Obituary of Roberta Gratz

Roberta "Alice" Gratz Alice, 93, went to her eternal home in heaven on Sunday, August 3, 2014 at Caretel Inns of St. Joseph, MI with family by her side. We are grateful for the care and compassion she received at Caretel for the last year, and also to Woodland Terrace of Bridgman where she resided from 2010-2013, and Hospice at Home who cared for her from February 2014. A visitation will take place on Saturday, August 9, 2014 at 1:00 pm and a memorial service will follow at 1:30 at First Church of God of Benton Heights, 990 N. Euclid Ave. Benton Harbor, MI, Pastor Kevin Perthius and Alice's son, Michael Gratz, presiding. Alice has donated her body to the Michigan State University Department of Anatomy. Memorial contributions may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Marshall, MI, where she was a member for 50 plus years, Salvation Army or Hospice at Home, a Lakeland Health Care Affiliate of St. Joseph, MI. Alice was born to the late Elmer & Ethel Worrell in West Newton, OH on March 18, 1921. She married Clarence Gratz March 7, 1943 in Lima, OH. They have a son, Mike (Mary) Gratz of Elkhart, IN, and a daughter Myra Wiggins of Benton Harbor, MI. Four grandchildren also survive: Geoff (Leigh) Gratz of Uniontown, OH, Sam (Michelle) Gratz of Cleves, OH, Megan (Sam) Wiggins-Dodge of Stevensville, MI, and Colleen (Gage) Elkins of Benton Harbor, MI. Six great grandchildren also survive as well as a sister, Ernestine Edwards of Cincinnati, OH, a special niece, Shirley Kirk of Ohio. Besides her parents she was preceded in death by sisters; Rowena, Gertrude, two half sisters and a half brother. Her husband died in 1983. Knowing and serving God and watching her children and grandchildren follow in her footsteps was her greatest joy. She always put others first. She was sweet, kind, compassionate, witty, and appreciative to the end. She enjoyed growing roses, walking, traveling, reading, doing crossword puzzles, baking cookies, volunteering at Oaklawn Hospital in Marshall, her poodle, Joy Joy, her church, Bible Studies and devotions, friends, family and God. Alice graduated from Lima Central High School, Lima, OH. She took some classes at Ohio State University. While being a stay at home wife and mother, she also took pictures and wrote articles for the Marshall Evening Chronicle with her husband who was the editor. She worked at Kelloggs In Battle Creek, MI for 17 years and she worked for the Marshall Chamber of Commerce. She was a Stephen's Minister, Sunday School Teacher, Elder and member of the Women's Association at the First Presbyterian Church in Marshall, MI. Alice believed an important lesson for all to learn and live by "is to love God and try to live your life in 'His' care."