Anna M. Nitz

Anna M. Nitz, 87, of St. Joseph, MI, passed away on June 6, 2010 at Caretel Inn in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Eternal will be held 10:00 A.M. Thursday, June 10, 2010 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 2673 W. John Beers Rd., in Stevensville with Gerald Schroer officiating. Burial will follow at Lincoln Township Cemetery. Friends may visit from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Berrien County Cancer Society, or the American Diabetes Foundation. Those wishing to sign the Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Anna was born April, 17, 1923 in Ocheyedan, Iowa to Samuel & Margaretha (Hines) Welke. On July, 23, 1943 Anna married Harry A. Nitz in St. Joseph. Harry preceded her in death on May 5, 1992. Anna worked as a cook for Lakeshore Public Schools for 13 years and a bookkeeper for Nitz Lawnmower Service for 10 years. Anna was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Owls Group and a volunteer at the Lighthouse Attic. She also enjoyed volunteering at Grace Lutheran School Library. In her spare time she enjoyed gardening and was an excellent seamstress. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought immense joy to her life. Anna shared her Christian faith with her family and friends, and she enjoyed telling them stories about her life. Anna is survived by her four daughters Sharon (Jon) Harner of Buchanan, MI, Karla (Leslie) Tomlinson of St. Joseph, MI, Kathleen (Dan) McCumber of St. Joseph, MI, and Susan Nitz of South Bend, IN; 8 grandchildren; and 15 great grandchildren. Anna was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister Edna Herman, and step-brother Reinhold Wildeman.