Ronald Carl “Ron” Zacha
September 15th, 1936 - November 8th, 2023
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Ron's Obituary
Ronald “Ron” Carl Zacha, 87, passed away on November 8, 2023, at Corewell Health Lakeland, 1234 Napier Ave., St. Joseph, MI surrounded by his family.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Monday, November 27, 2023, at 11:00 at Starks & Menchinger, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph with Pastor Emeritus Dr. Michael Ott officiating. Friends may visit with the family on Sunday, November 26, 2023, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be to Spectrum Health Lakeland Foundation, 1234 Napier, St. Joseph, MI, or the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-mechinger.com
Ron was born in Benton Harbor, Michigan on September 15, 1936, to Gustave & Pauline (Schiming) Zacha. He graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1954 and continued his education at Lake Michigan College. Ron married Judith “Judy” Christman on April 5, 1958, at Benton Harbor Congregational.
Ron was an athlete at heart playing football, basketball, track, and baseball for Benton Harbor High School. He later played basketball for Benton Harbor JC (now known as Lake Michigan College) and was drafted to the Detroit Tigers farm team. He didn’t spend much time with the farm team as Judy got pregnant with Cathy and he needed to find a job. He says he got the job at Whirlpool because they wanted him on their baseball team. He worked in the early days of Computer/Data Processing managing the key punchers and working with rooms full of mainframe computers. He retired from Whirlpool after 37 years and joined Judy processing weekly payroll at Beacon Services. Cathy and Mark spent many hours at their Dad’s Fast Pitch Softball games and the bowling alley. Ron then picked up golf and found a sport that fulfilled his competitive spirit with the camaraderie of friends. He frequently made money on the golf course through leagues and tournaments and challenged his many friends at the Elks Golf Course and Berrien Hills Country Club. He even was a high school Golf Coach for Lake Michigan Catholic. Ron’s coffee group, was a source of fun and camaraderie, I think they often knew what was happening in St. Joseph before the general public.
Ron, Judy, Cathy, and Mark all worked for Beacon Services, founded in 1986 and later sold to Elwood Staffing in 2012.
Ron was loved by all and was to perfect foil to Judy. Ron was quiet and steady while Judy was a force of nature.
Ron is survived by his children; Cathy (Glenn) Averill and Mark (Karla Hertzog) Zacha. Grandchildren; Palmer Averill, Samantha Averill, Katrina Zacha, Madeline Zacha, and Adam Zacha, nephew Dr. Michael (Mary Louis) Ott, nieces, Tracy (Eric) Lipsitt, Becky (Jimmy) DuPree and nephew Scott (Christine) Gaynor. His brother-in-law Ron Gaynor.
He was preceded by his wife; Judy Zacha, his parents; Gus & Pauline Zacha, his sister; Shirley (Zacha) Ott, his in-laws; Howard & Bette Christman, and his sister-in-law; Nancy (Christman) Gaynor.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Monday, November 27, 2023, at 11:00 at Starks & Menchinger, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph with Pastor Emeritus Dr. Michael Ott officiating. Friends may visit with the family on Sunday, November 26, 2023, from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be to Spectrum Health Lakeland Foundation, 1234 Napier, St. Joseph, MI, or the Alzheimer’s Association, www.alz.org. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-mechinger.com
Ron was born in Benton Harbor, Michigan on September 15, 1936, to Gustave & Pauline (Schiming) Zacha. He graduated from Benton Harbor High School in 1954 and continued his education at Lake Michigan College. Ron married Judith “Judy” Christman on April 5, 1958, at Benton Harbor Congregational.
Ron was an athlete at heart playing football, basketball, track, and baseball for Benton Harbor High School. He later played basketball for Benton Harbor JC (now known as Lake Michigan College) and was drafted to the Detroit Tigers farm team. He didn’t spend much time with the farm team as Judy got pregnant with Cathy and he needed to find a job. He says he got the job at Whirlpool because they wanted him on their baseball team. He worked in the early days of Computer/Data Processing managing the key punchers and working with rooms full of mainframe computers. He retired from Whirlpool after 37 years and joined Judy processing weekly payroll at Beacon Services. Cathy and Mark spent many hours at their Dad’s Fast Pitch Softball games and the bowling alley. Ron then picked up golf and found a sport that fulfilled his competitive spirit with the camaraderie of friends. He frequently made money on the golf course through leagues and tournaments and challenged his many friends at the Elks Golf Course and Berrien Hills Country Club. He even was a high school Golf Coach for Lake Michigan Catholic. Ron’s coffee group, was a source of fun and camaraderie, I think they often knew what was happening in St. Joseph before the general public.
Ron, Judy, Cathy, and Mark all worked for Beacon Services, founded in 1986 and later sold to Elwood Staffing in 2012.
Ron was loved by all and was to perfect foil to Judy. Ron was quiet and steady while Judy was a force of nature.
Ron is survived by his children; Cathy (Glenn) Averill and Mark (Karla Hertzog) Zacha. Grandchildren; Palmer Averill, Samantha Averill, Katrina Zacha, Madeline Zacha, and Adam Zacha, nephew Dr. Michael (Mary Louis) Ott, nieces, Tracy (Eric) Lipsitt, Becky (Jimmy) DuPree and nephew Scott (Christine) Gaynor. His brother-in-law Ron Gaynor.
He was preceded by his wife; Judy Zacha, his parents; Gus & Pauline Zacha, his sister; Shirley (Zacha) Ott, his in-laws; Howard & Bette Christman, and his sister-in-law; Nancy (Christman) Gaynor.
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