Bob and Carol Starks

Bob and Carol moved to the Twin Cities in 1961, and Bob formed a partnership with Louis Kerlikowske at Kerley & Starks Funeral Home in St. Joseph.

Bob and Carol are very active in the St. Joseph First United Methodist Church and in their community. Bob has been a past president of the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Rotary Club, the United Fund, the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, and the International Conference of Funeral Service. Carol has been very active in the Lakeland Medical Center, serving as a member of the Board of Directors and the Hospital Foundation Board. She is active in the Lakeland Auxiliary and Child and Family Services. Carol is also a member of the Hospice at Home Foundation Board.

Bob and Carol reside in Benton Harbor.

Tom Starks - Owner/Manager

Tom has been employed by the family business for most of his life. He graduated from the University of Wyoming and the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science. After working with a large funeral home in Texas, Tom joined the family business full time in 1986.

Tom is a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church, and the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Rotary Club. He also is on the State Board of Mortuary Science and the Board of Lory’s Place. He enjoys biking, swimming, and running.

Tom, who resides St. Joseph, and his wife Tracey, who passed away in 2004, have two daughters; Olivia, at Western Michigan University, and Laura, at Lake Michigan Catholic High School.

Andy Menchinger - Owner/Director

Andy began his career in funeral service in 1974 while attending Benton Harbor High School. After graduating in 1980 from Indiana College of Mortuary Science in Indianapolis, he joined the Starks’ family business.

Andy is a member of the First Church of God in St. Joseph and is a board member for Hospice at Home. He also is a member the Benton Harbor-Fairplain Lions Club. He enjoys fishing, boating, and camping.

Andy is a lifelong resident of the Twin Cities area and resides in Benton Harbor with his wife Sonya and sons Erik and Aaron.

Rob Stone - Funeral Director

Rob moved to Southwest Michigan in July of 2009 from Valparaiso Indiana, to pursue a funeral service career with Starks & Menchinger Chapel. He graduated in 2005 from Indiana Vocational Technical College in Valparaiso, and is currently pursuing a degree in Political Science at Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor.

He is a member of the Berrien County Republican Club, enjoys woodworking and bicycling.

Rob and his wife Marilyn were married in 2007 and are residing in St. Joseph. He has two step children, Amy and Josh.

Jason Storm - Funeral Counselor

Jason began his career in funeral service during his senior year at St. Joseph High School. He graduated from Worsham Mortuary School in Wheeling, Illinois, in 2007.

Jason is a member of the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Kiwanis Club. He enjoys bowling, watching all sports, and working around his home. Jason and his wife Rachael made national news in 2008 when they held their wedding at Starks & Menchinger Chapel. Rachael teaches in the Benton Harbor School District.

Jason and Rachael reside in St. Joseph.

Ron Starks - Director of Community Services

Ron began his career in funeral service at the age of 12 washing cars and cutting the lawn in the family business. Ron graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1979 and Hanover College in 1983. He gained a management certificate in business from University of Notre Dame in 1997.

Ron is a member of the First Church of God and has been involved over the years with Hospice, Lions Club, United Way, Lakeshore Education Foundation, Southwest Symphony and many youth sports programs. Ron enjoys scuba diving, skydiving and running marathons, along with coaching youth sports.

Ron and his wife Denise, who is as a nurse with Lakeland Medical Center, reside in Stevensville with their two children Sam and Stephanie.

Luann Leto - Office Manager

Luann is a native of St. Joseph. She is a graduate of St. Joseph High School. Luann came to the funeral home after 25 years of experience as manager of a steel fabricating business.

Luann enjoys traveling and living in Southwest Michigan where she enjoys visiting the towns along Lake Michigan. She is a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and is active in her children’s schools. She has two sons, D.J. and Dale.

David Froehlich - Advanced Planning Counselor

David is a life long resident of St. Joseph. He retired from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans after serving his members with their insurance and financial needs for 17 years. David and his brothers, Karl and Ted, owned and operated Froehlich’s Little Super in St. Joseph from 1970 until 1986. Their parents, Harry and Elsie, began the business in 1940.

David is a member of Grace Lutheran Church in St. Joseph. He enjoys golfing and fishing. He and his wife Margaret have two children and three grandchildren.

Lloyd “Mac” MacTavish - Advanced Planning Counselor

Mac retired after forty years in public education. He has been a teacher, coach, and counselor at St. Joseph and Lakeshore Public Schools. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University and a masters degree from Western Michigan University. Mac is a member of the First Congregational Church of Christ in St. Joseph. He is on the Board of Trustees of the Samaritan Counseling Center and the Maud Palenske Memorial Library in St. Joseph. He is a member of the St. Joseph-Benton Harbor Rotary Club.

Mac and his wife Kathy live in St. Joseph. He is the father of two children, two stepchildren, and the grandfather of two grandsons.

Funeral Assistants

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  Al Johnson

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  Al Levin

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  Burleen Sexton

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  Dick Wendt

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  Earl Misch

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  Harold Fischer

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  Ivan Kiessel

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  Jerry Pechtel

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  Len Menchinger

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  Edward Jacob