Jean Catherine Hodge
February 5th, 1929 - April 19th, 2025
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Jean's Obituary
Jean Catherine Hodge, 96, of St. Joseph, passed away Saturday, April 19, 2025 at Woodland Terrace of St. Joseph.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 11:30 am at First Church of God, 2627 Niles Ave., St. Joseph, with Rev. Chris Spitters officiating. Friends may visit with the family beginning at 9:30 am at the church until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made toward the purchase of a Memorial Bench that will be placed on one of the trails at Turkey Run State Park in Indiana, where the family continues to meet annually for a camping weekend every fall; a tradition started by Jean and Joe many years ago. Donation checks can be made out to Jeff Hodge and will be collected at First Church the morning of the service or Starks & Menchinger Chapel after that time. Private committal services will take place at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph. Those wishing to sign Jean’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Jean was born February 5, 1929 in Cincinnati, OH to John & Kathleen Heumann. On December 27, 1949 she married the love of her life, Joe William Hodge. They began their life together in Indianapolis, IN and then returned to Evansville, IN where they started their family and eventually moved to Benton Harbor, MI where they raised their three children. After moving to this area and devoting herself to raising the family Jean went to work for Tri-County bookkeepers in 1972. She loved being a bookkeeper and often said she would have worked for no pay; the fun for her was in making the numbers add up. Jean retired in 1987 after Joe retired and they spent the next 10 years traveling to many parts of the country in their Suburban & trailer. Jean drove one of those Suburbans until the age of 95. Joe and Jean began camping with their 3 kids and introduced many family members, neighbors, and friends to favorite campgrounds and the joy of hiking to the top of a mountain and sitting around a campfire. These traditions are still being carried on with even the great grandkids. Jean also loved to play bridge. She and Joe played couples bridge with friends and Jean played with various clubs and with friends up until her 96th birthday. Square dancing was a favorite ‘night out’ activity for Jean and Joe in their early years and in more recent years a ‘night in’ for Jean always included an episode of Wheel of Fortune. Jean began attending First Church of God and the Adult Sunday School Class in 1997 and enjoyed many trips and activities with the Prime-Timers group. Previous to attending First Church Jean and Joe were long-time members of Peace Temple United Methodist Church. Jean loved family celebrations, attending grandkids’ activities, and Sunday night gatherings. For many years Sundays included a hike (year round) at Warren Dunes and back to the house for burgers on the grill. We will miss you Jean, Mom, Grandma, Gigi, and all of the love you shared with us.
Jean is survived by her children-Jenny (Mark) Fry of St. Joseph, Jeff (Karen) Hodge of St. Joseph, and Julie (Kevin) Coleman of Coloma; eight grandchildren-Brianne (Tom) Van Hekken, Alina (Andy) Van Hekken, Colin (Jessica) Fry, Kyle Etter, Greg Etter, Erin (Andrew) Kim, Andy Hodge, and Emily (Dylan Kaczmarek) Hodge; great-grandchildren-Vivian, Miles, Charley, Jack, Ada, Bruce and Lucy; a sister-in-law Vera Hodge and sixteen nieces & nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Joe on December 2, 1997; her brother John (Mary) Heumann and brothers and sister-in-law Fritz Hodge, Don (Pat) Hodge.
We would like to extend heartfelt appreciation to the wonderful staff at Woodland Terrace of St. Joseph for loving and caring for Jean so well over the ten months that she resided there.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 11:30 am at First Church of God, 2627 Niles Ave., St. Joseph, with Rev. Chris Spitters officiating. Friends may visit with the family beginning at 9:30 am at the church until the time of service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made toward the purchase of a Memorial Bench that will be placed on one of the trails at Turkey Run State Park in Indiana, where the family continues to meet annually for a camping weekend every fall; a tradition started by Jean and Joe many years ago. Donation checks can be made out to Jeff Hodge and will be collected at First Church the morning of the service or Starks & Menchinger Chapel after that time. Private committal services will take place at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph. Those wishing to sign Jean’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Jean was born February 5, 1929 in Cincinnati, OH to John & Kathleen Heumann. On December 27, 1949 she married the love of her life, Joe William Hodge. They began their life together in Indianapolis, IN and then returned to Evansville, IN where they started their family and eventually moved to Benton Harbor, MI where they raised their three children. After moving to this area and devoting herself to raising the family Jean went to work for Tri-County bookkeepers in 1972. She loved being a bookkeeper and often said she would have worked for no pay; the fun for her was in making the numbers add up. Jean retired in 1987 after Joe retired and they spent the next 10 years traveling to many parts of the country in their Suburban & trailer. Jean drove one of those Suburbans until the age of 95. Joe and Jean began camping with their 3 kids and introduced many family members, neighbors, and friends to favorite campgrounds and the joy of hiking to the top of a mountain and sitting around a campfire. These traditions are still being carried on with even the great grandkids. Jean also loved to play bridge. She and Joe played couples bridge with friends and Jean played with various clubs and with friends up until her 96th birthday. Square dancing was a favorite ‘night out’ activity for Jean and Joe in their early years and in more recent years a ‘night in’ for Jean always included an episode of Wheel of Fortune. Jean began attending First Church of God and the Adult Sunday School Class in 1997 and enjoyed many trips and activities with the Prime-Timers group. Previous to attending First Church Jean and Joe were long-time members of Peace Temple United Methodist Church. Jean loved family celebrations, attending grandkids’ activities, and Sunday night gatherings. For many years Sundays included a hike (year round) at Warren Dunes and back to the house for burgers on the grill. We will miss you Jean, Mom, Grandma, Gigi, and all of the love you shared with us.
Jean is survived by her children-Jenny (Mark) Fry of St. Joseph, Jeff (Karen) Hodge of St. Joseph, and Julie (Kevin) Coleman of Coloma; eight grandchildren-Brianne (Tom) Van Hekken, Alina (Andy) Van Hekken, Colin (Jessica) Fry, Kyle Etter, Greg Etter, Erin (Andrew) Kim, Andy Hodge, and Emily (Dylan Kaczmarek) Hodge; great-grandchildren-Vivian, Miles, Charley, Jack, Ada, Bruce and Lucy; a sister-in-law Vera Hodge and sixteen nieces & nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband Joe on December 2, 1997; her brother John (Mary) Heumann and brothers and sister-in-law Fritz Hodge, Don (Pat) Hodge.
We would like to extend heartfelt appreciation to the wonderful staff at Woodland Terrace of St. Joseph for loving and caring for Jean so well over the ten months that she resided there.
Memorial Contributions
Jean's Memorial bench at Turkey Run State Park in Indiana.
Service Details
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