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March 12, 1942 – November 20, 2024

Dathel Louise (Baker) Duffel, 82, of Niles, Michigan, formerly of Berrien Springs, MI. went home to be with Jesus on November 20, 2024 in South Bend Indiana after a long fight with dementia. Dathel was born in Lepanto, Arkansas on March 12, 1942 to the late Elisha D. Baker and Cynthia Rosetta (Archer) Baker.

She grew up in Leachville, AR where she met Robert Wayne Duffel, the love of her life and were married on January 12, 1961. They started their family and in 1968, moved to Michigan and raised five children. Dathel had many professions throughout her life. She was a school bus driver for the Berrien Springs Public School System for eight years.

She enjoyed participating in the annual school bus rodeo competition where she won several awards.

During this time, she also worked at Pennellwood Resort as the laundry and housekeeping supervisor.

In later years, she worked at Riveridge Nursing Home as the laundry supervisor until she retired after 20 years.

She attended the Niles Church of God, where she established and directed  the food pantry. Later in life she attended Arden United Methodist Church, where her son Lanny Duffel served as Pastor.

Dathel enjoyed sewing and quilting, she accomplished her goal of creating and gifting a personalized quilt for each of her children and grandchildren. She used her hobby to bless many nursing home residents with specialized bags for walkers and wheelchairs. She treasured family gatherings, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas where she created the tradition of playing bingo using dried beans as the card markers, that were then used to throw at each winner. She also found great joy in spending time with her nine grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren. She loved to laugh and found many opportunities for humor in life.

Dathel is survived by her husband of 63 years, Robert Duffel of South Bend, IN; children Angela (William) Shembarger of Niles, MI; Sheila Engler of North Augusta, SC; Bryan Duffel of Buchanan, MI; Tina (Terry) Woods of South Bend, IN; and Lanny (Denise) Duffel of Berrien Springs, MI. Nine grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Elisha and Rosetta Baker, her siblings Earline Smitherman, Anna Mae Dennison, Lena Bell Coleman, Leon Baker and Leo Baker. Step siblings Thelma Solomon, Ethel Parker and Cliff Baker.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday, November 30 at 1pm at Arden Grace Church in Berrien Springs with Rev. Dan Smitherman officiating. A visitation time an hour prior to the service from 12:00-1:00pm will be available for friends and family. Memorial donations can be made in Dathel’s honor to Arden Grace Church. Burial to follow at a later date with family after cremation at Rosehill Cemetery in Berrien Springs, Michigan.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Allred Funeral Home in Berrien Springs, Michigan.