Wava Gushwa, 77

Wava J.Gushwa, age 77, of Sturgis, Michigan passed away peacefully early Saturday evening August 18, 2012 at the Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo where she had been a patient for 14 days.

She was born July 7, 1935 in Sturgis, Michigan daughter of the late Robert H. and Amy A. (Burnside) Gushwa.

Wava lived her entire life in the Burr Oak and Sturgis area. She attended several country schools and graduated from Burr Oak High School with the class of 1935 as co-valedictorian. For the past 20 years she was instrumental in getting the class together every summer for a reunion and she attended the First United Methodist Church in Sturgis.

Wava worked in the accounting department at Harter Corporation for over 25 years. She had also worked at The Credit Bureau of St. Joseph County and the General Telephone Company.

She was a member of the Women’s Bowling Association holding the office of treasurer for several years and was inducted into the Women’s Bowling Hall of Fame. Wava traveled throughout the United States to compete in National Bowling Tournaments. She was a member of the Rental Property Owners Association serving as treasurer for several years. She was also very active in 4-H, teaching photography and sewing.

She is survived by her daughter, Dianne (Charles E.) Wood of Sturgis, her brother, Robert Gushwa of Sturgis, niece Kelli Stone of Brighton, Colorado and several cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and sister-in-law, Kim (Davis) Gushwa.

The family will receive friends from 2:00-4:00 and 6:00-8:00 P.M. Tuesday at the Hackman Family Funeral Homes – Rosenberg Chapel, 807 E. Chicago Rd., Sturgis, MI 49091, 269-651-3284. Funeral services celebrating the life of Wava J. Gushwa will be held at Noon Wednesday at the funeral home. The Rev. Dr. Lowell Walsworth will officiate. In accordance with her wishes cremation will follow the service. Private burial of the ashes will take place at Oak Lawn Cemetery at a later date.

The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Wava’s memory consider the First United Methodist Church, 200 Pleasant Ave., Sturgis, MI 49091 or the Arthritis Foundation, P.O. Box 96280, Washington DC, 20077.

The obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com where personal messages of support may be left for the family.