Martha Lucille Hinz

Martha Lucille Hinz, 91, died on March 9, 2014, at her home in Kalamazoo following a period of declining health.  She was born in South Haven, MI, on February 9, 1923, the fourth and youngest child of Frank T. and Martha W. Warner.

Martha graduated from South Haven High School in 1940. She attended Michigan State College in East Lansing before transferring to nursing school at Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids.  As her nurses training coincided with WWII, Martha served for a time in the Cadet Army Nurse Corps at Camp Carson, Colorado.  After the war, Martha worked for over 35 years as a Registered Nurse in South Haven, first at the South Haven Community Hospital, then for several physicians including Buckborough, Diephuis and Groustra among others at the Medical Building on Huron Street, and finally as Director of Nursing at Restwood Nursing Home.

Martha was a lifelong member of the First Congregational Church in South Haven, where she served as Chair of the Board of Trustees for a number of years.

An avid gardener, Martha’s home was always surrounded by well-tended flower gardens.  She was skilled in needlecrafts, including sewing, knitting, cross stitch and embroidery.  Martha enjoyed many sports, especially Detroit Tigers baseball, and spent happy hours with her husband, George, fishing in Lake Michigan on their boat “Sundance”.

Martha’s parents preceded her in death as did her husband of 64 years, George D. Hinz, an infant son, Gregory, her brother, Douglas, and sisters, Alice Lewis and Helen Campbell.  She is survived by her daughters Janice (Dennis) Burke, of Kalamazoo, and Mary (David) O’Rourke, of Phoenix, AZ; and her son John (Emily Garber) of Phoenix, AZ.  Six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren also survive her.

Burial will occur on March 13, 2014, at Lakeview Cemetery in South Haven following a visitation from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. with a brief funeral service at 11:00 A.M.  at Filbrandt Family Funeral Home.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the First Congregational Church of South Haven, the Liberty Hyde Bailey Museum of South Haven, or Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan.