Deanna Marie (Anthony) Stults

Friday afternoon, July 19th, mom, surrounded by loved ones, passed from the home and life she loved into paradise. 

Deanna Marie (Anthony) Stults was born June 15, 1937, in Battle Creek, Michigan, the daughter of Charles John and Gretchen Elizabeth (Doden) Anthony. She attended Prairieview Elementary, Bedford Elementary and was a 1955 graduate of Kellogg Agricultural School at Hickory Corners.

While attending Northwestern University, Burrel Stults proposed to his high school sweetheart, Deanna, and they were married December 29, 1956, in the Miller Chapel at the First Congregational Church in Battle Creek. Deanna was employed by Attorney Roger Turner as an administrative assistant helping her husband through college and again while her children were in Junior High School. She also worked for Pennfield Township, subbing for vacations and administering Armed Services Tests.

In 1962, Deanna and Burrel joined Pennfield Presbyterian Church, which, at that time, was meeting in a one room schoolhouse at the corner of M-66 and St Mary’s Lake Road. They were hands-on in two major construction projects and in the leadership of the church for the rest of their lives. Deanna taught Vacation Bible School and Sunday School, was a former head of the Youth Group, a member/leader of Presbyterian Women, Circle and she was a long serving Deacon. Deanna also served as a Girl Scout leader from Daisy Scouts to Seniors. She was a faithful member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood Chapter AB, serving as a former president, secretary, board member and Chaplin. She remained a faithful monthly financial supporter of South Michigan Food Bank. Deanna enjoyed lasting relationships with her Gull Lake Girls and Bedford Girls lunch groups.

Deanna will be remembered most for her kind heart and listening ear. Many, many people have confided that Deanna was the only person they felt they could share any of their life’s challenges with and receive understanding, wisdom and love in return.

Sadly, Deanna was preceded in death by her husband, Burrel on November 25, 2020. Surviving are their three children, Dennis (Susan) Stults of Shelbyville, Christine Cope of Battle Creek, Dean (Pam) Stults of Raleigh, NC and ten grandchildren, Jason Cope, Cassie Cope, Ellen (Gary) Kluck, Andrew Stults, David Stults, Carolyn Stults, Molly Stults, Emma Stults, Danielle (John) Neely, Shae (Chris) Kurtz; seven great-grandchildren, Jack, Sam, Jameson, Benjamin, Jacob, Jovie and Valentine. Deanna is also survived by her younger sister Donna (Ed) Dennis and nieces and nephews Mary Brill, Ed Dennis, Joe (Sherry) Dennis, Patrick Dennis and Jim (Charlene) Perry. In addition to her husband, Deanna was also preceded in death by her parents and a grandchild, Charlie Foster Stults.

The family is grateful for the compassionate assistance from Visiting Angels of Southwest Michigan and Centrica Care Navigators Hospice. They came to help and left as friends.

Friends will be received at Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Cremation Preneed Care 4:00-6:00p.m. Friday, July 26, 2024. A service to celebrate Deanna’s life will be held at Pennfield Presbyterian Church 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 27, 2024, with a luncheon immediately following at the church. The service will be livestreamed and may be viewed on the Facebook page, Annemarie Kidder, in live-feed. Committal and entombment will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to their beloved Pennfield Presbyterian Church, 7979 St. Marys Lake Rd., Battle Creek, MI 49017; The Battle Creek Community Foundation via the Burrel and Deanna Stults Family Fund, 32 W. Michigan Ave., Suite 1, Battle Creek, MI 49017; or to the South Michigan Food Bank, 5451 Wayne Rd, Battle Creek, MI 49037 .

The family has created a wonderful slideshow of memories.  It may be viewed at https://vimeo.com/990165699/9459af2ac3.