Elke Barthel
November 5th, 1946 - November 11th, 2024
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Elke's Obituary
Elke Barthel age 78 passed away on Monday, November 11, 2024 in Holland, Michigan. She was born in Darmstadt, Germany on November 5, 1946 to Peter and Hertha Pfeiffer.
Elke grew up and completed high school in Wixhausen, Germany. At age 19 she met her future husband William (Butch) Barthel at a military dance at Rhein-Main Air force base in Frankfurt Germany. They fell in love and married on May 31, 1965 in Germany. They moved in 1966 to the USA and settled in Butch’s hometown of South Haven Michigan to raise their two children Sabine (Brendan) Callaghan and Andreas (Cheryl) Barthel. Elke was a caring and loving mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend. She has 5 grandchildren Alex, Nicole, Stephanie, Cameron, and Patrick, along with a great granddaughter, River.
Elke enjoyed traveling and was very proud of her German heritage. She took the family every summer to Germany to visit friends and relatives. Elfer Raus was her favorite German card game. She enjoyed playing and especially winning. Elke loved listening to Elvis, going to the casino, and scratching off lottery tickets (which were mostly losers). She loved to drive every day to the cemetery to visit her husband’s and grandson’s grave sites, and then to the North and South beaches to watch the stunning sunsets. She will be deeply missed by many.
She is proceeded in death by her parents (Peter and Hertha) in Germany, husband William (Butch) Barthel, her loving grandson Tyler Barthel, and her brother Klaus-Peter Pfeiffer in Germany.
Visitation will take place on Thursday, November 21, 2024 from 11am until the time of the funeral at 12pm at the Filbrandt Chapel, 1076 South Bailey Avenue, South Haven, Michigan 49090. Pastor Eric Jarvis will Officiate. Elke will be laid to rest at Lakeview Cemetery. To view Elke’s personal webpage please visit www.starksfamilyfh.com Arrangements have been entrusted to Filbrandt Chapel-Starks Family Funeral homes and cremation.
Elke grew up and completed high school in Wixhausen, Germany. At age 19 she met her future husband William (Butch) Barthel at a military dance at Rhein-Main Air force base in Frankfurt Germany. They fell in love and married on May 31, 1965 in Germany. They moved in 1966 to the USA and settled in Butch’s hometown of South Haven Michigan to raise their two children Sabine (Brendan) Callaghan and Andreas (Cheryl) Barthel. Elke was a caring and loving mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend. She has 5 grandchildren Alex, Nicole, Stephanie, Cameron, and Patrick, along with a great granddaughter, River.
Elke enjoyed traveling and was very proud of her German heritage. She took the family every summer to Germany to visit friends and relatives. Elfer Raus was her favorite German card game. She enjoyed playing and especially winning. Elke loved listening to Elvis, going to the casino, and scratching off lottery tickets (which were mostly losers). She loved to drive every day to the cemetery to visit her husband’s and grandson’s grave sites, and then to the North and South beaches to watch the stunning sunsets. She will be deeply missed by many.
She is proceeded in death by her parents (Peter and Hertha) in Germany, husband William (Butch) Barthel, her loving grandson Tyler Barthel, and her brother Klaus-Peter Pfeiffer in Germany.
Visitation will take place on Thursday, November 21, 2024 from 11am until the time of the funeral at 12pm at the Filbrandt Chapel, 1076 South Bailey Avenue, South Haven, Michigan 49090. Pastor Eric Jarvis will Officiate. Elke will be laid to rest at Lakeview Cemetery. To view Elke’s personal webpage please visit www.starksfamilyfh.com Arrangements have been entrusted to Filbrandt Chapel-Starks Family Funeral homes and cremation.
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