By Staff
Wanda Kay (McDuffie) Kirst, 60, of Brown Street in Niles, died on Tuesday, August 19, 2008 from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
A time of visitation will be held on Friday, Aug. 22, at Brown Funeral Home from 4 to 8 p.m. where her funeral will be held on Saturday, Aug. 23, at 11 a.m. Pastor Bill Gibson will be officiating.
She was born on Dec. 12, 1947 to William and Hazel (Williams) McDuffie in South Bend, Ind. She was one of two children raised in the McDuffie household.
After graduating from Buchanan High School in 1966, Wanda graduated from Lake Michigan College with a degree in law enforcement. She proudly worked for the City of Niles Police Department for 25 years of dedicated service; many remember her as Officer Babbs.
On July 16, 1994, she wed the love of her life, George Kirst, at a ceremony on Lilly Lake in Jones.
After retiring from the police department Wanda, unwilling to sit home, went to work for Jordan Ford in New Car Trades and also as a water aerobic, fitness and knitting instructor for the Cass Council on Aging.
She enjoyed spending much of her time outdoors, gardening, traveling and especially on Pitcher Lake in Dowagiac, camping, fishing, swimming and garage-saling her way there and back.
She was also a long time member of the Niles F.O.P, Fernwood Botanical Gardens and very active in the Dowagiac Moose. She could always be found doing something. When she wasn't outside she loved knitting, crocheting, drawing, painting, ceramics, reading and playing with her two dogs, Xena and Conan. She also enjoyed spending time scrap booking with her grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her father in 2001 and brother-in-law, Donald "Doc" Erwin in 2007.
She is survived by her husband, George; mother, Hazel McDuffie of Buchanan; children: Dawn (Robert) Barton of Sturgis, William "Keith" Babbs of Niles, stepsons, Adam Kirst and Billy Kirst, both of Jackson; three grandchildren Rachelle, Travis and Megan Courtney all of Sturgis and a sister Sandra "Sam" Erwin of Niles.
Condolences, Photos and memories may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.
Memorial donations may be made in Wanda's memory to the Cass County Council on Aging or the Humane Society of Benton Harbor/Mishawaka.
Arrangements were by Brown Funeral Home &Cremation Services of Niles.