Bela Lindenfeld

Bela Lindenfeld, 80, of Benton Harbor, MI passed away Tuesday, June 9, 2020 at Spectrum Health Lakeland in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held 12:00 P.M., Saturday, October 17, 2020 at Starks & Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Friends may visit with the family from 10:00 A.M. to 12:00P.M., Saturday October 17, 2020 at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Those wishing to share a memory of Bela online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Bela was born October 19, 1939 in St. Joseph, MI to Bela & Lyda (Whitney) Lindenfeld. He graduated from St. Joseph High School and then went on to attend University of Michigan and Western Michigan University where he received his Bachelor’s Degree. On June 14, 1964 he married Jean Withers in St. Joseph. Bela was a teacher in the Benton Harbor School District for 35 years. One of Bela’s hobbies and life passions was using his ham radio and in 2005 Bela helped save 96 lives during Hurricane Katrina from a small room in his home. He was awarded the Pillars of Society Award from the Michigan DX Association, an amateur radio organization. He was a member of the Elks Lodge, National Rifle Association and President of the Michigan Education Association. Bela also enjoyed being the camp counselor at camp Hay-O-Went-Ha, being a lifeguard and traveling around the world in where he never met a stranger. While words can describe things that Bela accomplished in his life, they can can never adequately describe who he truly was to so many. We take comfort in knowing that to some he was a hero, to many he was a good friend, a dependable neighbor, a mentor and a teacher we will never forget. To his family and those closest to him he was a fiercely loyal, protective, loving and dedicated husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, nephew, cousin, best friend and so much more. Bela is survived by his wife Jean Lindenfeld; daughter Mari Lindenfeld Fasshauer; daughter-in-law Patricia Lindenfeld; granddaughters Victoria Lindenfeld, Maisy Fasshauer and Birdie Fasshauer; brother Harris Lindenfeld; sister Catherine Ravich; and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins. Bela was preceded in death by his parents, his brother John and son Stephen.