Clara Flore

BENTON HARBOR ? Clara Flore, 88, passed peacefully on Jan 29, while sitting in her chair at Orchard Grove Extended Care. Clara was born in Siberia, Russia on November 24, 1916, and immigrated through Ellis Island to the Benton Harbor area in 1920. Her parents Franz and Adelphina Petruschke, settled in Bainbridge, where Clara and her brothers and sisters were raised. Clara attended Penn Yan School, was active in 4-H, and became a life long sewing and cooking leader. She married Albert Flore on Sept 2, 1939, and after a few years in Benton Harbor, moved to the Petruschke farm in Bainbridge Township. Clara worked for many years as a waitress at the Whitcomb Hotel in St. Joseph, and later at the Point-O-Woods Country Club. She was a member of the First Church of God in St. Joseph, and enjoyed trips to Texas, Germany, and England with her family. She spent the last five years of her life at Orchard Grove Nursing Home suffering from Alzheimers. She will be greatly missed by her loving family: Albert her husband of 65 years, son Jim and his wife Elaine (Shane), and her grandchildren, Leigh Flore (Michigan State University), Katie Flore (Washington D.C.) and Clare Flore (Grand Valley State University), sister-in-law Elsie Petruschke and numerous nieces and nephews. Clara was preceded in death by her infant son William and her brothers and sisters, Emily, Gus, Albert, Reiny and Jo. Services will be held at the Plymouth Congregational Church in Watervliet, at 12:00 Saturday February 5th. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Arrangements have been entrusted to Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, St. Joseph, MI. She will be remembered for her wonderful cooking, friendly personality and her willingness to help those in need.