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June Louise Koehl (Ware), age 87, passed away March 10, 2011, at the TenderCare Nursing Home in Kalamazoo.
June was born June 5, 1923, in Sturgis, to Ernest “Slim” and Elsie Louise Ware. She was raised in the Sturgis area and graduated in 1940 from Sturgis High School.
June married her high school sweetheart William (Bill) Koehl on April 11, 1942, in Sturgis. They moved to Georgia while Bill was in basic training for World War II. When Bill shipped out, June returned to Sturgis and began working at Kirsch Company as a certified welder of aircraft frames. June continued working there after World War II, in the accounting department, and later in the lab until her retirement. They resided in both Burr Oak, and Sturgis during their married life.
June enjoyed sports. She played basketball in high school, was an avid bowler, and an excellent golfer. She was ladies golf champion at Cedar Lake Golf Club and celebrated the time she once scored a hole-in-one. She also enjoyed exploring the outdoors and fishing. She found joy in the art of painting and taught classes in toll painting. June was a loyal citizen and life member of the Sturgis VFW Ladies Auxiliary, and a member of the Business and Professional Women’s Organization in Sturgis.
She was a member of St. John’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Burr Oak. Later June moved to Kalamazoo to be closer to her family. While living there she was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church.
June is survived by her son, Rev. Ted (Fran) Koehl of Plainwell; grandchildren Diane (Bill) Barton of Plainwell, Heidi (Ed) Pfannes of Mattawan, and Bill (Sue) Koehl of Otsego; nine great-grandchildren; one brother, John Robert of Burr Oak; and many nieces and nephews.
June was preceded in death by her husband, Bill; her parents, Slim and Louise; her brothers, Charles, Donald, Ernest (Smudge), Jack, and her sister, Pat Marker.
In accordance with her wishes, cremation has taken place. The family will receive friends from 10-11 a.m. Monday at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Burr Oak, where a memorial service celebrating the life of June L. Koehl will begin at 11 a.m. Monday. The Rev. Ted Koehl will officiate. Private burial of the ashes will take place at the Burr Oak Cemetery in Burr Oak.
The Hackman Family Funeral Homes — Rosenberg Chapel, 807 E. Chicago Road, Sturgis, is entrusted with the arrangements.
The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Mrs. Koehl’s memory consider the St. John’s Lutheran Church 218 W. Main St., Burr Oak, MI 49030 or the Wings of Hope Hospice, 530 Linn St. #A, Allegan, MI 49010.
Her obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com, where personal messages of support may be left for the family.
