Beverly Jean (Benko) "Bev" Stouffer

Beverly Jean "Benko" "Bev" Stouffer of Kalamazoo, MI


Bev, age 73, died Tuesday afternoon, January 6, 2015 at Borgess Medical Center, Kalamazoo, following a brief illness.


Bev, the daughter of Rudolph and Milania (Pepelea) Benko, was born on April 14, 1941 in Canton, OH. She received her Bachelor of Education Degree from Ball State University and taught school briefly, before becoming a full time mother and housewife. She and her husband, Jim moved to this area in 1977 from Jackson, MI. Bev was a member of St. Ambrose Catholic Church of Parchment, MI and had been a former member of St. Ann Catholic Church of Gull Lake (Augusta, MI) and the Ladies' Guild of St. Ann's. She also participated in the Richland Women's tennis league. Bev also was a longtime volunteer at the Borgess Service League. She enjoyed reading; was an avid bird watcher and animal lover especially "Big Cats" like the puma or cheetah, but her passion in life was cooking for her family and friends. Bev tweaked every recipe to just the right flavor having received many recipes from the Food Network and the Cooking Channel or her own concoctions. Nobody left the Bev's table hungry!


Bev was united in marriage to James Paul "Jim" Stouffer on February 23, 1963 in Anderson, IN. Surviving is her husband of almost 52 years, Jim; her daughter, Kimberly A. (Douglas) Klapec of Bethesda, MD; her son, Jeffrey S. (Jennifer) Stouffer of Columbus, OH and her grandson; Jake A. Stouffer. Bev was preceded in death by her parents.


Bev's family will greet friends on Friday, January 16th from 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. with a time of sharing from 11:30 a.m. until 12:15 p.m. and a luncheon to follow from 12:15 p.m. until 1:30 p.m. all at the Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home, Richland Chapel, 9170 East D Avenue (M-89). Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 2:00 p.m. on Friday at St. Ambrose Catholic Church, 1628 East G Avenue, Parchment, MI 49004 with Father James O'Leary, Pastor, as Celebrant. Interment will be in Fort Custer National Cemetery, Augusta, MI at a later date. Memorial contributions in Bev's honor may be directed to St. Ambrose Catholic Church.