Delores May Kalin

Delores May (Fillwock) Kalin, 79, passed away Saturday, May 1, at her home, surrounded by her loved ones. She had fought a long and courageous battle with cancer. Delores was born on April 8, 1931 in St. Joseph to the late Fred and Rozella Fillwock. She married her high school sweetheart, Gerald T. Kalin, on December 24, 1949, and they were together nearly 40 years before he passed away on March 22, 1989. When she was young, Delores worked at Murphy's Dime Store in St. Joseph and VM Corporation in Benton Harbor before quitting to raise her family. She began a business in her home, Dee-Ka Ceramics, and taught people ceramics for 20 years before retiring in 1985. She and her husband began Kalin Construction, a road building company, in 1976, which is now owned and operated by her sons. Delores was a member of Zion Evangelical United Church of Christ in St. Joseph where she was married. She was a life-long artist; including painting, ceramics, doll making, teddy bear making, quilting and sewing. She loved to garden and decorate her home. She was a member of the Berrien Artist Guild at the Box Factory for the Arts in St. Joseph. Delores was also a long-time member of the TOPS club in St. Joseph and enjoyed her many friends there. Her survivors include one daughter-Denise(Thomas)Tackett of Stevensville, and four sons-Gerald F.(Cheryl)Kalin, Theodore(Sandi)Kalin, Bruce Kalin all of St. Joseph, and Timothy Kalin of Benton Harbor; one granddaughter-Sloan Tackett; five grandsons-Gerald W. (Hilary) Kalin, Michael J. (Mitzi) Kalin, Matthew J. (Kelly) Kalin, Caleb T. (Candice) Tackett, and Max K. Tackett; one sister-Janice Plangger; and one brother-Thomas (Monica) Fillwock. Delores was preceded in death by her husband, an infant daughter, her parents, and one brother-Fred Fillwock, II. A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Wednesday, May 5, 10:00am, at the Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, MI, with Rev. Dan J. Smith officiating. Burial will follow at Spring Run Cemetery, of Royalton Township. Visitation is on Tuesday, May 4, from 4:00-8:00pm at the funeral home. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, Hospice At Home, or to the Zion Evangelical United Church of Christ in St. Joseph. Friends wishing to leave a message of condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com