J. Otto Kerschbaum

J. Otto Kerschbaum, 87, long time Stevensville resident, died Tuesday, December 4, 2001 at Lakeland Continuing Care Center, St. Joseph. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. Thursday at St. Joseph Catholic Church, St. Joseph. Cremation will follow the services with burial of ashes at Resurrection Cemetery, St. Joseph. Friends may call from 6-8 PM Wednesday at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Liturgical Prayers will be recited at 7:30 PM. Memorials may be made to Alzheimers Disease Research. Mr. Kerschbaum was born on March 12, 1914 in Chicago to Charles & Mary (Klopschek) Kerschbaum. Otto graduated from the University of Michigan with a BS Degree in Architecture. On September 21, 1940 he married the former Betty Boekema in Grosse Point, Michigan. He was employed during WWII at Dashall-Carter Boat Manufacturing Co. in Benton Harbor. Otto then took a job with Auto Specialties where he was employed as the Plant Architect, retiring in 1976 after 35 years of employment. Mr. Kerschbaum was a long time member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in St. Joseph. Otto is survived by two sons-Charles (Jytte) Kerschbaum of St. Joseph, James (Wanda) Kerschbaum of Collierville, TN; grandchildren-Kevin, Timothy, David & Christine Kerschbaum; great-grandchildren-Erik & Nicole Kerschbaum; his brother-in-law Clarence ?Butch? Blay of St. Joseph, and a sister-in-law Millie Kerschbaum of Bridgman. He was preceded in death by his wife Betty on August 5, 1999, and his brother Carl Kerschbaum.