Ann Elaine Balfour

Ann Elaine (Havel) Balfour, 69, of Dowagiac, beloved wife, daughter, sister, aunt and friend died at her home on Thursday, December 10, 2015 after a brief but severe battle with cancer. Per Ann’s wishes, cremation has already taken place. A Catholic Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 18, 2015 at Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 51841 Leach Road, Dowagiac, MI, with Father Kevin Covert officiating.  Burial will take place at a later date in Memorial Gardens in Battle Creek.  In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Senior Companion Program, 918 Jasper Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49001, Sacred Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 51841 Leach Road, Dowagiac, MI 49047 or Hospice at Home, 4025 Health Park Lane, St. Joseph, MI 49085.  Those wishing to leave a memory or condolence of Ann online may do so at www.clarkch.com. Ann was a long time resident of Sister Lakes and parishioner at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. She was born on July 13, 1946 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the first child of William Leo and Montie Ann (Boelk) Havel. Ann was raised in South Bend, IN where she attended St. Joseph Grade School and St. Mary’s Academy. She was also a graduate of Purdue and Western Michigan Universities, where she received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees, respectively. Ann was a well-known and popular elementary school teacher in Dowagiac, beginning her career at Patrick Hamilton and later transferring to McKinley School. In 1992 she married James Balfour, who retired from Clark Equipment Company in 1990. Upon her retirement from teaching in 1994, she and Jim traveled extensively throughout the world as well as across the United States. One of their many interesting and successful challenges was visiting the home of every U.S. president. Among her family and within the community Ann will be remembered for her generous and thoughtful nature and her many acts of kindness in the form of cards, notes and gifts. She had a heart of gold and her gracious and loving spirit will be truly missed. Ann is survived by her husband, Jim; father, William Havel; brothers, Bill (Helen) and John (Melissa) Havel; and sisters, Mary Ellen (Jim) Mulder, Lynn (Jonathan Lucker) and Laurie Havel. She also leaves behind numerous nieces and nephews and countless friends. She was preceded in death by her mother, Montie Havel, on August 3, 2013.