Louise Robeck

Louise Robeck, beloved wife of George Robeck, died at Bronson Hospital on July 2, 2026.

Louise was a long-time resident of Kalamazoo, moving with her husband from Pittsburgh, PA, and East Lansing to Kalamazoo.

Gentle and kind, Louise had a sense of humor which made her fun to be with. She made people feel comfortable, welcoming them with a warm smile and genuine curiosity. She had a soft spot for cats - over the years she and George shared their home with three or four of them, one a wandering stray that she and George named LaMont. Beloved rabbits remained in her yard, and were frequent subjects of her artwork.

Traveling was one of her favorite things to do. She and George spent many years visiting London - exploring the museums and going to the theatre. Later, the Robecks had season tickets at the Shaw Festival, Niagara-on-the-Lake, staying at local homes and seeing 7 or 8 plays in a few days.

In Kalamazoo, Louise’s artistic and inquisitive nature put her in the thick of many Kalamazoo activities. At the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Louise took classes such as printmaking and drawing and left behind beautiful pieces of art which clearly demonstrated her artistic abilities.

For years Louise was part of a small team of the Kalamazoo Literacy Council, a group devoted to the reading and writing support of adult learners. Through her efforts and her partnership with others, the Council grew! From 1994, Louise was a Board Member, a tutor, and an assessor who matched trained tutors with adult students.

In 2017 Louise received the Council’s Literacy Champion Award recognizing her many years of service and her dedicated commitment to the hundreds of tutors she trained.

Louise’s kind heart and gentle nature will be remembered by all who were given the gift of knowing her.

Donations “in memory of Louise Robeck” can be designated to the Adult Tutoring Program at The Kalamazoo Literacy Council at www.kalamazooliteracy.org/donate or checks may be sent to: Kalamazoo Literacy Council, 420 E. Alcott St, Ste. 400, Kalamazoo, MI 49001.

Please join us at a Life Story Celebration on Saturday, August 8, from 5-7 PM at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo, (269) 375-2900, where food, drinks, and stories can be shared. Celebrate Louise’s life online by sharing favorite memories or photos on her dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com.