Patricia Anne Benkert's Obituary
Patricia Anne (Donner) Benkert, age 87, of Muskegon passed away Sunday, February 24, 2019, at North Ottawa Care Center in Spring Lake. She was born April 7, 1931, in Grand haven to Joseph Frank and Charlotte B. (Kearns) Donner, and she married Donald Robert Benkert on October 17, 1953, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Spring Lake.
Pat was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Spring Lake, St. Patrick – St. Anthony Catholic Church, St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Coopersville, Sacred Heart and St. Thomas Catholic Churches of Muskegon. She was very family oriented, enjoyed reading, knitting, traveling, and wintering in Arizona. Pat and her husband owned and operated South Shore Motel in Grand Haven for thirteen years, and she was also a homemaker raising her large family.
She is lovingly remembered by her husband, Donald Benkert of Spring Lake; daughters, Loretta (Duane) Downer of Grand Rapids, and Diane Kooi of Norton Shores; sons, Paul Benkert of Muskegon, Bruce (Marie) Benkert of Fruitport, Bradley (Sue) Benkert of Grand Haven, Scott (Julie) Benkert of Spring Lake, and Andrew (Anne) Benkert of Coloma, MI; thirty grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; her sister, Jacquelyn Miller of Grand Rapids; and many nieces, nephews, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, three daughters: twins, Sally and Shelley Benkert and Janice Benkert, two sons, John and Lawrence Benkert, two grandchildren, Jennifer and Shawn Benkert, her sister, Dorothy Stalzer, and two brothers, Edward and James Donner.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 2, 2019, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Spring Lake with Rev. David Gross as celebrant. Friends may meet the family 4-7 p.m. Friday, March 1, at Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services – The VanZantwick Chapel in Grand Haven, and one hour prior to the service at church. Interment will be in St. Michael’s Catholic Church Cemetery. Memorial contributions to Hospice of North Ottawa Community or American SIDS Institute are appreciated. Share memories with the family at their online guest book at www.sytsemafh.com.
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