Tina Marie Leitke

Tina M. Leitke, 93, of Dowagiac, passed away at Lakeland Health Care in St. Joseph, Michigan on Wednesday, July 22, 2015. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, July 27, 2015 at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 603 McCleary Street in Dowagiac with Pastor Jeffrey Weber officiating.  Tina will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery in Dowagiac.  Friends may visit with the family Sunday, July 26, 2015 from 4:00 until 6:00 PM at Clark Chapel & Cremation Services, 405 Center Street, Dowagiac with a final viewing on Monday, July 27 from 10:00 to 10:30 AM with procession to the church.  Memorial donations may be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church.  Those wishing to leave a memory or condolence of Tina online may do so at www.clarkch.com.   Tina’s life began on March 24, 1922 in Dowagiac, MI, the daughter of Cornelius and Mamie (Flipse) Hiemstra.  Tina graduated from Dowagiac Central High in 1940. She was united in marriage to Reinhart Leitke on March 12, 1941 in South Bend, IN. She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Dowagiac and was very active in the Ladies Aid Organization. She was a longtime volunteer for the Lee Memorial Hospital Ladies Auxiliary.  Tina and Rein operated Leitke’s Grocery in Dowagiac for 62 ½ years and the store was the oldest independent grocery in Michigan at the time of their retirement in 2010. Tina’s love of her family was her greatest joy which included her husband, Rein, of 69 years who preceded her in death. Tina is survived by her children; Alice Robbins of Dowagiac, Tom Leitke of South Bend, Sue (David) Frazier of Dowagiac, Judy (Kent) Truitt of Dowagiac and Kathy Leitke of Kalamazoo, daughter-in-law Christine Leitke, grandchildren; Lori (Derek) Demmon, Jennifer (Dennis) Whitaker, Stacy (Mike) Behnke, Sherry Robbins, Kevin Frazier, Katie (Jesse) Charles, Melissa Leitke, Emily (David) Gillesby, Jeremy Truitt, Kristi Frazier, Thomas Leitke, Brandon Truitt, Henry Leitke, Lindsey Truitt, Rachael Leitke, great grandchildren; Hannah Whitaker, Zechary Huston, Tyler Huston, Greta Whitaker, Kelsi Demmon, Meg Charles, Bryanna Behnke, Brady Frazier, Kyle Frazier, Jackson Gillesby, Max Charles, Ava Gillesby, two sisters; Louise Hunt of Kalamazoo and Cecil Marie Donker of the Bahamas, two sisters-in-law; Adelia Weaver of Niles and Edith Willis of Dowagiac along with many cousins, nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband, Reinhart, a son Henry “Heinie” Leitke, a grandson Bryan Frazier, her four brothers; Harold, William, Herman and Raymond Hiemstra, and a sister Kathryn Kuhns.