Werner Riedel

Werner Riedel, 89, of St. Joseph, MI, passed away Friday, September 6, 2019 at Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 11:00 A.M., Friday, September 20, 2019 at Napier Parkview Baptist Church, 245 W. Napier Ave., Benton Harbor with Pastor Nathan Dobson from Hope Bible Church officiating. Burial will follow at Spring Run Cemetery in St. Joseph. Friends may visit from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Thursday, September 19, 2019 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to the Harvester Baptist Mission. Those wishing to share a memory of Werner online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Werner was born February 11, 1930 in Freiburg, Germany to Gustav and Helene (Stephan) Riedel. He grew up in the midst of WWII in Germany and survived many hardships that shaped his character. At the age of 14, he began his life work as an electrician and later immigrated to the United States at the age of 29 to pursue the American dream. He worked for a local electrical company until he learned the English language, then founded Riedel Electric in 1963 as a Master Electrician. On June 17, 1961 he married Erika Hartwig at Clay Street Baptist Church in Benton Harbor. They were blessed with a large family. Werner felt strongly about his responsibilities as a husband and father and adopted the life motto “ora et labora” - pray and work. He used his God-given gifts of common sense, ingenuity and drive to “get something done” every day. He showed his love to others by doing - repairing, building, advising, giving, and most of all praying. He attributed all the blessings in his life to God and never hesitated to share his faith with anyone he met. Werner is survived by his wife Erika Riedel; children Monika Riedel, Werner (Jill) Riedel, Rosemarie Fosdick, Ursula (Rick) Lull, Benjamin (Michelle) Riedel and Clifford Riedel; 15 grandchildren Jenna, Alaina, Cole and Kade Riedel, Alexa and Kyla Fosdick, Hannah and Adyson Lull, Sydney (Brad) Clapp, Benjamin, Rachel and Jackson Riedel and Matthew, Joshua and Jonathan Riedel; great-grandchild Maddaex Riedel. Werner was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Christine Riedel and sister Christa Riedel.