Joanne Fintze

Joanne L. Fintze, age 91 years, wife, mother, grandmother, community service activist, and gardener died peacefully at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 21, 2020 with family around her at home in Niles, Michigan following a brief illness.  Her family is grateful for the kind and compassionate care offered by the staff of hospice.

She was born on June 7, 1929 in Warren, Pennsylvania to Morse and Agnes (Widing) Peterson.  She came to Niles in 1962 with her husband and was employed in the sales offices of the National-Standard Corporation for more than 30 years when she retired.

Joanne was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Niles and enjoyed giving back to her community.  She was the first President of the Four Flags Garden Club when it was founded in 1966, and has been cultivating the gardens of the Niles Railroad Depot ever since then.  She was also a member of the Psi Iota Xi sorority in Niles, and a former member of the Berrien County Civitan, and the Niles Service League.  Her interest in gardening was evident at her home where she maintained flower gardens and enjoyed creating arrangements of fresh-cut flowers.

On October 3, 1953 in Warren she married Richard J. Fintze with whom she celebrated the remarkable fifty-sixth anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on June 20, 2010.  They were also sadly preceded in death by a son, James Fintze in 1982, and by Joanne’s sisters, Beatrice Klein and Jean Federko.

Surviving family includes her daughters, Lisa (& Ray) Terry of Marietta, Georgia and Susan (& James Schrader) Fintze of Niles; granddaughter Tiffany Terry; and several nieces and nephews.

The family of Joanne Fintze is gathering privately to honor her life and share memories.  Committal will be in Silverbrook Cemetery in Niles.  Contributions in memory of Joanne may be made to the FPC Foundation of the First Presbyterian Church, 13 South Fourth Street, Niles, MI 49120, http://www.firstpresofniles.org/ .  Online condolences may be left at:

www.halbritterwickens.com

Joanne clearly enjoyed cultivating and arranging flowers, promoting and encouraging her community, and working alongside likeminded friends to complete these projects.  More than flowers and community, she loved her family, and the Creator of these blessings.