Patricia Zuppke Obituary
Patricia “Pat” (Lefor) Zuppke, 87, formerly of Stevensville, passed away, Monday, May 11, 2026 at Corewell Health Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held 2:00 P.M. Saturday, May 16, 2026 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Pastor Ray Clark officiating. Friends may visit with the Family beginning at 1:00 P.M. Saturday at the funeral home. Private burial will take place at a later date at Lincoln Township Cemetery in Stevensville. Memorial donations in Pat’s name may be made to Corewell Hospice in St. Joseph. Those wishing to sign Pat’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Pat was born January 6, 1939 in Benton Harbor to Hogan and Bessie Scates Watson. She graduated from Benton Harbor High School, Class of 1956 where she served as the Baton Majorette for the marching band. The same year, Pat married Donald Lefor and that union bore them four loving children who were the gleam in her eye. After their divorce in 1974, in early 1977, she married Theodore S. Zuppke. Pat was employed for many years as a bookkeeper, starting with St. Joseph Public School followed by Watervliet Public Schools and retiring from Stouffer Electric in 2002. She was an avid bowler and golfer in her younger years and enjoyed tending to her rose gardens at the house, as well as crafting and ceramics. She cherished the time spent with her loving family and enjoyed baking and cooking for them on holidays and other special occasions as well as for her many friends. Pat also cherished her many canine companions over the years.
Pat is survived by her two daughters-Sheryl (Timothy) Zerbel of St. Joseph, Pamela (Robert) Wilson of Battle Creek; grandchildren-Zachary Wilson, Tyler (Cierra) Lefor, Matthew Wilson, Theresa Renner, Timothy (Mary) Zerbel, Jr., James Hayes; great-grandchildren-Carson, Dawson and Hudson Wilson, Jessica (Michael) Forsyth, Jaina Renner, Joshua Renner, Grace Zerbel and Reilly Hayes; and one great-great granddaughter Maverleigh Renner. Pat was preceded in death by her husband Theodore in 1977, two sons-Donnie Lefor in 1999 and Duane Lefor in 2018, her parents-Hogan Watson in 1985 and Bessie Paulsteine in 1986 and her sister Betty Watson in 1943.
