Rose Marguerite Gebhard

Rose Marguerite Gebhard, 82, of Benton Harbor, passed away, Monday, November 28, 2005 at her home. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. Thursday at St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, 555 E. Delaware, Benton Harbor with Fr. William Jacobs, Jr. officiating. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Dowagiac. Friends may call from 4-7 P.M. Wednesday at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, where the Rosary will be recited at 6:30 P.M. Memorials may be made to St. John-St. Bernard Parish, Berrien County Cancer Service or the Emphysema Foundation. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Mrs. Gebhard was born December 28, 1922 in Dowagiac to Leo & Rose (Cassidy) Brosnan. She graduated from high school, and received her teaching certificate from County Normal in Cass County. She taught school for several years at Red Mill School in Silver Creek Township. On July 21, 1945, she married John Gebhard in Dowagiac. Marguerite was a member of St. Bernard’s Catholic Church where she took part in many Church activities including the Carmelite Society. She believed in the power of prayer and practiced daily. Marguerite devoted her life to her church and her family, and was proud of her Irish Heritage. Marguerite is survived by nine children-Bill (Terrie) Gebhard of Battle Creek, Carol (Al) Goy of Schaumburg, IL, Bob (Katie) Gebhard of Silver Lake, MN, Fred (Jeanette) Gebhard of St. Joseph, Mary (Shaz) Khan of Canton, MI, Eileen (Doug) Chesser of Stevensville, Rose (Jim) Howard of Warren, MI, Kevin (Ann) Gebhard of Stevensville, Liz Gebhard of St. Joseph; twenty-six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband John on January 13, 1981, her grandson Ryan Gebhard on July 18, 2005, by two brothers-Leo & Tom Brosnan and a sister JoAnne Ktsanes.