Emily Lauck

Emily Lauck, 97, of Benton Harbor, passed away March 6, 2006 at Lakeland Specialty Hospital in Berrien Center, Michigan. She had been there only a short time following complications from a respiratory illness. Emily was born September 25, 1908 in Wolf Run, Ohio, where her parents had recently immigrated from Slovakia. She graduated from Bergholz High School in Bergholz, Ohio in 1928. She then attended Ohio State University where she studied nursing. While she was at Ohio State she met her future husband John Lauck whom she married in 1933. They made their home in Shaker Heights, Ohio before moving to Benton Harbor, Michigan in 1959. Together they reared four children and celebrated 65 years of marriage together before she was widowed in 1999. Emily’s life was that of a homemaker, mother and wife, an endeavor she embraced wholeheartedly. She loved her family and many friends and enjoyed entertaining, traveling and her many years as a volunteer at Mercy Hospital in Benton Harbor. Emily was preceded in death by her parents Jan and Magdalena Ridzon, three brothers, three sisters, her husband John and her daughter Diane (Lauck) Kraisner. She is survived by her three sons: John (Florence) Lauck of Hartford, Michigan; Robert (Heli) Lauck of Three Rivers, California: and James Lauck and family friend Ken Reed of Otsego, Michigan. Also surviving are eight grandchildren: Pam (Bob) Rutherford of St. Joseph, Michigan; Vikki (Jeff) Guthrie of Chantilly, Virginia; Laura (Collin) Olmstead of Baroda, Michigan; Carol (Michael) Scheinberg of Los Angeles, California; Robert Kraisner of Auburn, Ohio; Sherri (Daniel) McIntyre of Westlake, Ohio; Robert Lauck of Battle Creek, Michigan; and John (Debbie) Lauck of Battle Creek, Michigan. Additionally, she is survived by twelve great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, 555 Delaware Avenue, Benton Harbor, Michigan, on Monday March 13, 2006 at 10:00 A.M. with Fr. Bill Jacobs, Jr. officiating. Interment will follow in Hickory Bluff Cemetery in Stevensville. Friends may call on Sunday March 12, 2006 from 3:00 to 5:00 P.M. at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, Michigan. Memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer’s Association. Friends may send the family a condolence message on-line at www.starks-menchinger.com.