Pat Gutschow, of Niles

Published 9:06 am Thursday, March 5, 2020

April 7, 1932 — Feb. 28, 2020

Elane Patricia “Pat” Gutschow, 87, of Niles, wife, mother, grandmother, lover of animals and her family and friends died at 1:35 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28, 2020, at Spectrum Lakeland Medical Center in Saint Joseph, Michigan following a brief illness.

She was born on April 7, 1932, in Niles, to Dewey and Fern (Esterly) Pollock, and graduated from Niles High School. She was employed for many years at the former Niles store of Montgomery-Ward, Inc., and served as a private hire home healthcare aide.

Pat was a member of Saint John’s United Church of Christ, in Niles. She enjoyed an every-Saturday-night game of cards, reading novels, and watching wrestling on television. She loved her pet cats and dog, but her greatest joy was her family.

On April 4, 1952, in Niles, she married William Russell Gutschow with whom she celebrated the 30th anniversary of their wedding prior to his death on Nov. 7, 1982.

She was also preceded in death by her parents and, sadly, by a grandson, Brian Scott Walter; and by a brother, Earl Pollock; and a sister, Marion Cassaboom.

Surviving family includes her children, Susan Marie (Stephen) Leggett, of Buchanan, William Wayne Gutschow, of Niles, and Shelly Renee Gutschow, of Niles; a brother, Jim Pollock, of Battle Creek; and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral service for Pat Gutschow will be at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 6, 2020, at Saint John’s United Church of Christ, 601 Sycamore St., in Niles, with the Rev. Ray Fulbright of the church officiating. Committal will follow at Mission Hills.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday at the Halbritter-Wickens Funeral Home, 615 E. Main St., Niles, and on Friday at the church beginning at 10 a.m. Contributions in memory of Pat may be made to the Cass County Animal Shelter, 323 M-62, Cassopolis, MI, 49031, or to the donor’s choice. Online condolences may be left at: halbritterwickens.com

While Pat was well-known for her love of animals, she also chose to work with the public at the department store, help personally with patients in their homes, gather with family around the card table every week, and worship with her congregation, all evidence of the abundance of love that she shared.