WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Mary Stahl, age 89, of Nottawa, and formerly of Sturgis, passed away Feb. 6, 2011, at Three Rivers Health Hospice.
She was born Aug. 2, 1921, in St. Joseph County, a daughter of the late William S. and Lena G. (Sink) Confer.
Mary has been a resident at Heartland Nursing Center in Three Rivers for a year and had previously lived in Nottawa for 10 years, and in Sturgis prior to that.
On Sept. 20, 1958, she married Robert Stahl in St. Joseph County. He passed away Feb. 14, 1976.
She was employed at Kirsch Company during World War II, then Montgomery Ward for 38 years and Kmart for 15 years, all in Sturgis. She most recently worked at the DHS office in Centreville, where she enjoyed helping the children of St. Joseph County.
Mary enjoyed crocheting, sewing, playing the organ, and being part of the “Stardusters” band with her husband, Robert, where they would play for churches, dances, and weddings to name a few.
She was a past member of the Word Fellowship Church in Nottawa and the Pythian Sisters, Sturgis Moose Lodge and Sturgis Eagles Lodge, where she acted as organist. She also enjoyed fishing and spending time with her great-grandchildren.
Surviving are children Bonita (Tom) Duane of Three Rivers, Bobbi (Bill) Ware-Cannova of Graham, Ky., Ronald (Jean) Pfenning of Greenville, Ky., Robert (Julie) Stahl of Sturgis, Sandy (Bill) Clark and Nancy (Lanny) Sphar, both of Pennsylvania, and Ross (Roberta) Stahl of Virginia; 13 grandchildren, including Rodney (Pam) Stahl, Chris (Gail) Stahl and Brian (Tony) Hagen; 18 great-grandchildren, including Sarah (Travis) Johnson-Rensi, Jeremiah Johnson and Henry (Jessica) Vadusen; 11 great-great-grandchildren, including Blaine Alexander Rensi; two nephews, Kenneth (Gail) Confer and Mark Confer; and several cousins, great-nieces and great-nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; and three brothers, Malcolm, Gale and Joseph.
The family will receive friends and relatives from 2-4 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Hackman Family Funeral Home — Rosenberg Chapel, 807 E. Chicago Road, Sturgis. Memorial donations may be directed to Three Rivers Hospice. 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.
