By Staff
Beverly Ann Kaiser, 94, of Niles, died at 1:31 a.m. Tuesday, June 2, 2009 in Memorial Hospital following an illness.
A memorial celebration will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 6 in Community Baptist Church, 5715 Miami Road, South Bend, Ind. with Pastor Steven Stadtmiller officiating.
Burial will follow in Highland Cemetery, South Bend, Ind. with the Rev. Mark Thompson of Silver Creek United Methodist Church, Dowagiac officiating.
Friends may call from 5 until 8 p.m. Friday, June 5 in the Welsheimer Family Funeral Home North, 17033 Cleveland Road, South Bend, Ind. Friends may also call in the church one hour prior to the service on Saturday at 10 a.m.
She was born April 26, 1915 to the late Gary and Nellie Chalfant in Pana, Ill. and had lived in South Bend, Ind. since 1941.
In 1949, she married John Kaiser who preceded her in death.
She was also preceded in death by two sisters, Cordelia and Dorothy.
She is survived by two daughters, Ernestine (John) Holmes and Bessie Armstrong, both of Niles; two sons, Benjamin P.E. (Cathy) Endres of South Bend, Ind. and John (Melissa) Kaiser of New York, N.Y.; 15 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
To relate all the accomplishments of Beverly Kaiser during her years as an educator and in retirement would require a lengthy narrative. She has been a very dedicated, caring, and adventuresome individual throughout her career and into retirement. Everything was an exciting challenge to her. New approaches and ideas were constantly pouring from her creative mind. She did every task with complete dedication and determination to accomplish more than anyone would expect. And if you were available, she would see you were involved and included in her plan and their accomplishment.
She began as a first grade teacher, where she could organize a class into doing a complete circus, including all the animals and a ring master, to working on a pilot reading program for the State in conjunction with Michigan State University. The program demonstrated the ability of first graders to learn to read using books from the library. It was titled "Can a Child Teach Himself to Read?" She also represented the State of Michigan at a science seminar in Chicago, Ill.
Beverly taught fourth grade prior to becoming a principal, and elementary supervisor, and a special education supervisor to round out her 25 years as an educator in the Brandywine Public Schools. During these years, she worked summers as the director of Student Teachers Enrichment Center in Berrien County and Edwardsburg for Western Michigan University. She served as the Director of the Migrant Program in conjunction with the Berrien County Council of Churches for two years.
Her accomplishments in leadership and education are recognized in editions of "The West and Midwest," "Notable American Awards," "Community Leaders," and "Personalities of America." Beverly is also recorded in the first edition of "Who's Who" of the Marquis Biographical Record of School Official; "The World's Who's Who of Intellectuals," The International Who's Who of Community Service" among others, in Cambridge, England.
Beverly was a member and post president of the Order of Eastern Star, and Amaranth, and White Shrine. She was also a member and past president of Beta Chapter of Alpha Beta Epsilon Sorority of Western Michigan University and Pi Chapter of Alpha Iota State, Delta Kappa Gamma International. Her memberships also include the American Legion Auxiliary, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary, and the Daughters of the Civil War Veterans.
Beverly remained active in retirement serving two years as president of the Berrien County Association of Retired School Personnel, in addition to other positions and committees. She was most extremely dedicated to promoting the professional and economic status of retired school personnel and furnishing a basis for united action in aiding the course of education and educators.
Family and friends may send e-mail condolences at welshfh@yahoo.com.
Arrangements were by Welsheimer Family Funeral Home, South Bend, Ind.