WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Our incredible mother, Dorothy Ann Persing, age 88, of Sturgis, passed away Monday morning, March 18, 2013, in the loving care of the “best in the world” caregivers at Gull Arbor Senior Living in Richland.
She was born Oct. 12, 1924, a great-grandchild of Judge John Sturgis in Sturgis. She was a daughter of the late Heber Sturgis and Daisy (Hibbard) Sturgis. She attended Sturgis High School, graduating with the class of 1942.
Dorothy resided her entire life in Sturgis.
On March 17, 1950, she married Stanley Ray Persing in Angola, Ind. He died March 16, 2002.
She retired from Kirsch Company in Sturgis following 30 years of dedicated employment. She also had worked for Montgomery Ward, Newport Business Forms and National Carbon Coated Paper Company, all in Sturgis.
Dorothy took great pride in being the great-granddaughter of Judge John Sturgis. She was a member of the St. Joseph County Historical Society and the Sturgis Hospital Tray Guild. She enjoyed gardening, camping and her family and friends.
She is survived by a daughter, Jackie Persing of Sturgis; a son, Richard (Susan) Persing of Sturgis; three grandchildren, Scott (Jenny) Persing of Seattle, Jeremy (Tracey) Persing of Sturgis and Rich (Heather) Persing of Sturgis; a brother-in-law, Rouland Persing of Sturgis; nieces Kathryn Clark of Sturgis and Bonnie Anderson of Marshall; and several great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Stanley, and two brothers, Roger Sturgis and Stanley Sturgis.
Cremation has taken place. Visitation with the family will be 4–8 p.m. Thursday March 21, 2013, and 10–11 a.m. Friday at Hackman Family Funeral Homes — Hackman Chapel, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis.
A memorial service celebrating the life of Dorothy Persing will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home. Pastor Robert Keim will officiate. Private interment will take place later this spring at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis.
The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Mrs. Persing’s memory consider Gull Arbor Senior Living, 7788 E. DE Ave., Richland, MI 49083 or Pet Haven, P.O. Box 853, Sturgis, MI 49091.
Her obituary is also at www.hackmanfamilyfuneralhome.com, where personal messages of support may be left for the family.
