Robert Henry DeVries

Robert (Bob) H. DeVries, 91, of St. Joseph, MI passed away at Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville, MI on Saturday – August 3, 2019. Robert was born on Dec. 28, 1927 in Grand Rapids, MI to the late Henry and Cora (DeMeester) DeVries. He was a 1945 graduate of Union High School in Grand Rapids and served his country while in the U.S. Navy. On October 8, 1948 in Grand Rapids he married his high school sweetheart Lucy Ann Wilkinson. He was plant engineer manager at Ameritech (formerly MI Bell) and retired in 1989 after 41 years of service. His award winning engineering projects included laying the cable under the St. Joseph River in Berrien Springs and near the railroad bridge in the St. Joseph River channel. Concurrently he served various leadership capacities on the St. Joseph Township Board, notably on the park board when Eaton and Carronde Parks were purchased and developed; served as Trustee, Treasurer, and on the Planning Commission and Lake Michigan Water and Sewer Committees. He became an avid and formidable duplicate bridge player upon retirement. He and LucyAnn enjoyed fishing at Van Auken Lake and traveling. Leadership continued in the St. Joseph/Lincoln Senior Center, singing in the “Dreamers” chorus and various capacities as a long time member of the First Congregational Church of St. Joseph. Robert is survived by his wife of seventy years, LucyAnn; his five children – Linda (Keenis) Owens of Ligonier, IN, Robert (Karol) DeVries of Buford, GA, Thomas DeVries of Stevensville, MI, Nancy Bunker of St. Joseph, MI and Ruth (Jim) Kurtis of Marana, AZ; five grandchildren: Zachary (Rodica) Owens, Katherine (Pavel Smidingr) Owens, Ashleigh DeVries, Terah (Justin) Palmer, and Amanda Carroll; seven great-grandchildren; and sister-in-law Joanne DeVries in Grand Rapids. Preceding Robert in death is sister – Alyce Roodvoets and his brother Russell DeVries. A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, August 17th, at the First Congregational U.C.C. located at 2001 Niles Avenue in St. Joseph, MI. Prior to the service there will be a visitation in the Greeting Room at 11:00 am, and Service at 12 noon with a luncheon following. Friends who wish to leave the family a message of condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Memorial Garden Fund at the First Congregational Church of St. Joseph or to the St. Joseph/Lincoln Senior Center.