Pauline E. Andrews Kleinheksel

Pauline Ethel Andrews Kleinheksel passed away comfortably and in peace on February 5, 2011. Pauline was born May 31, 1925 in Lee Township to Byron and Ethel Hastings. Pauline graduated Valedictorian from Bloomingdale High School and went on to Western Michigan University to graduate with a teaching degree. She taught in the one room schoolhouses of Ittles in Casco Township, Horseshoe in Lee Township and for the majority of her teaching years at Moon School in Cheshire Township. In October 1952 she was united in marriage to Bud Andrews who preceded her in death in February 1979. Pauline enjoyed flower and vegetable gardening, cooking, farming, visiting with friends, nature and animals. In her marriage to Bud she was able to enjoy all those things. On their farm in Cheshire Township they raised turkeys for eggs as well as dressing out fresh birds to sell to local stores. They had a dairy herd and bought calves to raise and sell as fat cattle. They grew corn, wheat and oats and in the early years Pauline often ran the baler for hay and straw. She always had a large vegetable garden, canning most of it and had lots of flowers. She was a wonderful cook who enjoyed cooking meals for the farm help and making scrumptious treats for all the holidays. Her marriage to Bud produced two children who survive, Larry Andrews of Bloomingdale and Penny Andrews of Bloomingdale. Her world revolved around her family whom she dearly loved and she was a wonderful mother and wife. She enjoyed visiting with friends and neighbors and was president of the Friendship Circle of Bloomingdale for many years planning activities, day trips and enjoying the friendship of the members. In January 1981 she married Gordon Kleinheksel of Holland, Michigan who preceeded her in death in November 2002. He was a farmer so she continued to enjoy the farming life. She had never traveled much and with Gordon she was able to take many wonderful trips. One of the blessings of her marriage to Gordon was his 5 children and their respective families who became a cherished part of her life and whom she dearly loved. Surviving are Ron and (Sandy) Kleinheksel and John and (Sherry) Kleinheksel of Hamilton, Eloise and (Larry) Shattuck and Cynthia Kleinheksel of Holland and Myrna and (Cliff )Folkert of Hamilton. She was able to see the Kleinheksel family grow with the marriages of grandchildren of which there are 11 and the births of great grandchildren of which there are 14. She continued her love of cooking while married to Gordon with a big Thanksgiving Dinner each year. She would fondly recall how in their younger years two of the grandsons would come after school for snacks or on the weekends for breakfast. There was always something good to eat in her kitchen. And she was always ready to sit down with a good cup of coffee and visit. In later years, sitting at her kitchen table watching out over the farm and the activity going in the farm yard and the fields gave her great joy. She was never a woman of harsh words. She saw the good in everyone and in everything. She loved the Lord and was a former member of the Bloomingdale Christian Church and a current member of the Hamilton Reformed Church. She very much enjoyed the visits made to her by Pastor Ron Lugten and Pastor Tom Dekker. As her health began to decline she was blessed to be able to stay in her home with the help of family and friends who did the cleaning, grocery shopping, assisted with medical issues and whatever else needed to be done. Also surviving is her sister Jessie Hastings and her brother Hank Hastings both of Allegan. She was preceded in death by two brothers Ed Hastings and Ray Hastings, and a sister Ardis Page. She had many nieces and nephews who gave her wonderful memories that she cherished throughout her lifetime. The family will meet friends Tuesday, Feb. 8, 2011 from 2-4 and 6-8 PM at the BLOOMINGDALE CHAPEL, D. L. Miller Funeral Home, where the funeral service will be 11:00 AM Wednesday, with Pastor’s Tom Dekker and Ron Lugten officiating. Interment will follow in Pearson Cemetery, Cheshire Township. Memorial donations may be made to the Wings Home in Allegan, 330 Linn Street, Allegan, Michigan 49010

Pauline E. Andrews Kleinheksel

May 31, 1925 - February 5, 2011