Mary Lou VanHuysen

Mary Lou VanHuysen, age 92, of Battle Creek passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, March 24, 2022.

Mary Lou was born in Battle Creek on June 3, 1929, the daughter of Miles and Marjorie E. (Hope) Campbell. She had a great love for children and was lovingly known as "Miss Mary Lou" by the children she adored at Westlake and St. Joseph Elementary Schools where she served as a teacher's aide for many years.
Mary Lou married Charles R. "Chuck" VanHuysen in Battle Creek on January 15, 1949. Surviving are her husband of more than 73 years, Chuck; her children, Pat (Dave) Stevens of Battle Creek, Tom (Beth) VanHuysen of Brighton and Anne Hoenes of Battle Creek; a daughter-in-law, Sue VanHuysen of DeWitt; eight grandchildren, Mike (Emily), Jim (Amy) and Paul (Ashley) VanHuysen, Jessica (Sean) Valenzuela, Nick (Christyne), Zack, Summer VanHuysen, Myles Hoenes, and Zach & JT Klucevek; nine great-grandchildren, Townes, Ryan, Allison, Tyler, Paige, Hadley, Magnolia VanHuysen, Peyton & Parker Valenzuela; and a sister, Joan Campbell. Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Charles VanHuysen Jr.; a grandson, Cameron Klucevek; a son-in-law, Mike Hoenes; a sister, Ruth Reed; and five brothers, Roy, Dick, Jack, Howard and Phillip Campbell.

Family was everything to Mary Lou and she particularly loved spending time with her grandchildren & great-grandchildren. She also enjoyed reading, cleaning & organizing, and doing laundry.

Mary Lou's family will receive friends 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., Friday, April 1st at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care where services to celebrate her life will begin at 2:00 p.m. The service will be Livestreamed and may be viewed at https://vimeo.com/693254470. Masks will be required and social distancing guidelines will be followed. Please consider making a donation to your favorite children's charity in memory of Mary Lou.


The family has created a beautiful picture slideshow and it may be viewed at https://vimeo.com/694149012.