Vally A. Ladwig

Vally A. Ladwig, 83, of St. Joseph, went to her heavenly home to meet her Lord and Savior, Wednesday, October 8, 2003, at home. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 1:00P.M., Monday, October 13, at Christ Lutheran Church 4333 Cleveland Ave., Stevensville, with Vicar Lowell Sorenson officiating. Burial will follow at Hickory Bluff Cemetery. Friends may call from 3-6 P.M., Sunday at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Christ Lutheran Church or Christ Lutheran School. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guestbook online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Vally was born on March 25, 1920 to Michael and Ida (Warnke) Gebengan in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She was a Graduate of Benton Harbor High School. Vally married Gerald Ladwig on Valentine?s Day, February 14, 1948 in Benton Harbor. Her first job was as secretary for the Principal at Benton Harbor Jr. High School. During WWII she was employed by the draft board in Benton Harbor, then for Dachel Carter Ship Builders. Vally took time out to raise her two daughters. She returned to the workforce part-time then full time at the Michigan Employment Security Commission, retiring in 1980 after 20 years. Vally loved bowling in her church league. She was a member of the PTL at Christ Lutheran School and a volunteer at Memorial Hospital for 12 years. After her retirement, she enjoyed fishing; as well as traveling to many historical sights in the United States. Vally loved and enjoyed her 6 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Vally is survived by her husband Gerald; two daughters ? Susan (Dan) Lake of St. Joseph, and Barbara (Walter) Blacha of Brighton, MI; five grandchildren ? Wendy (Todd) Roberts, Amanda Blacha, Kimberly Blacha, Lisa Lake, and Lindsey Lake; three great-grandchildren : Samantha Roberts, Evan Roberts, and Kayli Lake. She was preceded in death by her grandson Mark Lake in July 2003.