Ruth Kelm

Ruth Kelm, 89, of St. Joseph, MI passed away Thursday, March 12, 2015 at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph surrounded by her loving family.  A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 A.M. Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 671 McAllister Ave., Benton Harbor. Burial will follow at Hickory Bluff Cemetery in Stevensville. Friends may visit from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Monday, March 16, 2015 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Service 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to St. Matthew’s Evangelical Lutheran Church. Those wishing to share a memory of Ruth online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com  Ruth was born on July 30, 1925, in Breslau, Germany to Robert and Martha (Gruchot) Wenzel. On April 20, 1946 she married Alfred Kelm in Germany. Ruth worked for VM Corporation for many years. Ruth was passionate about her position as Banquet Manager for 40 years at the Kicker’s Club. She also served 2 terms as the Kicker’s Club President and was the first woman elected President at the Kicker’s. Ruth enjoyed knitting, cooking, baking, reading and travel.  Ruth is survived by her husband Alfred Kelm; daughters, Ilona Zandarski and Anita (James) Kaylor; granddaughters, Kristine (Ralph) Lucius and Sarah Veine; great-grandchildren, Lauren Veine, Joshua Lucius, Dorian Lucius and Jaxon Miller. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, son-in-law Mark Zandarski and by nine siblings.