June 29, 1923 — Sept. 12, 2014

Carolyn M. Stark, 91, of Niles, died on Friday, Sept. 12, 2014, at Lakeland Community Hospital in Niles. Carolyn was born June 29, 1923, in Stevensville, Michigan to Paul C. and Bertha (Luker) Hoge. On June 30, 1945, in Baroda, Michigan, Carolyn married Carl Stark, who preceded her in death in 2001.

Carolyn was a member of Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Buchanan where she taught Sunday School for more than 22 years. She worked for the Fairland School as an aid, recess supervisor and lunch lady. She also worked for Electro-Voice in Buchanan for many years but was always a farmer’s wife. She was a wonderful baker and cook and was always tending to her flower and vegetable gardens. She was well-known for her homemade noodles and loved to travel and spend time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Surviving family includes children, David (Gwen) Stark and Daniel (& Kathy) Stark, all of Berrien Springs, Michigan, Dianne (Richard) Hamman of Niles, Deborah (Mohammad) Haghshenas of Portage, Michigan, Doreen (Michael) Walterhouse of Eaton Rapids, Michigan and Dawn (James) Lamson of Niles; grandchildren, Stacey (Eric) Merlak and their daughter Abigail of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Ryan (Katie) Stark and their daughter Tessa of Berrien Springs, Wendy Stark of Highland, Michigan, Carissa (Jay) Hopenwasser of Corinth, Texas, Laura (Nathan) Hoover and their children Steven and Samantha of Niles, Kristen (Toby) Johnson and their daughter Mya of Buchanan, Michigan, Shelly Hamman of Niles, Angela (Gabe) Lagina and their children Luka and Olivia of Kalamazoo, Dr. Marium (Jason) Groth of Sparta, Michigan, Dr. Jafar Haghshenas of Saddlebrook, New Jersey, Marjon (Matthew) Vandezande of Kalamazoo, Drew (Ashley) Walterhouse of Marietta, Pennsylvania, Cory Walterhouse of Eaton Rapids, Michigan, Derek (Morgan) Lamson of Berrien Springs and Paul Lamson of Niles. Also surviving are Carolyn’s siblings, Raymond (Lela) Hoge of Baroda, William (& Marcina) Hoge of Berrien Springs, Ruth Caldwell of Benton Harbor, Michigan, Donna Shepherd of Baroda, Roberta (& Jerry) Mitchell of Stevensville, Barbara (& Ivan) Layman of Berrien Springs; and sisters-in-law, Delois Hoge, Eleanor Hoge, both of Baroda and Jeanie Hoge of Michigan.

Funeral services for Carolyn M. Stark will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014, at Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church in Buchanan with Rev. Daniel Barz of the church officiating. Interment will follow at Mission Hills.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 5-8 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 15, 2014, at the Halbritter Funeral Home in Niles.

Donations in memory of Carolyn may be made to Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church, Buchanan.

www.halbritterfunerals.com