Bernard William Hengesbach

        Bernard William Hengesbach, age 87, of Fowler, MI, passed away on Sunday, March 24, 2024, surrounded by his family.

        Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Fowler, MI, on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, at 10:30 A.M. with Rev. Fr. John Whitlock presiding.  Burial will take place at Most Holy Trinity Cemetery, Fowler, MI.  Visitation will be held at Smith Family Funeral Homes – Goerge Chapel, Fowler, MI, on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, from 3:30-8 P.M. Rosary will be prayed at 3:30 P.M. at the funeral home.

        He was born in Westphalia, MI, on October 26, 1936, the son of Sylvester and Adelia (Rademacher) Hengesbach.  On April 19, 1958, he married Bernice Dorothy Spitzley, and started their life in Fowler, MI.  He was a proud, loving father of six children.  He will forever be in our hearts.

        Bernard enjoyed a simple life and treasured times while growing up on a farm, being with his family, taking trips to Barothy Lodge, and Devil’s Lake.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, and beekeeping.  He worked as a mechanic in the Sears Service Garage for 36 years. In retirement, he cut meat at Hengesbach Processing.

        Bernard is survived by his wife of nearly sixty-six years, Bernice; his children: Cindy (Lon), Shirley (Bill), Cliff (Mary), Doug (Tina) , Christine (Kris), and Jacque (Wes); twenty grandchildren: Courtney, Nathan, Jared, Loni, Jill, Melissa, Jodie, Nick, Calie, Melinda, Nicole, Blake, Emily, Milli, Taylor, Dustin, Cody, Brody, Marra, and Delaney; seventeen great-grandchildren: Quentin, Isaac, Vivian, Will, Caleb, Riley, Emma, Owen, Olivia, Jordyn, Makayla, Kaiden, Steele, Lexie, Madison, Reagan, Landon, and one on the way; three great-great-grandchildren; his brother and sister-in-law Jerome (Juanita) Spitzley; and his sisters-in-law: Wilma Hengesbach, and Arlene McCausey.  He was preceded in death by his parents; brother and sister-in-law Alfred and Marie Hengesbach; grandson Eric Houghtalin; brothers and sisters-in-law: Norman and Helen Spitzley, Ronald and Julia Spitzley, Albert Hengesbach, and Wayne McCausey.

       Thank you to the compassionate staff at Regency at Lansing West and Heart to Heart Hospice who made Bernard’s final days comfortable.

       Memorials may be made to Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church or Heart to Heart Hospice.  Online condolences may be made at www.smithfamilyfuneralhomes.com.   The family is being served by Smith Family Funeral Homes – Goerge Chapel, Fowler, Michigan.