Emma Belter

Emma Belter, 89, of Benton Harbor, MI passed away Friday, June 9, 2017 at Hanson Hospice Center in Stevensville.  A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:00 AM Tuesday, June 13, 2017 at Grace Lutheran Church, 404 E. Glenlord Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. Noah Headrick officiating. Burial will follow at North Shore Memory Gardens in Coloma. Friends may visit with the family from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Monday June 12, 2017 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services, 2650 Niles Rd. St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Grace Lutheran Church. Those wishing to share a memory of Emma online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com  Emma was born August 14, 1927 in Watervliet, MI to Emil & Justina (Frank)Eisbrenner. One of ten children, she loved her brothers and sisters dearly.  On November 29, 1946 she married Harvey J. Belter in Benton Harbor, where their adventure began. Emma and Harvey raised five children on the family farm in Sodus. They lived on the farm until 1994. They then moved to North Shore Estates in Benton Harbor. She held many jobs over the years but she will be remembered most for waitressing at the Holmstead Restaurant in Benton Harbor. Upon retirement, Emma and Harvey spent many enjoyable winters in Winterhaven, FL among family and friends.    Emma was a faithful member of Grace Lutheran Church in St. Joseph and Resurrection Lutheran Church in Winterhaven, FL where she sang in the choir.  Emma loved to dance a polka and was always ready to play cards. She and Harvey shared their love of fishing with their children and grandchildren, enjoying many trips to Lake Gogebic and Cadillac, MI. Emma was also known for the great parties she hosted. She often joked that if she was going to have a party, it was going to rain. Emma is survived by her children, Harvey (Sandy) Belter, Jr., Dennis (Rhoda) Belter, Greg (Karen) Belter and Cindy (Roger) Schmalenberger; grandchildren; Jacob (Heather) Belter, Sarah (Justin) Iwaniuk, Jeremy (Kelsey) Belter, Nicole (Jared) Dorn, Zachary Belter, Rebecca (Jason) Collins, Bill Belter, Bob (Jenna) Belter and Andrew Schmalenberger; great- grandchildren Jack & Meadow Collins, Ben Iwaniuk and one on the way; sisters, Martha Litke, Emily Griffin and Carolyn Sempert.  Emma was preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 67 years, Harvey; daughter, Nancy Rohm; sister, Elsie Wildeman; brothers, William, Emil and Henry Eisbrenner.