Inez R. Dumke

Inez (Doescher) Dumke, 93, passed away Monday morning after a long and fulfilling life centered on her family. She will be dearly missed by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, friends, and all those she touched. Inez was born in St. Joseph on June 25, 1919, to Edward and Julia Doescher. She loved St. Joseph, and had fond memories in particular of the old boardwalk near the pumping station that was close to her childhood home on Lake Court. She graduated from St. Joseph High School, where she was active in Glee Club and theater, and went on to graduate from Western Michigan University. On May 3, 1942, she married Raymond M. Dumke, a friend and classmate with whom she enjoyed 52 years of happiness before he passed away. Ray was always in her thoughts and her family takes comfort in knowing she is finally reunited with him in heaven. Ray and Inez had four children, all of whom survive – Michael (Donna) of St. Joseph, Julie Weaver of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Suzanne (Craig) Barrows of Natchez, Mississippi, and Anne (David) MacDonald of St. Joseph. She is also survived by twelve grandchildren: Jeff (Jill) Johnson, Mark (Veronica) Johnson, Matt (Ilaria) Johnson, and Karin Johnson; Mick Dumke (Tahiti Arsulowicz), David (Nevine) Dumke, and Kathryn Barry; Kristin Taylor; Ian and Ryan MacDonald; and Jeff and Susan Weaver. Inez was a wonderful grandmother and had a special bond with each grandchild, and, more recently, her nine great-grandchildren. She took great pride in all their exploits and accomplishments, great and small. She is also survived by a niece, Pat Bonsall. Inez had a long career as a home economics teacher, starting in Union City, Michigan, and later in Benton Harbor and St. Joseph. She took pride in having coached the Union City girls’ basketball team despite a less than intricate knowledge of the game at the time. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday school for many years. A member of and volunteer for many civic organizations – including Monday Musical, the Heritage Society, Krasl Art Center, Women’s Service League, PEO, the Girl Scouts, and the Humane Society, to name just a few – Inez contributed greatly to her community. She was an avid reader until the end, and had a great love and appreciation of God, friends, animals, and nature. After “enduring” endless sporting events with her beloved Ray, in later years she became a passionate sports fan in her own right. She was a die-hard partisan for Indiana University, and it is believed she postponed her journey onward so she could once more watch the Hoosiers beat rival Purdue on Saturday. She was preceded in death by her parents Edward and Julia; husband Raymond; sister Helen Warrick; son-in-law Ron Weaver; brothers-in-law Michael Dumke Jr. and Harold Warrick; nephew Philip Dumke; and many special friends. A celebration of Inez’s life will be held 11:00 A.M. Saturday, May 25, at St. Joseph First United Methodist Church, 2950 Lakeview Ave., St. Joseph, with Rev. Harris Hoekwater officiating. In lieu of flowers, Inez would like donations to be made to First United Methodist Church, the St. Joseph Lions Club, or the Berrien County Humane Society. Those wishing to sign Inez’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.