Wilma A Beal

August 5th, 1919 to May 20th, 2013
Wilma Ann Beal, 93, of Fort Gratiot, died from cancer on Monday, May 20, 2013 in Blue Water Hospice Home, Marysville. She was a resident at Blue Water Lodge, Fort Gratiot, Michigan.

She was born August 5, 1919 in Dodsland, Saskatchewan, Canada to the late William and Nellie Bangerter, when her father was hired by the U.S. Government to help local farmers. At age four, her family returned to Adrian, Michigan, where she grew up. Wilma earned an Associate of Business Degree from Cleary Business College.

She married and moved to Marshall, Michigan, where her two children were born. She was the former Vice President of Kennedy Automatic Machine Products in Marshall.

Returning to Adrian, Wilma completed her Bachelor of Science Degree and teaching certificate from Adrian College. Then she taught English at Adrian High School and Education classes at Adrian College. Upon retirement, she was so well-liked and respected by her high school students, she was asked to be the Commencement speaker. After retirement, she moved to Marysville to be near her children and grandchildren.

Wilma enjoyed a variety of activities while making many lifelong friend playing bridge, entertaining, watching live theater shows, swimming, sailing (racing "Lightnings" on Devil's Lake, Michigan), gardening, and watching freighters pass through the St. Clair River. She has "an inordinate curiosity to see the things I've never seen" and traveled around the world. She was a great storyteller of her life experiences and of her travels.

Wilma volunteered in several organizations wherever she lived. While living in Marshall, she was one of the founding members of the Marshall Historical Society, a driving force in the opening to the public of the Marshall Honolulu House. During her retirement, you could find her volunteering at the Marysville Public Library, Mercy Hospital Auxiliary, and as librarian at the Blue Water Lodge. She was the past president of Port Huron Musicale and a member of Delta Kappa Gamma and AAUW.

Most important to Wilma was spending time with her family. She is survived by her daughter, Kathy (William) Emery; her son, David (Diane) Kennedy, all of Fort Gratiot; four grandchildren, Kimberly Salemi of Chicago, Illinois, Andrew Emery of Tampa, Florida, Timothy Kennedy of Astoria, Queens, New York and Ryan Kennedy of Port Huron; two sisters, Doris Stewart of Walnut Grove, California and Ruth (Harry) Tindall of Dearborn, Michigan; nieces, Linda Zimmerman, Margaret Stewart and Lois Lewis; and nephews, Tom Stewart, Bill Stewart and Bill Tindall and John Tindall. She was preceded in death by her parents, William and Nellie Bangerter; two brothers, William and Leonard Bangerter; a sister, Lenore Lewis; a niece, Laura Lewis; and her former husband, Herb Zeigler.

Visitation will be 2-4 & 7-9 p.m. Friday in Karrer-Simpson Funeral Home.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 25, 2013 in Faith Lutheran Church, 3455 Stone, Port Huron with visiting beginning at 10 am. The Reverend C.J. Ransdel will officiate.

A luncheon will follow at Port Huron Golf Club.

Burial will be later this summer at Oakwood Cemetery in Adrian, Michigan.

Memorial contributions may be made to Blue Water Hospice or Port Huron Hospital Foundation.





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