Evangeline Rosemarie Metz

Evangeline (nee Steinke) Gillette Metz, 81, of St. Joseph, entered Heaven, her eternal home, on Thursday, March 10, 2016 surrounded by her loving family. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:30 AM on Tuesday March 15, 2016 at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Colfax and Kline, Benton Harbor, with the Reverend Bolwerk officiating. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph. Visitation will be held on Monday, March 14, 2016 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services, 2650 Niles Road., St. Joseph, Michigan. Memorials may be made to St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Benton Harbor, or the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America. Those wishing to share a memory of Evangeline online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Evangeline Rosemarie Steinke was born January 28, 1935 in Sodus, to the late Herbert and Elsie (Lerke) Steinke. She was baptized at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Sodus, and confirmed in April 1949 at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Benton Harbor. She was a lifelong member of St. Matthew’s where she could be found almost every Sunday until her illness prevented her from attending. On October 4, 1968, she married Jerome L. Metz at St. Matthew’s. In her early years she attended Sterne Brunson Elementary School in Benton Harbor and later St. Joseph High School. Evangeline “Angie” was a hard worker. Over the years she was employed at Montgomery Wards, Williams Brothers Box Factory, Dumdei’s Big Bend Drive-In, V-M and later retired from Heath Zenith Data Systems in 1996 after 28 years of employment. When she wasn’t working, she enjoyed tending to her flower gardens and cooking. She was an excellent cook and baker and enjoyed preparing a large Sunday meal for many years. She and Jerry enjoyed many vacations over their 47 years of marriage. She is survived by her husband of 47 years, Jerome L. Metz; sons, Kevin (Lisa) Gillette of Stevensville, and Kirt (Tara) Gillette of St. Joseph; sisters, Marie (Linton) Schinske of Eau Claire, and Ilena (Clyde) Holder of Hollywood, AL; stepbrother, Gunar (Marlene) Kampe of Berrien Springs; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Arlene Pries in 2014, stepbrother Ervin Kampe in 2006, and stepmother Frieda Kampe Steinke in 1989.