Henry M. Moritz

Henry Mickeal Moritz, 91, of St. Joseph, gently passed away on Wednesday, May 26, 2004, surrounded by the love of his family. There will be a Celebration of Life Service on Saturday, May 29, 2004, at 1:00 P.M. at Crystal Springs Church of God, 1465 Pipestone St., Benton Harbor, with Rev. Jonathan Hopson officiating. Burial will follow at Spring Run Cemetery in St. Joseph. Friends may call on Friday from 4:00 to 7:30 P.M. at Kerley- Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St Joseph. Memorials may be made to Crystal Springs Church of God. Guest wishing to send a condolence on line may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Henry was born on October 17, 1912 in Bigger, Saskatchewan, Canada to Eva (Gartz) and Robert Moritz the second of five children. At an early age they moved to the Benton Harbor-St. Joseph area where he enjoyed farming and later co-owned Dieco Products. He was a simple man with a deep love for God and the earth. Some of his greatest pleasures were digging in his garden or floating on a lake with a fishing pole in hand. Though he was a soft spoken man, his life was an example to so many. For many years he attended Crystal Springs Church of God where he was a ?silent servant,? always doing things behind the scene, embarrassed by recognition. He had an unboundless amount of time for his family, always lovingly doing whatever he could. On May 18, 1940 he marred Elsie Beselt and they enjoyed 59 years of marriage. As children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren came along, he was elated with each addition to the family. Henry is survived by his daughters, Sandy Starbuck of St. Joseph and Bonnie (David) Fizzell of Eau Claire, his grandchildren, Tracey (Chuck) Zitta of St. Joseph, Heidi Osborn of Stevensville, Ryan Witt of Iowa City, Iowa, Allison Fizzell and Kelley Fizzell both of Eau Claire, his great grandchildren, Charlie Zitta, Michael Zitta, and Christopher Osborn, and his sisters, Sarah Ertman of Benton Harbor and Helen Gerlach of Stevensville. Henry was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Elsie, his sister Dena Oswald, his brother Ralph Moritz, his sister-in-law, Nina Moritz, his brother-in-laws, Bert Oswald, Reinhart Ertman, Wilbur Zebell, John Gerlach, Edmund Beselt, Bert Beselt, and Albert Beselt, and his sons-in-law, Robert Witt and Jack Starbuck. As a father, grandfather and great grandfather, he was all we could have wished for and more. We are blessed!