Relscha Mittelstaedt

BRIDGMAN - Relscha Mittelstaedt, 85, of Bridgman passed away on Saturday, June 20, 2009 at Lakeland Specialty Hospital, Berrien Center.

Funeral services will be held 10 AM Tuesday, June 23, 2009 at Pike Funeral Home, Boyd Chapel, 9191 Red Arrow Hwy, Bridgman with Rev. Thomas R. Brazinsky officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery, Bridgman. Friends may meet with the family from 6-8 PM Monday at the funeral home. As an expression of sympathy, memorial contributions may be given to Lakeland Hospice or Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church Glendora.

Mrs. Mittelstaedt was born September 19, 1923 in Chotynka, Poland, the daughter of the late Ferdinand and Ida Joachim. On December 26, 1948 she married Gerhard Mittelstaedt and he preceded her in death on January 19, 2005. Gerhard and Relscha came from Germany on May 10, 1952 and went first to Missouri through a Lutheran church sponsorship. They worked hard and saved their money. After six months they moved to southwest Michigan with Relscha’s brothers, Ted and Adolph. From 1957 to 2005 she worked along side her husband on their family farm. She enjoyed gardening, canning, and tending to the farm animals.

Survivors include a son, Guenther (Janice) Mittelstaedt of Nashville, Michigan; two grandchildren – Jennifer (Andrew Robinson) Mittelstaedt of Pendleton, Oregon and Joel Mittelstaedt of State Line, Nevada; a brother, Theodore (Lydia) Joachim of Bridgman; and two sisters – Herta (Walter) Risch and Olga (Karl) Strohschein all of Germany.

Relscha was also preceded in death by two brothers – Heinrich and Adolf Joachim; and a sister, Lydia Keil.

Visitation

Monday June 22, 2009 , 6-8PM at Pike Funeral Home, Boyd Chapel

Funeral Service

Tuesday June 23, 2009 , 10AM at Pike Funeral Home, Boyd Chapel

Commital Service

Tuesday June 23, 2009 at Graceland Cemetery

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