Beverly Ann Warkoczeski, 89, of Union City, passed away on Monday, December 16, 2019 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo.
A funeral service will be held at 11 AM on Saturday, December 21, 2019 at Lighthouse Funeral & Cremation in Union City. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery in Union City. Visitation will be held from 3-5:00 P.M. and from 6-8:00 P.M. on Friday, December 20, 2019 at Lighthouse Funeral & Cremation in Union City, with a Rosary service beginning at 7:30 P.M.
Bev was born on September 4, 1930 in Cadillac, MI to Alvin and Elda (Tower) Gorham. Bev lived in Kalamazoo before coming to Union City when she was in high school. She graduated from Union City High School in 1948 and on August 14, 1948 married Harold S. Warkoczeski in Coldwater. Bev loved music, Big Band and Country & Western in particular. She and Harold enjoyed dancing, especially to the big name entertainers at the Crystal Palace Ballroom in Coloma. They also liked visiting relatives in Florida, spending time up north, attending University of Michigan football games and watching Battle Creek’s annual hot air balloon launches.
On her own, Bev could be found reading, knitting, sewing, cooking, doing ceramics and watching TV. Through church, she worked with local immigrant families, helping them to establish their households. She volunteered for many entities, including the nearby school, the American Red Cross and the American Cancer Society. However, spending time having fun with her family remained Bev’s favorite activity. She was a loving, caring and family-oriented person, who also had a feisty side. Her strong will and proud spirit helped her remain independent during her later years.
Bev is survived by her children, Carol Soli of Hollywood, FL, Larry (Vicki) Warkoczeski of Portage and Sue (Deryl) Myers of Vicksburg; six grandchildren: Lewis (Becky) Soli II of Alabama, Michelle (Robert) Laurenceau of Florida, Derick (Jenni) Myers of Michigan, Kimberly Myers of Michigan, Stacey (Justin) Struble of Michigan and Craig Warkoczeski of New York; eight great-grandchildren: Davin, Dacia and Dylan Myers; Jacob, Jayden and Jenna Struble; Alexandria, Kayla & Lewis III Soli; and Mackenzie and Teagan Laurenceau; and sisters-in-law Peg Gorham, Estella Gorham and Joyce Warkoczeski.
In addition to her husband, Harold, Bev was preceded in death by her parents; her siblings, Helen “Theda” Putnam, Devere Gorham and Shirley “Chuck” Gorham, her brothers-in-law, Duane Warkoczeski and Cecil “Putt” Putnam; and her son-in-law, Lewis Soli.
Memorial donations are suggested to Our Lady of Snows, 442 S Demazenod Drive, Belleville, IL 62223 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
