Charlotte Nametz's Obituary
Charlotte (Filter) Nametz went to be with her Savior in heaven on May 27, 2014 in Grand Haven, Michigan, after her long battle with cancer.
Charlotte was born in Bloomfield, Nebraska, on March 28, 1923 to August C. E. Filter and Esther (Becker) Filter. Charlotte was baptized into the Lutheran faith and remained a faithful disciple of Jesus and member of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, her entire life.
In 1945, Charlotte graduated from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln with a degree in music education, and was a music teacher in the Benton Harbor area when she met the love of her life, Richard, whom she married in 1946. Their first years of married life were spent in East Lansing, Michigan, while Richard completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry.
They raised their children in St. Louis, Michigan. She was an active and loving mother, reading and singing to her children from the time they were babies, and she enjoyed many family camping and fishing trips to her favorite parts of the state, especially the Benzonia area.
Charlotte was a doer, a full and active volunteer and participant, often a leader in her avocations. After she resumed teaching when her children were older, she was a popular teacher of choral music in the St. Louis Public Schools, and she also enjoyed singing for weddings and accompanying choral performances. Wherever she was living, Charlotte’s life always centered about her faith and her church. After she and Richard retired to Benzie County in 1986, she became an active member of, and organist for, Our Savior Lutheran Church in Benzonia, Michigan.
In addition to her husbands (Richard Nametz and Harlow Ehman), Charlotte was preceded in death by her infant daughter Susan; her brother David; a niece, Elizabeth Filter; and sisters- and brothers-in-law Wilbur Nametz, Margaret (Nametz) Silvestri, August Silvestri, John R.Nametz, and Marjorie Nametz.
Charlotte is survived by her children: Michael (Elizabeth) of Houston, Texas, and Woods Hole, MA.; Dr. John (Cheryl) of Spring Lake, MI.; and Patricia, of Madison, WI.; by her brother, Ernest Filter (Corinne) of Lower Burrell, PA.; by her grandchildren Patrick Nametz and Steven Nametz, both of Brookline, MA.; Lindsay Nametz (Dana Hott) of Blue Ash, OH; and Abigail Nametz (special friend, Sabrina Diedrichsen) of West Chester, OH; by her great-grandchildren Owen and Drew Hott-Nametz; and by a cousin, nieces, and nephews.
A service of celebration for Charlotte will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, June 28, 2014 at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church in Spring Lake with Pastor Michael Goers officiating. Friends may meet the family following the service at church. The family would like to thank the caregivers at Grand Pines Assisted Living and the Hospice of North Ottawa Community. Memorials may be made to Our Savior Lutheran Church of Benzonia, St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church of Spring Lake, Benzie County Council on Aging, Hospice of North Ottawa Community, or a charity of the giver’s choice. Share memories with the family at their online guest book at www.vbkfuneralhome.com.
The family is being served by VanZantwick Bartels Kammeraad Funeral Home of Spring Lake.
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