Jay Van Den Berg

Jay Van Den Berg, 78, of Bridgman, passed away Sunday, March 25, 2018. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10AM on Thursday, March 29, 2018, at First Congregational Church, 2001 Niles Avenue, St. Joseph, with Rev. Dr. Charles Guerreno officiating.  Burial at Riverview Cemetery will follow.  Friends are invited to visit the family from 5 to 7 PM, Wednesday, March 28, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Humane Society of Southwestern Michigan. Those wishing to sign Jay’s memory book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Jay was born in Byron Center, Michigan, on April 26, 1939, to John and Henrietta (VanPutten) Van Den Berg.  A native of Grand Rapids, Jay earned a B.S. Degree from Western Michigan University.  He married his wife of 56 years, Joanne Zeilke on October 21, 1961, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Stevensville and together they raised three children.  Jay held teaching positions at Lakeshore High School and at South Haven High School.  Jay then joined Whirlpool Corporation in 1967 as an Industrial Engineer at the St. Joseph Division.  In 1970 he was promoted to the Findlay Division as Manager of Human Resources.  In 1974 Jay was promoted to Director of Industrial Relations at the St. Joseph Division.  Jay retired from Whirlpool as Senior Vice President of Community Relations in 2000, after 30 years.  Jay enjoyed the beach, boating, and spending time with his grandchildren and his cat Winston. Jay is survived by his wife, Joanne; children, Kimberly Van Den Berg of Ann Arbor, Kellie (Brian) Eagle of Fishers, IN, & Karmen (Layne) Brower of St. Joseph; grandchildren, Lauren, Jay, & Benjamin Brower and Zachary Eagle; brothers John (Jan) Van Den Berg Jr. of Grandville, MI, Maurice (Helen) Van Den Berg of Clover, SC, Jerry (Marty) Van Den Berg of Niles, MI; and mother-in-law Lucille McFarlane, of Blairsville, GA. Jay was preceded in death by his parents, John and Henrietta.