Wava Vanek, 86

Wava M. Vanek, age 86, of Sturgis, Mich., passed away Monday, March 2, 2009, at the home of her daughter in Sturgis.
She was born July 14, 1922, in Colon, a daughter of the late Edd and Grace (Davis) Snook.
Wava had resided in the Sturgis area all of her life, and on July 31, 1948, she married Paul W. Vanek in Angola, Ind. He preceded her in death on Sept. 11, 1980.
She had been employed by the Kirsch Company, Freeman Mfg., Davidson Laundry, and worked for over 10 years and retired from Mr. Donut in Sturgis. After retirement, at age 60, she worked for a short period part-time at Glabman Paramount.
Wava enjoyed cooking and loved spending time with her children and grandchildren.
Surviving are five children, Phillip (Lada) Vanek of La Vernia, Texas, Frank Edward (Sheila) Vanek of Ishpeming, Phyllis (Larry) Kahila of Sturgis, Donna (David) Reeb of Sturgis and Sharon (Roy) Frohriep of Burr Oak; 14 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Ethel Brandt of Kalamazoo.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; two brothers, Harold and Berton Snook; and two sisters, Alice Lahrke and Wilma Lane.
The family will receive friends and relatives from 4-7 p.m. Thursday at the Hackman Family Funeral Homes, Rosenberg Chapel, 807 E. Chicago Road, Sturgis, MI 49091.
Funeral services celebrating the life of Wava M. Vanek will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Michael Klafehn, Trinity Lutheran Church, officiating. Graveside services will follow in Oak Lawn Cemetery.
The family suggests memorial donations be directed to Sturgis Hospice, P.O. Box 126, Sturgis, MI 49091 or Trinity Lutheran Church, 406 S. Lakeview, Sturgis, MI 49091. Envelopes are available at the funeral home.
Her obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com, where personal messages of support may be left for the family.