Kenneth Hagelgans, 66

Kenneth A. Hagelgans age 66, of Colon, passed away Thursday, March 8, 2012, at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, surrounded by family.

Ken was born Oct. 27, 1945, in Sturgis, to the late Walton and Delilah (Hacker) Hagelgans.

Ken graduated from Vicksburg High School with the class of 1964 and continued his education at Ivy Tech in South Bend, Ind., where he received his journeyman license.

Ken was a proud member of the Marine Corps, who served from 1965 to 1967. Also in 1967, he married the girl next door, Sarah Jane Hammond. They grew up across the street from each other in Fulton, and they wed in Kansas City, Mo., on March 18 that year.

Ken worked as a sheet metal journeyman for Kellogg Company in Battle Creek from 1974 until his retirement in 1996. He later owned and operated Hagelgans Enterprises Inc. Heating, Air Conditioning, Sales and Service in Colon.

Ken attended Crossroads Bible Church in Sherwood. He enjoyed John Deere tractors and time spent with family, especially his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Sarah, of Colon; a daughter, Gayle (Jeff) Barnes of Colon; a son, Michael (Lesley) Hagelgans of Union City; grandchildren Lauryn Barnes, Damen and Delilah Hagelgans; a brother, Jim (Janet) Hagelgans of Vicksburg; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by an infant sister, Darlene Hagelgans; a half-brother, Frank Radlebauer; a stepbrother, James Wedel; his stepmother, Lillian (Kay) Hagelgans; and special aunts and uncles, Helen and Mib Conant, and Viola and Paul Mandigo.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6-8 p.m. today and 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Saturday at Schipper Funeral Home in Colon.

Funeral services celebrating the life of Kenneth A. Hagelgans will be at 3 p.m. Sunday at Crossroads Bible Church, with Pastor Trent Hammond officiating. Burial will follow at Lakeside Cemetery in Colon.

If desired, memorials may be made to either the Dennie Bower Youth Scholarship Fund or Crossroads Bible Church. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home and church the day of the service.