Iva Hainey

Iva Hainey, 90, of Berrien Springs, Michigan passed away Tuesday, November 10, 2020 at Spectrum Health Lakeland. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to Your Story Hour, World Vision, or Smile Train. Those wishing to share a memory of Iva online may do so at www.heritage-chapel.com Iva was born July 2, 1930 in Davison, Michigan. She was the youngest child of Roy and Jennie Austin Churchill. She graduated from Goodrich High School in 1948 as the class valedictorian. After teaching church school in Elkhart, Indiana for two years she matriculated at Emmanuel Missionary College. While a student at EMC she met Wilbur Hainey of Lavonia, Indiana. They were married June 10, 1951, in Lapeer, Michigan. After her children finished their education she returned to Andrews University and completed her Associate of Science Degree in Food Service in 1976. She used this knowledge at the Andrews University Food Service as a supervisor in the bakery overseeing dessert production, teaching the Occupational Education classes in Food Service, recipe standardization and her last position as the manager of the Gazebo, the University’s snack shop. As a long-time member of the Pioneer Memorial Church she taught in various Sabbath School Divisions, and enjoyed volunteering at Ruth Murdoch Elementary School, Love Creek Nature Center, Neighbor to Neighbor, and The Journal Era. Not one to let the grass grow under her feet she was very active. Summers were spent picking and preserving fruits and vegetables. One of the highlights of her summers was encouraging her children, and the neighborhood’s youths, to display their handicrafts at the Berrien County Youth Fair. Another summer highlight was the annual vacation when she and her husband would take their children to visit historical locations in the United States and Canada. Later summers included several years of cooking for summer camp at Timber Ridge Youth Camp in Spencer, Indiana, and Little Grassy in Makanda, Illinois. Life was not all work and no play for Iva. She enjoyed the annual lyceum programs at the University, especially when the Purdue Glee Club under the direction of Al Stewart was performing. A life-long learner she enjoyed participating in the various community classes offered throughout the area including flower arranging at Barnhart’s Flower Basket, cake decorating at Lake Michigan College, guitar classes at the Berrien Springs High School and a plethora of seminars, workshops and lectures at Andrews University. Whether it was her home on Parkway or on Rose Drive the front door was always open for children, not just her own but all the neighbors as well. She always loved the sound of the front door opening and closing. She never knew who might be coming in and it was fun to see who it might be . . . it was always a delightful surprise. She was never at a loss for words with several pet phrases, “Bless your bones, . . . Leave the bathroom better than you found it, . . . Do you think it will rain? . . . and Go where God leads, we have all eternity to hang out.” Iva is survived by her sister-in-law Barbara Hainey, children Dale (Debbie) Hainey, Janet Hainey (her close friend Gerald Jasper), Evelyn Hainey, Wanda (Michael) Agee. Grandchildren Joslyn (Bud) Hainey Holtfort, Megan Hutchinson, Samantha Jo (Keith) Burns, Misty (Charles) Allen, Jessie (April) Blanton, Caleb (Jillian) Agee, Daniel (Alyse) Agee, as well as 10 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents Roy Churchill and Jennie Churchill Smith, her husband, Wilbur Hainey, her siblings Phoebe Mann, Erma Cook, Byron Churchill, Roy Churchill, and Vivian Hunt.