Natalie R. Shearer

June 24, 1920 - December 18, 2016

Natalie R. Shearer, 96, of Benton Harbor, died early Sunday morning, December 18, 2016 at the Hanson Hospice Center in Lincoln Township. Services celebrating her life will be at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 22, 2016 at the Fairplain Chapel of Florin Funeral Service, Benton Harbor. Burial will follow at Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Visitation with her family will begin at noon at the funeral home until the time of the service. Memorial donations may be made to the Crystal Springs Church of God or the Hanson Hospice Center. Please share messages, memories or photos at www.florin.net. Natalie was born in Eau Claire on June 24, 1920 to Gustaf and Rose (Ertman) Hartwig. She married Henry Rusch and he preceded her in death, she then married Benjamin Akright and he preceded her in death and then she married Herby Shearer, and he preceded her in death. She worked various jobs in the area, including Michigan Fruit Canners, Eau Claire Fruit Exchange, and Coloma Frozen Foods. She was a volunteer for 22 years at the Benton Harbor VFW Post 1137. Her passions included embroidery work, jigsaw puzzles, and the Saturday Night Gospel Hour on PBS. Natalie was an independent individual, but loved being with her extended family. Natalie’s family includes her brother Nylor (Clara Jean) Hartwig of Coloma; her sister Arbeautus Rose Zwar, of St. Joseph; sister-in-law, Marilyn Hartwig and her several nieces and nephews. Natalie was also preceded in death by her son Duane, in 1985; and her 3 brothers, Leon E. Hartwig, Erwin Hartwig and Edmund Hartwig.