Oct. 7, 1957 — April 10, 2015

Susan D. Winchester, 57, of Dowagiac, passed away at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph, Michigan on Friday, April 10, 2015 after a brief illness. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 14, at Clark Chapel and Cremation Services, 405 Center Street, Dowagiac, MI, with Pokagon Elder Tom Topash officiating. Burial will follow at Sacred Heart Cemetery at a later date. Friends may visit with the family Monday, April 13, 2015 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Memorial donations may be made to the Pokagon Head Start Program. Those wishing to leave a memory or condolence of Susan online may do so at www.clarkch.com.

Susan was born Oct. 7, 1957, in Dowagiac, to John R. and Darlene S. (Kesterke) Winchester.

She graduated from Dowagiac Union High School in 1975. Susan was a devoted mother, grandmother and sister.

Susan was very proud of her Native American Heritage and honored to be a part of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians.

She will be greatly missed by those who called her friend but more by those who called her family. Susan is survived by her daughters Sarah (Mike) Hyatt and Melissa Potter, both of Dowagiac; grandchildren Anthony Hyatt, Emily and Molly Potter; her mother Darlene Winchester of Eau Claire; brothers Mike Winchester of Schoolcraft, John Winchester of Decatur, Steve Winchester of Coldwater and Tony Winchester of Wakefield, Rhode Island.; and a sister Julie Farver of Decatur; along with many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her father, John Winchester.