Emmy Knavel, 82

Emmy Ellen Knavel, age 82, of Sturgis, passed away Friday morning, March 9, 2018, at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo.
She was born May 4, 1935, in Detroit, Mich., daughter of the late Fred Leroy and Emma (Koehl) Wheeler.
Emmy resided in Sturgis since 1946, coming from Detroit.
On July 28, 1972, she married Harvey Knavel in Sturgis.
Emmy retired from Sturgis Molded Products in Sturgis following several years of dedicated employment.
She was a member of Neuman-Wenzel Post #73 American Legion Auxiliary and a former member of Women of the Moose Sturgis Chapter #613 and Eagles Lodge #1314. Emmy enjoyed horses, flower gardening, her pond and camping. She loved time spent with family, especially her grandchildren.
She is survived by her husband, Harvey; three daughters, Debra Dunlap, Patti Gene Dunlap and Billie (Ralph William) Dunlap, all of Sturgis; two sons, Gary (Janell) Dunlap and Brett (Tammy) Dunlap, both of Sturgis; 14 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; two brothers, Gene (Marty) Wheeler of Sturgis and Roger (Joann) Wheeler of Elkhart, Ind.; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and a brother, Fred “Sonny” Wheeler.
The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at Hackman Chapel of Hackman Family Funeral Homes, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis. Funeral services celebrating the life of Emmy Knavel will begin at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. In accordance with her wishes, cremation will follow the services.
Memorial donations would be appreciated to the family or St. Joseph County Animal Control, 652 E. Main St., Centreville, MI 49032.
Her obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhomes.com where personal messages of support may be left for the family