Winifred Ellen Romig Hope

HOPE, WINIFRED ELLEN ROMIG Winnie, age 100, formerly of Texas Township, Kalamazoo County, Michigan passed away peacefully early Thursday morning, June 5, 2014 in Grand Rapids. She was born on August 1, 1913 on a farm in Prairie Ronde Township, Kalamazoo County, Michigan. Winnie was the only child of Bert Romig and Lorena Mable Fellows Romig and spent all of her school years living on her parent's farm on the north edge of Texas Township. She graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School with the class of 1932 and Western State Teacher's College, class of 1936 receiving an BA degree with a Teaching Certificate and in 1962, a Master's Degree. Winnie was a member of the Speech Sorority Phi Kappa Rho and was a member of Western's Glee Club for three years. She taught in the Burke School system eight years and schools in Kalamazoo County for another 6 years. Winifred was a school board member and PTA president, where her daughters attended school. After retirement, she and her husband Maurice moved to Wayland to be nearer to his work at the Gun Lake Transmitter of Fetzer Broadcasting Company, where he was a transmitter engineer for 27 years. While living in Wayland, she joined the Kent Garden Club in Grand Rapids in 1976 and in 2013; they awarded her an honorary membership. In 1985, Winnie was awarded a Life Membership Certificate to the Federated Garden Clubs of Michigan, Inc. She has always loved working with flowers and after taking many workshops offered by the club she made weekly arrangements for the United Church of Wayland for several years. Since her husband, Maurice, passed in April 2006, she has lived in several places in the greater Grand Rapids area. Preceding her in death were her husband of 69 years, Maurice E. Hope; her parents, Bert and Lorena Fellows Romig; a daughter, Marian D. Hope, who died soon after birth; her uncle, Arthur Romig and Aunt, Ida Romig. Surviving are two daughters, Barbara Kimber Greene of Caledonia and Mary Ellen Newton of Coldwater; five grandchildren, David Sallie Greene; Kimberly Greene; Neal Sheila Newton; Melissa Casey; Grant Linda Newton; seven great-grandchildren; Mallory Greene; Casey Greene; Mitchell Newton; Sam Newton; Elena Newton; Ryan Casey and Matt Casey; sister-in-law, Lorraine Robert Wilkinson; and several nieces and nephews. Friends may visit with Winnie's family from 11am-12pm on Monday, June 9, at Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 622 S. Burdick Street. A graveside service will follow at 12:30pm at Harrison Cemetery S. 10th Street, south of U Avenue, Schoolcraft. Memorial contributions may be directed to Kent Garden Club, c/o Marianne Warnock, 1830 Linson Court, Grand Rapids, MI 49546-6457 or a charity of one's choice.