Beulah "Boots" Irene Pashak (Bornemann)

Beulah passed away peacefully on January 20, 2023 at Park Village Pines Oakview Terrace in Kalamazoo, Michigan surrounded with the love of her family and Hospice.  Beulah was born November 2, 1923 in Crump, Michigan to the late Fred and Mary (Pierce) Bornemann. She was a long-time member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church until she moved to Kalamazoo in 2006 to be near her daughters. She attended St. Thomas More Student Parish with her daughter, Joyce, while she lived at Hope Woods Senior Apartments.  She moved to Park Village Pines in 2016 and would attend the Catholic Communion Service led by Liz Scheuer from St. Joseph Catholic Church.

Beulah was nicknamed Boots by her brothers at a young age. There are different stories behind the name but one being she wore boots a lot and they would say, there goes Boots and her buddies.  As time went by and she married Arthur Pashak, they were known as Aunt Boots and Uncle Art!

Boots grew up on the family farm in Crump and attended the little red schoolhouse almost right across the road.  She met Arthur Pashak, who picked up the milk cans from the farm and would take them to Hitz Dairy Farm. Needless to say, they fell in love but before they could marry, Art was sent off to war in the Army.  Boots was able to visit Art in various places he was stationed (of course always with chaperones, girlfriends of Art's brothers and other friends). Art was soon discharged from the Army and then Art and Boots were married on January 17, 1942.

They settled on a farm in Crump near her parents and started their family of three little girls, Donna Jean on July 21, 1944, Joyce Irene on July 15, 1946 and the preemie baby, Kathleen Mary (Katie) on January 13, 1948.

As both the Pashak and Bornemann families lived close by, there were many gatherings - Pashak reunions at Grandma Pashak's big farm in Auburn and Boot's family reunions all at the Fox Club in Crump.
In 1955 the family moved from the farm in Crump to a small farm in Kawkawlin, Michigan, a little two-bedroom house on 10 acres. After their girls were married and starting families of their own, Boots and Art moved to a home on Wheeler Road.

After Art suffered his first heart attack and had to stop working, Boots started work at Mercy Hospital in the kitchen and then progressed to the dietary office. When Mercy merged with General Hospital she moved also.
Art made Boots breakfast and dinner and helped clean and did the yard work. He was healthy for 10 years before he passed away on May 27, 1982.

Boots was a strong woman and lived and maintained their house until 2006 with the wonderful help of her and Art's family.  But she would be out herself taking care of the yard, mowing, plowing, shoveling, etc.

She was a loving and caring mother, grandmother, sister, sister-in-law and aunt who was loved by everyone she met. So many fond memories: she would call and sing happy birthday to kids, all her grandchildren and great grandchildren; everyone loved her special "Grandma Christmas cookies" and spending Christmas and holidays at her house with cousins.

While living at Park Village Pines, she was loved by all of staff as Boots was always thankful for what they did for her.  She would always insist they take a piece of candy before they left.  When she passed away, numerous staff came in to say goodbye with tears in their eyes. She was a favorite resident.

Boots is survived by her daughters, Donna Jean (Ken) Charboneau, Hartford, MI; Joyce Eager, Plainwell, MI; Katie (Larry) Brown, Clermont, Florida;
Ten grandchildren: Michael Charboneau, Kent Charboneau, Dana (Jason) Baker; Christopher Eager, Scott (Tina) Eager, Kimberly (Matt) Eldred; Eric (Cindy) Brown, Amy Brown, Jeffrey Brown, Laurie Brown. Great grandchildren: Brianna, Josiah, Nathan, and Hannah (Shelby); Jonathan, Collin (Abbey), and Levi; Andrew, Alayna, and Anna; Orion, Ilyana, and Paisley; Sister-in-law, Alma Pashak (102 yrs. Old) and many nieces and nephews.

Boots was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Arthur Pashak; Arthurs parents, William and Catherine Pashak; son-in-law, Dan Eager; sister, Marie and brothers and sister-in-law's, Ralph (Doris) Bornemann; Frank (Edna) Bornemann. Art's sisters, brothers, and in-laws: Mary and George Horstman, William Pashak, John (Elsie) Pashak, George (Elsie) Pashak, Lawrence Pashak, Celcelia Pashak, Bernard (Millie) Pashak, Donald (Dolly) Pashak, Eleanor (Gene) Cote.

Visitation will be held on January 26, 2023 from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m.at Gephart Funeral Home, 201 W. Midland St., Bay City, Michigan. The funeral service will be on Friday, January 27, 2023 at 12 p.m.  at St. Catherine's of Siena Catholic Church, 29 E. North Union Road, Bay City, Michigan with visitation at 11 a.m. in the church vestibule.  A luncheon will be provided following the service.

Memorial contributions can be made to Centrica Care Navigators (Hospice), Park Village Pines, Kalamazoo, Michigan or a charity of your choice.