Excellence Foundation, or Zion United Church of Christ, Baroda. Friends wishing to share a memory or sign the Guest-book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Bud was born September 9, 1928 in Baroda, in the house where he last resided, to August and Emma (Nitz) Totzke. He graduated from Stevensville High School in 1946. On June 7, 1952 he married the former Barbara Knuth, with whom he recently celebrated 51 years together. A lifelong farmer, Bud formed the partnership, Totzke Farms, with his wife, sons and daughters-in-law in 1981. Today?s operation includes fruit and grain farms in Berrien, Cass and Van Buren counties. Bud loved John Deere tractors, and was a member of the Michiana Two-Cylinder Club. He was also a member of the Berrien County Junior Farm Bureau, Michigan Milk Producers Board, Producers Creamery Board, National Grape Co-op (Welch?s), St. Joe Kickers Sport Club and a lifelong member of Zion United Church of Christ, Baroda. Bud served on the Lakeshore School Board for 15 ? years, and was a volunteer and strong supporter of the Berrien County Youth Fair. In addition to his wife, Barbara, Bud is survived by sons – Nick (Jann) and Ned (Lauren) of Baroda and daughters Nancy (Allen) Poschke and Noreen (Todd) Soos of Stevensville; grandchildren ? Brett (Krista), Brian (Erica), Brooke, Nicklas, Scott and Janelle Totzke, Kristin, Karin, and Kaitlin Poschke and Alexandra and Austin Soos; great-granddaughter Emma Totzke; sisters Virginia (Edwin) Radewald of Niles, Stella (Lynn) Bowers of Comstock Park, MI and brother Edgar ?Butch? (Kaye) of Berrien Springs.