Alvina Konopinski

Alvina Konopinski, 92, of Dowagiac passed away on Monday, February 10, 2014 at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, IN. She spent the last year of her life at the Cass County Medical Care Facility. She was born to Jacob and Ida (Streich) Schultz on September 15, 1921 in Dowagiac. She was united in marriage to Louis F. Konopinski (deceased) on November 13, 1942 in South Bend, IN. and later moved to Dowagiac after the 2nd World War. She was a graduate of Dowagiac High School class of 1939 and a member of the St. John’s Lutheran Church. Alvina was a housewife and loved spending time with her family. She enjoyed talking with people and traveling later in life with her sister around the United States. She was quite the bingo enthusiast and played at many of the local bingo halls. She also enjoyed dancing when she was younger. Some of her activities included fishing with her husband and children, working crossword puzzles and enjoyed playing the organ, which she taught herself to do. She is most remembered as a great story teller about her siblings and family members. She was the last surviving of eleven children, having five brothers and five sisters. Her surviving family includes her three sons, Louis G. “Jerry” Konopinski of Niles, Charles L. (Lynn) Konopinski of Granger, IN., and Michael J. (Laura) Konopinski of Niles. Eight grandchildren, Scott (Karen) Konopinski of Charlotte, MI., Tonja (Brian) Ambrose of Three Rivers, MI., Robert (Andrea) Konopinski of Mishawaka, IN., Charles F. Konopinski of Key West, FL., Kristen (Vince) DeDario of Granger, IN., Nathan Konopinski of San Francisco, CA., Jonathan Konopinski of Houston, TX., and Breanna Konopinski of Mishawaka, IN. She is also survived by 10 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. Family and friends will gather for visitation on Friday, February 14, 2014, beginning at 11:00 am with funeral service to begin at 1:00 pm at Clark Chapel, 405 Center St., Dowagiac, MI. She will be laid to rest at Riverside Cemetery, Dowagiac, MI, following the service. Please take the opportunity to sign her guestbook and leave a memory of Alvina at www.clarkch.com.