Lewis Larsen Filstrup

Lewis Filstrup, 90, of St. Joseph passed away Wednesday, Nov. 28,2001, at Lakeland Hospital, St. Joseph. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, at First Congregational United Church of Christ, Benton Harbor. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph. The family is requesting in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Fort Miami Heritage Society or to the WCA of Berrien County. Mr. Filstrup was born Oct. 11,1911, in Benton Harbor, to Eddie and Belle Filstrup. He was the great-grandson of Sterne Brunson, co-founder of the city of Benton Harbor. He graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1927, and Exeter prep school. He graduated magna cu laude as a mechanical engineer from Harvard University in 1933, where he was a member of the lightweight rowing crew. After graduation from Harvard, he was hired by the city of Pittsburgh as a bridge inspector and later returned to Benton Harbor. He and his father and cousin, Alvin, joined Covel Manufacturing, the family business, where he retired as president. Mr. Filstrup was chairman of the senior citizen high-rise development committee for the city of St. Joseph, member of the St. Joseph Library Board, President of Berrien Hills Country Club and local Rotarian. Mr. Filstrup enjoyed traveling the world, snorkeling, hunting, reading, sailing, gardening, fishing, golfing, and sunny days on the beach of Lake Michigan and especially enjoyed spending time with his family. He is survived by his daughter, Christine Wyngarden of St. Joseph; his son, Thomas (Diane) Filstrup of St. Joseph; his sister, Nancy (Gene) Byrne of Benton Harbor, a brother, Edward Filstrup of St. Joseph; and his grandchildren ? Pamela (Fred) Rollins, Brett Wyngarden, Sara (David) Fiorillo, Geoffrey (Jennifer) Wyngarden, Bowen Wyngarden, Christopher Filstrup, Michelle Wyngarden, Kathryn Shushman, Kimberly Shushman, Bradley Shushman; great-granddaughter, Sidney Frances Wyngarden; a special cousin, George (Spig) Burridge; and step-children ? Rick (Kathy) Seymour, Carolee (Don) Secrist, Candice (Robert) Myers, Lisa (Ray) Morrison, Anne Odden and her children, Jonathon and Jaclyn Odden. Many loving nieces and nephews as well as numerous lifelong friends also survive him. His parents; his first wife of 50 years, Frances Patton Filstrup; his second wife of 10 years, Caroline Seymour Filstrup; a sister, Miriam Filstrup; and his close friend and brother-in-law, Don Clark, preceded him in death.