By Staff
NILES – Wanda Kay (McDuffie) Kirst, 60, of Brown Street, Niles, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.
Wanda was born Dec. 12, 1947, to William and Hazel (Williams) McDuffie in South Bend, Ind. She was one of two children raised in the McDuffie household.
After graduating from Buchanan High School in 1966, Wanda graduated from Lake Michigan College with a degree in law enforcement. She proudly worked for the City of Niles Police Department for 25 years of dedicated service; many remember her as Officer Babbs. And on July 16, 1994, she wed the love of her life, George Kirst, at a ceremony on Lilly Lake in Jones.
After retiring from the police department Wanda, unwilling to sit home, went to work for Jordan Ford in new car trades and also as a water aerobic, fitness and knitting instructor for the Cass Council on Aging.
Wanda enjoyed spending much of her time outdoors, gardening, traveling and especially on Pitcher Lake in Dowagiac camping, fishing, swimming and garage-saling her way there and back. She was also a longtime member of the Niles F.O.P, Fernwood Botanical Gardens and very active in the Dowagiac Moose. She could always be found doing something.
When she wasn't outside, she loved knitting, crocheting, drawing, painting, ceramics, reading and playing with her two dogs, Xena and Conan.
She also enjoyed spending time scrapbooking with her grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her father in 2001 and brother-in-law Donald "Doc" Erwin in 2007.
Wanda is survived by her husband George, mother Hazel McDuffie of Buchanan, children Dawn (Robert) Barton of Sturgis, William "Keith" Babbs of Niles, stepsons Adam Kirst and Billy Kirst, both of Jackson, three grandchildren Rachelle, Travis and Megan Courtney, all of Sturgis, and sister Sandra "Sam" Erwin of Niles.
Visitation will be today, Aug. 22, from 4 to 8 p.m. at Brown Funeral Home, where her funeral will be on Saturday, Aug. 23, at 11a.m. Pastor Bill Gibson will be officiating.
Memorial donations may be made in Wanda's memory to the Cass County Council on Aging or the Humane Society of Benton Harbor/Mishawaka, Ind.
Condolences, photos and memories may be left for the family at www.BrownFuneralHomeNiles.com.