She attended a countryside elementary school through 7th grade and completed her remaining education at Hesperia Schools. Bea grew up 5 miles away from her high school sweetheart, where she first met Jack in 8th grade (the same school where their mothers had both graduated in the same class of 1933!). While attending high school Bea worked at a local bakery. She graduated from Hesperia High School in 1956 and married Jack on Valentine’s Day, 1956.
Bea received her bachelor's degree in 1972 and master’s degree in 1976 at Michigan State University and was a lifetime Sparty fan! She majored in Special Education and minored in Fine Arts, Math and Science. Bea had a 28 year teaching career at the Haslett Public Schools; first, as a Special Education teacher, and then combined that position with Reading Recovery in her last 6 years of teaching.
She enjoyed many camping adventures with Jack and her young family. She was an accomplished seamstress and enjoyed sewing her own teaching attire. She also made matching dresses for her young daughters, more recently, a wardrobe of doll clothes for her great-granddaughter. Bea took pride in her yard and enjoyed spending many hours outside working in her beautiful flower gardens. She was also a skillful chef and baker in her kitchen and took pride in gifting her fruitcake to those who shared a passion in eating it! She loved her community, donating time or baking pies whenever needed. After retirement, Bea became an avid golfer and was involved with the women's golf league. She also enjoyed being a part of the DeWitt garden club. She and Jack also spent some of their time wintering in the Texas Hill Country and enjoyed summer trips up north in Michigan with family and friends.
Preceding Bea in death are her parents and brother, George Irons. She is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, Jack Enderle; children, Phil (Sang Hui) Enderle, Deborah Enderle, John Enderle and Becky (Marty) Gauthier; sister, Marilyn (Bill) Stevenson; sister-in-law, Joyce Irons; brothers, LeRoy Irons, Arthur (Candy) Irons and David (Terri) Irons; grandchildren, Kristi Kronmueller (Chet), Mike (Emily) Enderle, Steve (Jane) Enderle, Eliza Gauthier and Sarah Gauthier; 8 great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; and special friend, Cindy Hadden.
Bea will be dearly missed and in our hearts forever. She saw the best in everyone and could change your day with a quick joke or one of her contagious smiles. She will be remembered as a loving mother, grandmother, friend and teacher.
The family would like to thank the staff at Addington Place of DeWitt who cared for Bea over the last seven months.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to:
DeWitt Millennium Garden Club
P.O. Box 52, DeWitt, Michigan 48820 or Hospice Angel’s Foundation, 801 South Waverly, Suite 200,
Lansing, MI 48917 or On-line donations: www.HospiceAngels.org or www.CompassusLivingFoundation.org
Clinton County 4-H: donation envelopes will be available during Bea’s Celebration of life at the funeral home.
Visitation at Gorsline Runciman DeWitt Chapel, 205 E. Washington St., Thursday, Aug. 5 from 12 noon until memorial service at 1:30 p.m.
Recording of service: https://www.facebook.com/GorslineRuncimanDeWitt/?form=MY01SV&OCID=MY01SV
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18