Edmund E. Bahm

Edmund Bahm, a Bainbridge farmer, neighbor and grandfather extraordinaire, passed away quietly Monday night, May 6, 2002, at Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph, with his children by his side, ending 84 ? years of a remarkably fruitful life. Ed enjoyed a full life dedicated to family, farm and his circle of friends in his corner of Bainbridge. In Ed?s retirement years he showed the same pride in his garden and yard as he did farming 200 manicured acres with his brother, Alvin. His passion was the neighborhood fruit and vegetable farms and the history and lives of the people who occupied them. Ed shared 49 years on the homestead with his gentle wife Irene, raising three children ? David (Susan) Bahm of Granger, Patty (Jim) Miller of Grand Ledge, and Susie (Joe) Herman of Benton Harbor Seemingly ageless, his amazing strength and independence can be found in each of his six grandchildren ? Jake Herman, Aaron Bahm, Keith Herman, Kelly Herman, Rachael Bahm and Leah Bahm. Each took turns being both teacher and student to their grandfather and was the source of endless pleasure and pride to Ed. His parents, Ferdinand and Julia Bahm; his wife, Irene; and his brothers, Alvin and Harold, preceded him in death. His sister, Elsie Skibbe of Millburg, and special friend, Maryann Kuschel, survives him. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday at the First Church of God, 2627 Niles Ave., St. Joseph. Burial will follow in Riverview Cemetery. Memorials may be made to First Church of God or Chapel Hill Methodist Church. Friends are invited to send a condolence message to the family at the guest book at www.starks-menchinger.com Ed will always be remembered as the cornerstone of his neighborhood. His faithful army buddies will also remember him. In a lifetime of seasons, blossom time for Ed always meant it was time to go to work, a time for sunshine, planting and an opportunity for new adventures and new beginnings. Starks