Obituary for June Louise Kucks (Pangburn)
June Louise Kucks, 84, of Battle Creek, Michigan, passed away on Thursday, April 25, 2024. She was born on May 3, 1939, the daughter of Robert Earl Pangburn and Natalie Ruth (Mattison) Pangburn.
June was raised in the Kalamazoo/Plainwell area and graduated from Plainwell High School with the Class of 1957. Through her whole life, June was a devoted Christian that enjoyed attending and serving her church. She was a very creative person and had special interests in painting, poetry, sketching and ceramics. She also was talented in knitting and sewing, even making clothes for her children through their early school years. Later in life, June was a lover of music (autoharp) and singing, she and her husband, Wayne played in a band called The Scottsburg Hometowners for many years. She also loved volunteering for her church, the Vicksburg Historical Society, Loaves and Fishes and was an excellent event planner for the Kalamazoo FolkLife Organization. In 1958, she married David M. Smith in Battle Creek, MI and had two children, Michele in 1961 and Cheri in 1964. Even though this marriage ended in divorce, the two remained friends until Dave's passing in March of 2024. In 1982, June married Wayne C. Kucks and gained her bonus family, they resided together in Vicksburg. June was a beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, friend and sister-in-law.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne Kucks; parents; brother, Bobby; sister, Candy; and sons, Paul Kucks, Ned Kucks.
She is survived by her daughters, Michele "Shellie" (Don) Martin, Cheri (Ward) Spidle; bonus children, Liz (Skip) Mangold, LuAnn Kucks, Christine Kucks, Eric (Becci) Kucks; special brother-in-law, Ed (Debbie) Hein; grandchildren, David Smith, Mike (Krystal) Labadie, Nick Labadie, Ryan Vyverman, Corey Vyverman, Brian Zuidema, Rebecca Zuidema, Megan (Kucks) Savoie, Taylor Kucks, Richard Spidle, Rachel Killam, Matthew Ranieri-Morris, Malinda (Dan) Laird; great grandchildren, Lilley, Etta, Alyssa, Maxwell, Noah, Madlyn, Adam, Benjamin, Amber, Jordan, Naidelyn, Annabell, Cameron Smith, Cameron Vyverman, Brayden, Shelbie, GracieMae, Flint, Lillian, Oliver, Lennon; great great grandchildren, Ryker, Jenalyn; several nieces and nephews; and had a special relationship with many girlfriends including, Ruthann Rollins and Barb Linder.
Visitation will be held on Monday, May 13, 2024, at the Baxter Funeral and Cremation Service from 3:00 - 4:00 pm with a memorial service to follow at 4:00 pm. Light refreshments will follow the service in the Baxter banquet facility.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to June's home church, St. Michael Lutheran Church, 7211 Oakland Drive, Portage, MI 49024.
Arrangements by the Baxter Funeral & Cremation Service. 269-788-9800. www.baxterfuneral.com.
June was raised in the Kalamazoo/Plainwell area and graduated from Plainwell High School with the Class of 1957. Through her whole life, June was a devoted Christian that enjoyed attending and serving her church. She was a very creative person and had special interests in painting, poetry, sketching and ceramics. She also was talented in knitting and sewing, even making clothes for her children through their early school years. Later in life, June was a lover of music (autoharp) and singing, she and her husband, Wayne played in a band called The Scottsburg Hometowners for many years. She also loved volunteering for her church, the Vicksburg Historical Society, Loaves and Fishes and was an excellent event planner for the Kalamazoo FolkLife Organization. In 1958, she married David M. Smith in Battle Creek, MI and had two children, Michele in 1961 and Cheri in 1964. Even though this marriage ended in divorce, the two remained friends until Dave's passing in March of 2024. In 1982, June married Wayne C. Kucks and gained her bonus family, they resided together in Vicksburg. June was a beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, friend and sister-in-law.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne Kucks; parents; brother, Bobby; sister, Candy; and sons, Paul Kucks, Ned Kucks.
She is survived by her daughters, Michele "Shellie" (Don) Martin, Cheri (Ward) Spidle; bonus children, Liz (Skip) Mangold, LuAnn Kucks, Christine Kucks, Eric (Becci) Kucks; special brother-in-law, Ed (Debbie) Hein; grandchildren, David Smith, Mike (Krystal) Labadie, Nick Labadie, Ryan Vyverman, Corey Vyverman, Brian Zuidema, Rebecca Zuidema, Megan (Kucks) Savoie, Taylor Kucks, Richard Spidle, Rachel Killam, Matthew Ranieri-Morris, Malinda (Dan) Laird; great grandchildren, Lilley, Etta, Alyssa, Maxwell, Noah, Madlyn, Adam, Benjamin, Amber, Jordan, Naidelyn, Annabell, Cameron Smith, Cameron Vyverman, Brayden, Shelbie, GracieMae, Flint, Lillian, Oliver, Lennon; great great grandchildren, Ryker, Jenalyn; several nieces and nephews; and had a special relationship with many girlfriends including, Ruthann Rollins and Barb Linder.
Visitation will be held on Monday, May 13, 2024, at the Baxter Funeral and Cremation Service from 3:00 - 4:00 pm with a memorial service to follow at 4:00 pm. Light refreshments will follow the service in the Baxter banquet facility.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to June's home church, St. Michael Lutheran Church, 7211 Oakland Drive, Portage, MI 49024.
Arrangements by the Baxter Funeral & Cremation Service. 269-788-9800. www.baxterfuneral.com.