Arthur Speltzer

Arthur W. Spletzer, 74, of Stevensville, was called home to be with his beloved Lord and Savior on Friday, June 21, 2002. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10 A.M. Tuesday at St. Paul?s Lutheran Church in Sodus with Rev. Robert Duehlmeyer officiating. Burial will follow in Shanghai Cemetery in Eau Claire with military rites conducted by Coloma American Legion Post 362, Hartford American Legion Post 93, VFW Post 1137 of Benton Harbor, & VFW post 6803 of Watervliet. Friends may call on Monday from 6-8 PM at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to St. Paul?s Lutheran Church in Sodus, St. Paul?s Lutheran Church in Stevensville, or St. Matthew?s Lutheran Church in Benton Harbor. Those wishing to sign the guestbook on line may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Mr. Spletzer was born on October 29, 1927 in St. Joseph to William and Edith (Zelmer) Spletzer. Arthur graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1946. On March 16, 1951, he married the former Dorothy Wolske. He served in the Korean conflict with the US Army-40th Infantry Division-143rd Field Artillery Battalion and attained the rank of Sergeant First Class. He was awarded the Army Commendation Award. Arthur worked in the printing industry for 43 years at the Herald Palladium. He was a member of St. Paul?s Lutheran Evangelical Lutheran Church in Sodus where he served as elder, secretary, trustee and chairman. He was a member of the Southwest Michigan Chapter of American Historical society of Germans from Russia, D.A.N.K., and Wandering Vohlinians. On November 9, 1988, Arthur was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy. On August 29, 1994 he married the former Else Brunsch Oelke. Arthur is survived by his wife Else; three sons-Keith (Robin) Spletzer & David (Carol) Spletzer, both of Eau Claire, Bruce (Lori) Spletzer of Jackson, MI; his daughter-Marlene Spletzer of Arlington, VA; a step-daughter-Agathe (Dieter) Krueger of Stevensville; two step-sons-Alven (Elena) Oelke & Herold (Jane) Oelke both of Stevensville; nineteen grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; three brothers-Donald (Jeanne) Spletzer of Florida, Eldon (Patricia) Spletzer of Stevensville, Philip (Joyce) Spletzer of South Carolina; and one sister-Helen (Earl) Quardokus of Bridgman. In addition to his wife, Arthur was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter-Margo Spletzer. Arthur made friends wherever he went. His humor and generosity will never be removed from our hearts. We thank God and praise Him for Arthur?s time of grace here on earth. He was deeply loved by his family and will be sadly missed by all who knew him.