Patricia “Pat” Johns
July 27th, 1937 - October 5th, 2022
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Pat's Obituary
Patricia “Pat” Johns, 85, of Benton Harbor, passed away, Wednesday, October 5, 2022 at
her home, the place she loved best, surrounded by her children and grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held 2:00 P.M. Saturday, October 8, 2022 at Starks &
Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. Christopher Momany officiating.
Private burial will take place at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph. Friends may visit with
the family from 5:00 until 8:00 P.M. Friday at the funeral home. Those wishing to sign Pat’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Pat loved her family deeply and showed her love with her constant presence at their games, and concerts and plays and school pickups and graduations. She was ever present in the lives and minds of those who loved her.
She was a beloved grandmother to 9 grandchildren who she took on many trips and countless bicycle rides around Mackinac Island. Grammy’s pool was the happiest place on earth.
She was blessed by many lifelong friends – her constant companions and source of strength through both good and bad times.
Pat’s career started with a short and memorable stint at the pickle factory with her cousin Margaret and ended with a long and loved tenure at Benton Harbor Area Schools as a secretary in the Human Resource Department.
She spent many hours pacing the pool, counting children and grandchildren, sipping iced tea (and wine), and shouting “jump or dive” to slippery children.
She developed a deep passion for gardening after Bobby’s death and spent many joyful hours in her gardens.
She loved Michigan football, walking her dog and telling her friends what to do.
Pat was a passionate member of the Benton Harbor community and spent many hours tutoring students at Peace Partners and through programs at Benton Harbor Area Schools.
Pat was a longtime member of Peace Temple United Methodist Church and a founding member of “The Pool Group”.
Pat is survived by her children-Kirsten (Paul Harden) of Paris, IL, Brandon (Sara) Johns
of Ypsilanti, MI, Kate (Rob) Cleveland of Ann Arbor, Curtis (Marie) Parmer of Ann
Arbor; nine grandchildren-Joshua & Van Harden, Sam, Aidan & Finn Waterhouse, Lily & Alice Johns, Sean & Phoebe Parmer; and one great-granddaughter-Nusaybah
Harden. Pat was preceded in death by her loving husband Robert “Bobby” Johns on June 28, 1983, her parents Rev. Stanley & Bunny Buck, and her sister Liane June.
Pat spent her life championing the Benton Harbor community and women’s rights. Memorial donations in Pat’s name may be made to Benton Harbor Area School District https://www.donorschoose.org/schools/michigan/benton-harbor-area-school-district/7707 or to Planned Parenthood https://www.plannedparenthood.org/<br>
her home, the place she loved best, surrounded by her children and grandchildren.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held 2:00 P.M. Saturday, October 8, 2022 at Starks &
Menchinger Chapel, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Rev. Christopher Momany officiating.
Private burial will take place at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph. Friends may visit with
the family from 5:00 until 8:00 P.M. Friday at the funeral home. Those wishing to sign Pat’s Memory Book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.
Pat loved her family deeply and showed her love with her constant presence at their games, and concerts and plays and school pickups and graduations. She was ever present in the lives and minds of those who loved her.
She was a beloved grandmother to 9 grandchildren who she took on many trips and countless bicycle rides around Mackinac Island. Grammy’s pool was the happiest place on earth.
She was blessed by many lifelong friends – her constant companions and source of strength through both good and bad times.
Pat’s career started with a short and memorable stint at the pickle factory with her cousin Margaret and ended with a long and loved tenure at Benton Harbor Area Schools as a secretary in the Human Resource Department.
She spent many hours pacing the pool, counting children and grandchildren, sipping iced tea (and wine), and shouting “jump or dive” to slippery children.
She developed a deep passion for gardening after Bobby’s death and spent many joyful hours in her gardens.
She loved Michigan football, walking her dog and telling her friends what to do.
Pat was a passionate member of the Benton Harbor community and spent many hours tutoring students at Peace Partners and through programs at Benton Harbor Area Schools.
Pat was a longtime member of Peace Temple United Methodist Church and a founding member of “The Pool Group”.
Pat is survived by her children-Kirsten (Paul Harden) of Paris, IL, Brandon (Sara) Johns
of Ypsilanti, MI, Kate (Rob) Cleveland of Ann Arbor, Curtis (Marie) Parmer of Ann
Arbor; nine grandchildren-Joshua & Van Harden, Sam, Aidan & Finn Waterhouse, Lily & Alice Johns, Sean & Phoebe Parmer; and one great-granddaughter-Nusaybah
Harden. Pat was preceded in death by her loving husband Robert “Bobby” Johns on June 28, 1983, her parents Rev. Stanley & Bunny Buck, and her sister Liane June.
Pat spent her life championing the Benton Harbor community and women’s rights. Memorial donations in Pat’s name may be made to Benton Harbor Area School District https://www.donorschoose.org/schools/michigan/benton-harbor-area-school-district/7707 or to Planned Parenthood https://www.plannedparenthood.org/<br>
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