Marguerite A. Higgins

Marguerite Agase Higgins was born April 2, 1951, in Urbana, Illinois. She was raised in East Lansing, MI. She taught for 38 years for Portage (MI) Public Schools, beginning her career in Special Education classrooms before spending the majority and remainder of her career teaching 5th grade. She graduated from Western Michigan University but remained a steadfast fan of the Michigan State Spartans, where her father, Lou Agase, coached football.

 She taught long enough to often reunite with former students-become-parents at Parent Teacher Conferences, and rarely made a trip to Meijer without being recognized by students and colleagues who remembered her fondly.

 After retirement, she continued to leave a positive, lasting impact on her community as a volunteer at Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes, the Deacon’s Conference of Kalamazoo, and tutor at several Kalamazoo Public Schools until her passing.

 Preceding Maggie in death were her sons, Christopher and Corey Higgins; her nephew, Paul Agase; her parents, Lou and Eileen (Huebner) Agase; and her daughter, Katie Higgins Metheny.

 She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Tom and Liza Agase; her niece, Liz Agase; her son, David Higgins; her husband, Bob Higgins; and her grandson, Anthony Jones, who was her life’s primary focus for the final 22 years of her life. She is also survived by her beloved friends, Mari and Stan Nowak; her Goddaughters, Kristin Nowak and Sarah (Nowak) Duffy; and countless dear friends.

 In lieu of flowers, Maggie encourages donating time and/or material support to any organization that seeks to improve the lives of the less fortunate in your community.

 She will forever live in our hearts.

A memorial visitation will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2024 from 12:00 to 1:00 PM at Langeland Family Funeral Homes Burial & Cremation Services, 3926 S. 9th St., Kalamazoo, MI 49009. A memorial service will follow at 1:00 PM at the funeral home.