07-16-2020 Tri-City Area Obituaries

JOHN JOSEPH “JACK” VANDRASEK

Jack’s life began on the family farm on Hagar Shore Road in Watervliet, August 26, 1928. He graduated from Watervliet High School where he excelled in sports and held the punt record in football for many years. After high school Jack earned his bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Western Michigan University. He then enlisted and proudly served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War. After returning home Jack continued his education at Michigan State University earning a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering. Jack worked at Whirlpool for many years and retired from Clark Equipment in Battle Creek after 30 years as Manager of Facility Engineering. When he wasn’t working you could find him using his carpenter skills building bean bag games and peanuts characters mailboxes. He loved playing golf, fishing, traveling, boating, enjoying his view of Paw Paw Lake, investing in the stock market, operating his beloved Bobcat and following college football. He never left his farming roots and always had a vegetable garden. Jack belonged to American Legion Post 362 of Coloma. Jack’s greatest joy was spending time with his family which includes: his loving wife of 60 years, Marcia (Ison) VanDrasek; his daughter Cheryl (Ken) Benjamin; three grandchildren Lauren, Evan, and Julie Smith; a son-in-law Kevin Smith; three siblings Gordon (Sandra) VanDrasek, Delores Miller, and Marie Wendzel; and many nieces and nephews. Jack died peacefully on July 11, 2020 at home surrounded by his loving family. He is preceded in death by a daughter, Dawn Smith; his parents, Adolph and Marien (Yates) VanDrasek; two sisters, Norma Hastings and Marilyn VanDrasek; and three brothers-in-law, Maurice Miller, Douglas Wendzel, and Lawrence “Bud” Hastings. The family has requested memorial donations in Jack’s name be made to North Berrien Senior Center or Coloma American Legion Post 362. Funeral Home is assisting Jack’s family with cremation arrangements and a graveside service celebrating his life will be celebrated at a later date. You are invited to leave a message of comfort for Jack’s family at hutchinsfuneral.com.

NANCY LOU TRUHN Nancy Lou Truhn, 73, was born February 10, 1947 to Donald and Barbara (Lee) Truhn at Watervliet Hospital in Watervliet, Michigan. She lived in Cookeville, Tennessee with her son Karl Truhn Koch caring for her after her longtime companion Wayne Hazen passed in 2014.

Though unexpected, Nancy died peacefully in her sleep on July 3, 2020. She is survived by her children, Heather (Koch) Beseler of Seattle, WA, Karl Koch of Crossville, TN, and her step children Jonathon Koch of Benton Harbor, MI, Jennifer (Koch) Hillman of Myrtle Beach, SC, and Joshua Koch of Lincoln, CA and her grandchild Joshua Koch, San Francisco, CA; her sisters are Gwen Greer of Arkansas, Susie Griffin of Coloma, Michigan, and Roxanne Truhn of East Lansing, Michigan; and her best friend Sally Manning of Tampa, FL. Nancy graduated from Coloma H.S. in 1965, from Western Michigan University with dual majors in Home Economics and Art in 1969. She was briefly married to Wayne Hazen. She married John Koch (St. Pete, FL) and they settled in Florida to raise their children. Known for her passion for inspiring her students, she taught home economics and job skills to students in high school (Leto, Robinson) and middle school (Blake) and special education at Caminiti in Tampa. Nancy continued her education and earned a Master of Arts in Education Science in 1993. Her students fondly recall her unique recipes (crazy cake, pizza) but more so as an enthusiastic teacher who strove to see every student succeed. Her reputation as a fun and inspiring teacher brought students to take her elective classes where they learned the skills they would use throughout their life. Teaching came naturally to her and she built personal connections; she loved seeing them succeed as young adults who would often return to visit her. Nancy was also known for her love of the arts and frequently attended classes to learn new skills. Her photography, paintings, and quilts won countless awards in county and state fairs. She was member of many sewing and painting groups and developed enduring friendships everywhere she went. She was humble about her skills as a craftswoman and artisan, yet her work was perfect and decorated many homes of friends and family. Angels were a favorite subject of her paintings as well as cheerful Christmas imagery, and lifelike birds and flowers. Her chief specialty was her quilts, with spectacular attention to detail. She donated dozens and dozens of her quilts over her life, most recently volunteering her efforts to Quilts of Valor. Volunteering was a defining value that she instilled in all her children, leading by example. Nancy was best known as a devoted mom, friend, and sister you could rely on through thick and thin, and a wonderful woman whose gift for striking up a conversation was legendary. She was beautiful and lived joyfully from the heart, she radiated kindness and goodness, lighting up every room. Nancy is dearly missed, and we take comfort knowing she is in heaven, dancing with the angels, and proudly telling Jesus about her children and grandchild. A Celebration of Life was held at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Crossville, TN Wednesday, July 8, 2020. In lieu of flowers and gifts please make donations to your local Quilts of Valor chapter.

CATHERINE ANN STANKUS Catherine Ann (Michaud) Stankus, 71, of Berrien Springs, MI, formerly of Coloma, passed away June 27, 2020 at Loving Care Nursing Home in Berrien Springs, MI.

A celebration of life is planned for July 16, 2020 at The Salvation Army Church, 233 Michigan St., Benton Harbor, at 2:00 p.m. with refreshments following at the church. Burial will take place at a later date in Lake Linden, MI with her parents. Those who wish to leave an on-line condolence may do so at www.purelycremations.org. Memorials may be made in Catherine’s name to The Salvation Army or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. Catherine was born May 4, 1949 in Hancock, MI to Oliver Jeffery and Louis Veronica (Hosang) Michaud. She worked as a Social Worker at Berrien General Hospital, a Nurses Aid at Juniper Home in Watervliet and taught pre-school at Tri-County Head Start. She also worked with the 4-H Club where her daughter, Sarah, was a member helping her show horses, dogs and rabbits. In her spare time, Catherine loved to watch NASCAR on television and go camping and shopping with friends. Catherine is survived by her daughter, Sarah Stankus, of Osceola, IN and best friend, Sandra (Henley) Lambrecht of Coloma. She was preceded by her parents. Catherine will be dearly missed by all who knew her.

MAY RUTHERFORD May Rutherford, 50, of Covert Township died Wednesday, June 17, 2020, at the Lakeland Medical Center in St. Joseph after a long illness. A family service celebrating her life will be held at a later date at Fish Cemetery. Cremation has taken place. Arrangements are by the Davidson Chapel of Florin Funeral Service in Coloma. Please share memories, messages or photos at www.florin.net. May was born on Nov. 29, 1969 in Watervliet. She married her husband, Michael Rutherford, and together they have celebrated 28 years of marriage. May was a member of the Coloma General Baptist Church. Her hobby was riding horses. She enjoyed Country and Western concerts and wrestling on TV. May was a caring person. Her family includes her husband, Michael, of Covert; her mother, Joann Lake of Iron Mountain, MI; her daughter, Leona Rutherford, of Covert; her two step-sons, Joshua Rutherford and Vernon Rutherford, both of St. Joseph; her sisters, Dawn (Lucy) Jicha of Iron Mountain, MI and Dianne Salmon of Detroit; her brother, Robert Fuller of WI; her four step-grandchildren and her two step-great-grandchildren, Joshua and Caden. May was preceded in death by one daughter, Elizabeth Fuller in 1992.

Death Notices Joyce Griffin, 85, of Watervliet died July 13, 2020 at home. Hutchins Funeral Home, Watervliet Helen J. “Jeanne” Koebel, 87, of Berrien Springs died July 10, 2020 at Cartel Inns of Lakeland, St. Joseph. Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Services, St. Joseph Imogene “Gene” Chester, 93, of Stevensville died July 9, 2020 at home. Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Services, St. Joseph John Archie, 62, of Benton Harbor died July 5, 2020. Hutchins Funeral Home, Watervliet Kelley L. Weatherly, 58, of Baldwin MI, formerly of Benton Harbor, died July 4, 2020 at home. Verdun Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Baldwin MI William Foster Sr., 93, of Keeler died July 3, 2020 in Dowagiac. Calvin Funeral Home, Hartford Barbara J. Robinson, 89, of Naples FL, formerly of St. Joseph and Coloma, died July 3, 2020 at home. Legacy Options Funeral & Cremation Services, Naples FL