Obituary

Beatrice "Bea" VanKleek, 91, of Kendallville died Monday, February 21, 2011, in Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Mrs. VanKleek graduated from Pontiac Senior High School, Pontiac, Michigan, in 1937. She retired from Community National Bank in Pontiac after 15 years. She moved to this area on September 30, 2001, coming from Pontiac, Michigan. She and her husband had wintered in North Fort Myers, Florida, for many years.

She attended the South Milford Church of Christ. She was born April 3, 1919, in Pontiac, Michigan, to Olen and Bessie (Szabla) Shaw. On February 14, 1945, in Pontiac, Michigan, she married Keith R. VanKleek.

Surviving are her husband of 66 years, Keith R. VanKleek of Kendallville; a daughter and son-in-law, Gail and Donald Warner of Kendallville; a son and daughter-in-law, Paul Kenneth and Carol Godwin of Brighton, Michigan; six grandchildren, Alison (Patrick) Hlathein, Wendy (Andrew) Lapadat, Shaun Godwin, Julie Stumpf, Robert (Nita) Godwin, and David (Amy) Godwin; and eight great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents and three sisters.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 5, 2011, at 2 p.m. in Young Family Funeral Home, Kendallville Chapel, 222 South State Street, Kendallville, with Pastor Jim Mertz of the South Milford Church of Christ and Mike Booher of the St. Joe Church of Christ, St. Joe, Indiana, officiating. Burial will be at a later date in Lake View Cemetery, Kendallville.

A gathering of family and friends will be Friday, March 4, 2011, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the funeral home.

Preferred memorials are to the South Milford Church of Christ.

View a video tribute after Friday or send condolences to the family at www.youngfamilyfuneralhome.com