Flora Damaske

Biography

Flora Wilhelmina Damaske, 90, of Bridgman was called home by her loving Lord Thursday morning, June 9, 2011 after living a long and prosperous life.

A Celebration of life service will be held 11AM Monday, June 13 at Peace Lutheran Church, 3590 Lincoln Avenue, St. Joseph with Pastor Franz Brandenburg officiating. Visitation will be held Sunday from 2 PM - 5 PM at Pike Funeral Home, 9191 Red Arrow Highway, Bridgman. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Peace Lutheran Church, Immanuel Lutheran Church Child Care Center (attention Jan Catania), or Lakeland Hospice. Burial will be at Graceland Cemetery, Bridgman.

Flora was born November 20, 1920, in Conklin, Michigan, the second child of eight to Martin and Amanda (Walter) Merz. There are six living siblings: Esther Soderstrom, Gert Wright, Vera Reither, Walter Merz, Reverend Earl Merz, and Eunice Florip.

Flora’s love of education came from her teacher father. After graduating from Sparta High in 1938, she was one of the first female students at Concordia Teacher College in River Forest, IL. Her first teaching position was at Immanuel Lutheran in Bridgman. Highlights from her 45 year career include 28 years in parochial schools; her specialty was elementary education, and she also became a reading specialist. In addition, she helped establish Immanuel Lutheran’s first pre-school in 1986. Her love for children always drew them to her, and she witnessed to them her love of Jesus Christ throughout her life.

On February 16, 1947 she married Albin Damaske with whom she had four children. She is survived by her daughter and caregiver Chris Damaske of Bridgman; daughter Coralie (David) Dirlam of Jackson, MI; grandchildren Jennifer Damaske of Chicago, IL and Brett Damaske of Kalamazoo, MI; and daughter-in-law Jackie (Grassl) Damaske of Stevensville. She was blessed with three special caregivers: Lou Ann Bouslag, Pam Campbell, and Anastasia Baker - also by Pastor Jim Bouslag and her ‘second’ church family from New Buffalo Baptist Church.

Flora was preceded in death by her parents, older brother Martin, her daughter Kathy, husband Albin, daughter-in-law Linda Damaske, and her only son, Ken.