Selma E. Abel

Selma E. Abel, 91, formerly of Benton Harbor, passed away Saturday, July 25, 2015 at Whitcomb Towers in St. Joseph where she resided. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 11:30 A.M. Saturday, August 1, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. Jeff Bolwerk officiating.  Private burial will take place at Riverview Cemetery, St. Joseph.  Friends may visit with the family from 10:30 until 11:30 A.M. Saturday at the funeral home.  Memorials may be made to St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church.  Those wishing to sign Selma’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Selma was born January 10, 1924 in Buchanan, Michigan to Otto & Emma (Froemling) Dettmann.  On September 4, 1943, she married Joseph Abel in Eau Claire, Michigan.  Selma and Joe moved to Jackson, Michigan in 1952 when Clark Equipment opened a manufacturing plant there. While in Jackson she was a homemaker until her children were school aged. At that time she became employed in clothing manufacturing at I.M. Dach and later at Gill Manufacturing. Prior to her retirement she was employed by Northwest Schools. Some of Selma’s favorite pastimes were reading, sewing and feeding the birds in her backyard. Her favorite birds were cardinals. She also enjoyed gardening with Joe, as well as canning fruits & vegetables. The family’s favorite was her black raspberry jelly.  While in Jackson Selma was a member of The Independent Order of Foresters and Trinity Lutheran Church. Selma and Joe moved back to Benton Harbor in 1986.  There Selma was a member of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church & the DANK.  She cherished the time spent with her family. The most important thing to Selma was the success and happiness of her family. Selma is survived by her children-Robert Abel of Jackson, MI, Denise Gilmour of Lakewood, CO, Barbara Vainner & her husband Larry Parks of Coldwater, MI; six grandchildren-Kelli Abel, Peter (Nikki) Vainner, Lyndsay Vainner, Benjamin (Lindsey) Vainner, Kelsey Gilmour & Kendra Gilmour; five great-grandchildren-Lorraine Hessling, Sophia Vainner, McKenna & Max Vainner, & Adrian Gilmour; her sister Ruth Baer of St. Joseph & her brother George Dettmann of Sebring, FL.  She was preceded in death by her husband Joseph on December 16, 2011, two sons-in-law-Bob Gilmour & Michael Vainner, four brothers-LeRoy, Donald, Otto & Richard Dettmann, and her sister Irene Kovalik.