Gertrude Thorpe

Gertrude Thorpe, 74, a resident of Berrien Springs since 1980, died Thursday, May 19, 2016, at Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, May 27, at Allred Funeral Home in Berrien Springs, where friends may visit with the family beginning at noon until service time.  Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery.  Online messages for the family may be left at www.allredfuneralhome.com.

Gertrude was born June 8, 1941, in Neumunster, Germany, the daughter of Oswald and Elfriede (Adrian) Loop.  She had been employed as a bus driver for Careful Transit, Inc.  Gertrude loved to encourage others, to always give hope and help as much as possible.  She strived to make people feel wanted and to fulfill God’s plan.  She loved her cat, Amber.

She is survived by three sons: Michael (Lois) Kinnen and Mark (Brenda) Kinnen of California, and Brian (Alicia) Thorpe of Mishawaka; seven grandchildren; brother, Wolfgang Loop, and sister, Kim Heidt, both of  Canada.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and a sister, Karen Eisenman.