R. J. Burkholz

R. J. “Bob” Burkholz, 81, of Benton Harbor, Michigan passed away Sunday, March 28, 2010 at his home. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, March 30 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association and American Diabetic Association. Those wishing to send a condolence message on-line may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. A Celebration of Life service will be held at the First Presbyterian Church of Benton Harbor, 475 Green Ave. on Morton Hill, Wednesday, March 31 at 2:00 PM, with Pastor Laurie Hartzell officiating. Bob Burkholz was born in Benton Harbor, MI on December 26, 1928 and remained a life-long resident of the Benton Harbor area. He graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1946, where he was a member of the varsity basketball team and spent his summers as a merchant marine working on cruise ships sailing the Great Lakes. After his United States Army Service from 1947-48, where he served as military police officer at West Point, he attended Benton Harbor Junior College for one year. While there, he was active with the Indians basketball team until he was recalled to Active Army Service stateside during the Korean War at Fort Sheridan, Chicago, IL. Upon his honorable discharge, he attended and was graduated from Albion College, where he received his B.A. degree in 1954. While attending Albion, Bob was an active member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. Since 1955, R. J. Burkholz had been a self-employed Realtor and Appraiser in the Twin Cities area. On April 21, 1955 he married the amazing Zoe Shaffer in Concord, IL. Their journey through life together lasted more than 52 years. Bob Burkholz had a long history of public service. He first served as Treasurer of the Lafayette School District in Benton Township in 1963. He resigned to chair the Benton Township Board of Tax Review from 1964-69. In 1969, as a member of the GOP, he was appointed to the Berrien County Board of Commissioners and was elected and then re-elected to that office every two years through 1999. As Commissioner, he served as Chairman of the Board of Commissioners from 1992-93. During his 30-year tenure as Commissioner, he served on several committees. They include Planning and Parks, which merged with Personnel and Human Services Committee, where he served since 1969 and was Chairman from 1990-98. The Twin Cities Area Transportation Committee (Twin Cats), where he served since 1975 and was Chairman from 1978-98. During his service with Twin Cats, Congress was persuaded to establish the Twin Cities and surrounding townships as One Metropolitan Area, resulting in a much greater share of federal road funds being returned to this area. He also served on the St. Joseph River Harbor Authority since 1976 and was Chairperson since 1996. He was also a member and Chairman for more than 25 years of the Sauk Trails Resource Conservation and Development Council. As Chairman, he obtained federal funding for Sauk Trail R.C. & D. which has been instrumental in conservation and development in Berrien, Cass, Van Buren and Allegan counties. Bob also served on the Berrien County Parks and Recreation Board for many years. He worked diligently to build a first class park system in Berrien County and had been instrumental in securing state and federal matching funds for park rejuvenation and construction of new parks in over 61 parks in 4 Southwestern Michigan counties. Bob was particularly proud of his work at Love Creek in Berrien Springs, Rocky Gap Park in Benton Township, Madeline Bertrand Park in Niles and the beautiful Silver Beach Park in St. Joseph. Bob also served on the board of the Berrien County Road Commission since 1999. He was a longtime member of the Benton Harbor Kiwanis Club and served as its President in 1968. He was an active member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Bob was also a longtime Elder in First Presbyterian Church of Benton Harbor on Morton Hill, where he coached youth basketball from 1968-1974. Bob was a local historian and sailor by avocation. He enjoyed telling stories about the history of the Benton Harbor/St. Joseph area through his life-long experiences in this community, his nautical adventures on the S.S. City of Grand Rapids and pleasure boating on Lake Michigan, his military experiences and giving personal tours of his maritime museum in the lower level of his home. Bob was a true gentleman — well-dressed, well-groomed and well- mannered. He lived each day to the fullest and loved to dance. His thoughtful and caring ways and delightful sense of humor will be greatly missed. He is survived by two sisters, Kathryn and Betty Burkholz of St. Joseph, MI, his daughter, Susan Burkholz of South Bend, IN; two grandsons Michael Sean and Alexander James Burkholz of Portage, MI and several nephews and nieces. He is preceded in death by his wife, Zoe Shaffer Burkholz, his son, Robert Conrad Burkholz, sister Carolyn Jean Chinick and his parents, Conrad and Martha Burkholz.