Mary Anne Zilke

Mary Anne Zilke, 67, of Baroda, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at home on Saturday, May 31, 2014. She was born in Valparaiso, Indiana on March 21, 1947, to Marian (Gold) and Robert Shutske. After her father passed away, her mother remarried Charles Landeck, and they moved to St. Joseph from Kouts, Indiana.  On February 21, 1996 she married Roger Zilke, her high school sweetheart. Mary Anne graduated from St. Joseph Catholic High School in 1965 and was a life-long supporter of the school.  She retired in 2011, after a 30 year career as a Federal Housing Agent at Bridgman Estates. Mary Anne is survived by her husband, Roger and her children: Lori (Terry) Graves, Susan (Mick) Oldenburg, Karen (Matthew) Ford, Ingrid (Mark) Behnke, Kenny (Angelique) Petersen. Fourteen grandchildren, Elizabeth and Allison Graves; Katherine, Lyndsay, Margaret, Abigail, and Isabella Oldenburg; Lauren, Claire and Gabriel Ford; Raeghen, Bethany and Caroline Behnke; and Tre’ Petersen. Her brothers Robert (Kathy) Landeck and Paul (Kim) Landeck and her sister, Dolores (Michael Mason) Landeck. Mary Anne loved to host parties at her home, especially outdoor parties in the summer, family and class reunions. She was a gracious hostess.  She welcomed anyone that came through her door with a smile. She was a mom to many and a friend to all. Mary Anne’s favorite hobbies were taking care of the “farm”, expanding her numerous perennial gardens, zooming around on her lawn mower and spending as much time as she could with her grandchildren while spoiling them rotten.  She also loved to go to antique fairs and shows. Mary Anne was preceded in death by her mother, Marian Landeck, her father Robert Shutske and her step father, Charles Landeck. Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:00 AM Thursday, June 5, 2014 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 220 Church St., St. Joseph, with Monsignor Eugene Sears officiating. Burial will follow at Hinman Cemetery in Baroda. Friends may visit from 5:00 until 7:00 PM, Wednesday, June 4, 2014, with a Rosary recited at 7:00 PM, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to the Saint Joseph Catholic Church or the Readiness Center. Those wishing to share a memory of Mary Anne online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.