Marcia Kuhn

Through the life of Marcia Kuhn we learn to embrace each day more fully while deeply loving all those within our reach. She possessed an unwavering faith that guided her steps and provided her with shelter from the storms of life. Marcia was completely devoted to her family and although she felt truly fulfilled as a mother, she just may have argued that it was becoming a grandmother several times over that truly made life come full circle. A woman of grace, timeless wisdom, and genuine beauty inside and out, Marcia was a blessing in the lives of those who loved her.

As the decade of the 1920s was drawing to a close the America that was emerging was remarkably different from the nation we were at the beginning of the decade. We witnessed changes within both the business and industrial sectors while advancements in the world of flight and in the field of technology transformed the way Americans lived their everyday lives. Prosperity was the dominant force while people looked to celebrate their good fortune with family and friends. Amidst this time of unprecedented change there was much to celebrate in the lives of one couple from Lebanon, Kentucky, as they were overjoyed to welcome a healthy baby girl into their hearts and home on August 20, 1928. Baby Marcia was born to her parents, Closely and Cora (Benningfield) Miller. The family would grow to include eight children, her siblings would be, William, Charles, Roger, and Duane, and her sisters, Dorla, Barbara and Bonnie. When the Marcia was 6 months old, the family moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, which is where she called home for many years of her life. She attended local schools, graduating from Catholic Central High School in 1946.

New and exciting changes were on the horizon for Marcia when she met the young man who stole her heart. His name was Harry Potapowicz, and they met at a bowling alley one fateful day. After dating for a year the couple found themselves deeply in love. With a desire to make a life together Marcia and Harry became husband and wife on October 11, 1947, at a local Catholic church.

The couple was delighted to become parents to two sons, Mike and Jim, and one daughter, Lori. Marcia fully embraced her role as a mother and ran a tight ship at home and she saw to it that her children toed the line. At the same time, Marcia was a loving and attentive mother who was always there for her children in ways both great and small. In 1971 Harry’s work relocated them to Kalamazoo where he became the plant manager at Kalamazoo Label Company. It was just a few years later that Marcia and her children were deeply saddened with the death of their husband and father in 1976. Fortunately, Marcia had already been working at a box factory, which enabled her to support her children.

Brighter days were in store for Marcia when she met a new acquaintance at a Parents Without Partners meeting. He was a caring man named Art Kuhn, and they knew right from the start that they were destined to be together. After dating for about one year the couple was married on October 18, 1980. Art had children of his own. He had a daughter Judy who is married to Mike Duncan and two sons, Mike Kuhn who is married to Connie and Dennis who is married to Betty. In addition, Marcia’s daughter Lori who was only 17 at the time of Art and Marcia’s wedding would, a few years later, marry Bill Tuttle and they have two daughters. Although Art’s children were all grown at the time of the marriage, Marcia loved all of his children as her own. Later when grandchildren and great grandchildren would be born, Marcia would show them her unconditional love. She was a fantastic grandmother who loved to dote over all her grandchildren, but she wasn’t one to spoil them too much.

Although her focus was always on her family, Marcia’s life was filled with a variety of things that interested her. As her friends and family can attest she was a fabulous cook who was famous for her canned bread and butter pickles and gwumpkie, a Polish dish consisting of stuffed cabbage. Interestingly, Marcia didn’t become a great cook until she married Harry as he had been a cook in the Navy so he passed everything he knew on to his wife. Marcia enjoyed reading mysteries, bowling, playing cards and doing cross-stitch, and when it came to her own favorite foods seafood, especially shrimp, was her most desired. Traveling was another activity she loved and she and Art did a lot. They went to New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Europe, Hawaii, and on six cruises. Marcia and Art spent many winters in Arizona and of all the places she saw, New Zealand was always her favorite. She also kept busy within her community including as a member of the St. Mary’s Bridge Club, the Comstock Bridge Club, as a volunteer at Borgess Hospital, and also as a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

All who knew Marcia would agree that she was such a special woman to know and love. Her faith was her constant companion and never wavered even as she buried her husband and two sons. Marcia viewed every day as a gift and counted every path along her life’s journey to be part of God’s perfect plan for her life. She was so loving and caring, and she was someone who never had a mean bone in her body. Marcia was a woman of great wisdom gleaned through the everyday experiences of life and leaves behind irreplaceable lessons in the importance of living life to the fullest and making the most of each day.

Marcia faced another challenge in her life when she was diagnosed with polymyalgia about eight years ago. She later came down with other health conditions that led to a stroke and other issues as well. Although her way of life and mobility was greatly affected, Marcia didn’t lose her joy for living and never complained about the great amount of pain she was in.

A truly remarkable woman in every way, Marcia Kuhn leaves behind a significant impact in the world around her. She made the most of both the great joys and the deep sorrows while continuing to cherish her friends and loved ones. Life will never be the same without Marcia here, but her memory will remain forever near and dear to all our hearts.

Marcia Kuhn of Kalamazoo died at her home on Friday, February 10, 2012. Marcia’s family includes her husband, Art; daughter, Lori (Bill) Tuttle; and 3 stepchildren: Judy (Mike) Duncan, Mike (Connie) Kuhn and Dennis (Betty) Kuhn. In addition she also has 10 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, siblings: Duane Miller, Dorla Yahnke, Bonnie Van Denberg, William Miller. She was preceded in death by her first husband Harry Potapowicz, 2 sons- Mike and Jim Potapowicz, brothers: Charles and Roger Miller and a sister Barbara Spillmaker. Learn more about Marcia and visit with her family and friends from 4:00-8:00 p.m. on Thursday at the Life Story Funeral Home, Betzler-Kalamazoo, 6080 Stadium Drive; 375-2900, where a prayer service will be held at 7:30 p.m. Funeral Services will be held at 11 am, Friday, February 17th at St. Mary's Catholic Church. Please visit Marcia’s personal web page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can archive a favorite memory or photo and sign her online guest book before coming to the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to Southern Care Hospice.