Annette Bacehowski

1951 - 2017

Annette Bacehowski

South Haven, Michigan

Annette Marie (Van Gessel) Bacehowski, proud mother and grandmother of three sons, a daughter and six grandchildren in Des Moines and West Des Moines, died Sunday, June 18, 2017 at Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo, Michigan, from complications related to lung cancer. Annette was born in Grand Rapids, MI on July 28, 1951 to Verna and William Van Gessel and was the second youngest of ten children. She and her husband Dave were married at St. Mary's church in Grand Rapids on July 15, 1972. They relocated to Wildwood, IL in 1976, where they raised their four children. Annette was a loving and dedicated preschool teacher for almost 20 years. Upon retirement, she and Dave moved to South Haven, MI in 2005, where she enjoyed kayaking, fishing, gardening, snowshoeing, hiking the dunes with her dog, spending time with her six grandchildren, and serving her community. She became an active member of St. Basil Catholic Church, where she most recently served on the leadership team for the Restore the Glory campaign and also volunteered for various other ministries including the migrant ministry program, the Equal Exchange program, and others.She and Dave loved spending time in the Des Moines area with their five grandchildren, Anna, Gabriel, Miles, Grant, and Eleanor. Annette is survived by her husband of 45 years, David, and children Christopher of South Haven, MI, Daniel (Sarah) of Des Moines, Bryan (Rebecca) of West Des Moines, and Kelly Joyce (Sam) of Bend, OR, as well as six grandchildren. Her spirit, energy, love and faith will live on through all she touched and cared for in her life.

Memorial services will include visitations to be held Thursday, June 22nd from 5-8 pm ET and Friday, June 23rd at 11:30 am ET at Filbrandt Family Funeral Home in South Haven, MI, with a funeral mass on Friday, June 23rd at 1:00 pm ET at St. Basil Catholic Church in South Haven, MI.

Annette was the VP of Programs for the South Haven chapter of the American Association of University Women. A scholarship will be presented to a high school woman seeking university education in her name. Donations for this scholarship can be made out to AAUW and sent to Mary Lynn Bugge, 70 Gabriel Dr., South Haven, MI 49090.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can also be made in Annette's name to the Lung Cancer Alliance, WeCare In the Name of Christ of Southwest Michigan, the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy, or the St. Basil Restore the Glory campaign.