Margie Elaine (Matthews) Struin

Margie Elaine (Matthews) Struin of Battle Creek, MI







Margie, age 91, died peacefully Thursday morning, February 12, 2015 at the Stoneridge Adult Foster Care Home of Bellevue, MI.


Margie was born on November 10, 1923 to Joseph Stinchcomb and Pearl Kennedy and was raised by her mother and stepfather Eldon Matthews.


Margie graduated from Hastings High School in 1941. She worked for the Barry County Health Department and Hastings Manufacturing before she joined the United States Cadet Nursing Corp through Community Hospital receiving her registered nursing degree February 3, 1947. She started her nursing career in 1947 at Community Hospital and retired as house supervisor on June 30, 1987.


Margie was affectionately known as the "neighborhood" nurse and was passionate about nursing and taking care of family and friends. Her dedication to nursing and nurturing was her life long passion. She was a very generous and caring person making sure that no one she knew ever went hungry and had what they needed. Along with her nursing, she was a historian and compiled many history books for Barry County Veterans, Baseline United Methodist Church to which she was a member for 68 years, and numerous genealogy books for family members. She was an avid reader and enjoyed her vegetable and flower gardening. Her and Dad were affectionately known as the sweet corn couple in the area.


Margie married Kenneth William Struin at the United Methodist Church in Hastings, Michigan on March 2, 1947 who preceded her in death on November 28, 2014. They were married for 68 years and together raised four children. Ruth (Glenn) Goheen of Battle Creek, Janet (Michael) Moon of Bellevue, Carol (Michael) Townsend of Towanda, IL and a son, William Kenneth Struin who preceded her in Jan. 6, 2012. She is survived by her three daughters; 11 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; a sister, Martha (James) Adams of Spring Lake, MI; a brother, Daniel (Julaine) Matthews of Jackson, MI and numerous nephews and nieces.



The Memorial Service to celebrate Margie's life will be held on Monday, February 16th at 11:30 a.m. at the Baseline United Methodist Church, 9617 Baseline Road, Battle Creek, MI 49017 with Pastor Peggy Baker, officiating. Margie's family will greet friends on Monday from 10:30 a.m. until service time at the Church and family and friends will continue Margie's life celebration with a time of fellowship and a luncheon immediately following the Service in the Church Social Hall. Final interment will be next to her beloved husband, Ken in Hicks Cemetery, Pennfield Township in the Spring. Memorial contributions in Margie's honor may be directed to the Church or the Stoneridge Adult Foster Care Home, 4825 Fruin Road, Bellevue, MI 49021. The Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home, Battle Creek is handling the arrangements.