Kenneth D. Habel

Kenneth Donald Habel, 89, of St. Joseph, passed away at home on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2011. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, September 16 at 10:00 A.M., at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 211 Church Street, in St. Joseph, with Fr. Jim Morris officiating. Burial will be at Riverview Cemetery with Military Rites. Visitation with Ken’s family will be this evening, Thursday, September 15 from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the Dey-Florin Funeral Home, 2506 Niles Ave., St. Joseph, with a prayer service at 7:30. Memorial donations in Ken’s name may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church. Messages of condolence may be sent to www.florin.net. Ken was born in Benton Harbor, Michigan to Walter Habel and Linnie Reinhardt Habel Jankowski. He was raised by his grandparents, Frank and Emma (Lucker) Reinhardt on their farm on Glenlord Rd. He graduated from St. Joseph High School, St. Joseph, MI in 1940. Ken proudly served his country during WWII flying airplanes as an Ensign in the United States Navy stationed at Pearl Harbor. Ken married Marian C. Landeck on December 6, 1944 and celebrated 54 years of marriage before her death in 1998. He worked at Auto Specialties in St. Joseph for 30 years before they closed. He then worked for New Products in Benton Harbor for 10 years until he retired. An avid outdoorsman, Ken loved hunting and perch fishing with his son. He served as a Eucharistic Minister of St. Joseph Catholic Church and took communion to patients at Lakeland Hospital. Ken was a very handy man and built his home in St. Joseph. He was a big Chicago Cubs and Bears fan. Most of all, Ken cherished time spent with his children, grandchildren, and great-granddaughter. He is survived by his son, Steven (Nancy) Habel of Benton Harbor; a daughter, Susanne (Bill) Hyslop of St. Joseph; 3 grandchildren, Jennifer Hyslop-Borr, Bradley Hyslop both of Knoxville, TN and Jamie (Keith) Schaecher of Novi, Michigan; and by one great-granddaughter, Abigail Rose Schaecher. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marian; grandparents, Frank and Emma Reinhardt; his father, Walter Habel; his mother, Linnie Habel Jankowski; and by his step-father, Anthony Jankowski.

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Kenneth D. Habel

December 7, 1921 - September 13, 2011