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Barbara Ann Damvelt

April 11, 1933 — March 23, 2018

Barbara Ann Damvelt

Barbara Ann (Arnson) Damvelt 84 of Kalamazoo MI past away peacefully in her sleep at home on March 23, 2018. After a short illness that started August 2017 and could not really recover from. As per Family wishes Cremation has taken place. She was Born to Helmer-Serverin & Anna Margaret Arnson April 11, 1933 At Home in Muskegon MI. She Married Marine Stuart(Sonny) Damvelt from Grand Haven Michigan on May 25 1956 at Samuel Lutheran Church Muskegon Michigan. During Her Life she attended many schools until getting her Masters Degree. Attended Muskegon Michigan Public Schools-Paul Moon Elementary grades K-6, Muskegon Junior High School grades 7-9 and Muskegon Senior High School 10-12 Graduating in June 1951. Attended Muskegon Community College, Muskegon Michigan June 1951 to June 1952. Attended Hackley Hospital School of Nursing Muskegon Michigan August 1952 to August 1955 Graduating as A Registered Nurse and Licensed in the State of Michigan. Attended Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Michigan Graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree on June 26, 1975. Attended Western Michigan University Kalamazoo Michigan Graduating with a Master of Arts Degree December 20 1980. After being Licensed in Michigan Barbara was Employed as a Registered Nurse at Hackley Hospital Muskegon Michigan August 1955 to January 1957 in the Pediatrics Department. From there she went on to being Employed as an Instructor at the Bronson School of Nursing at Bronson Hospital Kalamazoo Michigan, Teaching Medical-Surgical Procedures to Student Nurses, Total time at Bronson Hospital until Retirement was 35 years of Service January 1957 to January 1992. After being Married in 1956 the Couple lived in a couple of locations to be able to attend school and then settle in Kalamazoo Michigan to Raise a Family at Their current address since 1967 to Present Raising 2 Daughters who Survive Karen being born November 7 1961 and Karla being born April 3 1963, In the months after Karla was born in January 1964 she was given the required Measles Vaccine and a short time later developed a reaction to it causing her to have seziures called Epilepsy since then and for the majority of her life. Because of this Barbara dedicated her time to the safe care of Karla and others. This lead her to help and assist others who have Epilepsy and provide Medical Knowledge of it. From this she became the Epilepsy Resource Person for the Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan and Many Local Doctors who had Adults and Children affected with Epilepsy reffered them to Barbara for information. With the help of Doctor Philip Green MD The Greater Kalamazoo Epilepsy Group was founded to get information and hold meetings about Epilepsy. Also Barbara was a 10 year member of the Board of Directors of the CDA a branch of the Western Michigan University Center for Disability Services. Besides being a Nurse and Wife Barbara enjoyed many activities Reading, Sewing, Music, Games with the Kids, Ice Skating, Roller Skating, Cross Country Skiing when Time allowed. The biggest activity was getting away from the Winter months to a Winter place from 1997 to 2017 in Plametto Fl where the Family would live from November to May each year. Activities in FL included Swimming, Watching Plays, Music and Doing Potlucks Plus Bingo at the Community Center. Barbara was preceded in death by her parents Helmer and Anna Arnson of Muskegon Michigan and Siblings Richard, Edythe, Edgar, Irene. Laurel, Donald, Robert, and Their Spouses Plus Some Nieces and Nephews. She is survived by her Husband Marine (Sonny), Daughters Karen and Karla of Kalamazoo Michigan and one Sister Carol Donohue of Muskegon Michigan plus a Number of Nieces and Nephews and Their Spouses. She was a good Wife to her Husband of 61 Years and a Mother to her 2 Children Karen 56 and Karla 54. She will be Loved and Missed by the Many Friends and Family. Thanks go to the Rose Arbor Hospice Center of Southwest Michigan for their help in the last days and hours of Barbaras life, especially Gwen, Mia, and Cindra. A Memorial Service will be planned for later this year.
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