LADWIG, GERALD L.

Gerald “Jerry” Ladwig, 82 of St. Joseph passed away Monday [May 22, 2006] at Lakeland Specialty Hospital, Berrien Center. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, May 26th at Christ Lutheran Church, 4333 Cleveland Avenue, Stevensville with Rev. Philip Quardokus officiating. Burial will follow in Hickory Bluff Cemetery, Stevensville. Memorials may be made to Christ Lutheran Church or Christ Lutheran School. Visitation will held on Thursday, May 25th from 6-8 PM at Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. Jerry was born September 17, 1923 in St. Joseph, Michigan to Reinhold & Ida (Kasischke) Ladwig. He graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1942, where he was a star football player. During WWII, Jerry served his nation proudly with an elite corps, the United States Marine Raiders 6th Division and was awarded two Purple Hearts for his valor. On Valentine’s Day 1948, he married his sweetheart, Vally Gebengan, in Benton Harbor. She preceded him in death on October 8, 2003. He was a hard-working devoted man: a Master Plumber first working for Nobel & Price in Benton Harbor, and then for Ideal Plumbing until his retirement in 1982. Upon retirement, he served as a volunteer for 12 years as a shuttle bus driver for Lakeland Hospital. He loved football, he loved to fish, and he loved the Green Bay Packers. But most of all, he loved his family. Jerry is survived by two daughters: Susan (Dan) Lake of St. Joseph; Barbara (Walter) Blacha of Brighton MI; five grandchildren: Wendy (Todd) Roberts, Amanda Blacha (and her fiance Gentry Smith), Kimberly Blacha, Lisa (Glenn) Gast and Lindsey Lake; sister Virginia (Einar) Nelson of St. Joseph. He is also survived by three great-grandchildren: Samantha Roberts, Evan Roberts, Kayli Lake, and the little one who is on its way. Jerry was preceded by grandson, Mark Lake, July 1, 2003; three sisters: Mabel Ladwig, Leona Berkholz, and Beatrice Puterbaugh; three brothers: Ervin, Elmer, and George Ladwig.