This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Taffee, Spyker, Reece, Dopke, Kastner, Gadnis, Vergara Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/QFB.2ACE/797 Message Board Post: TAFFEE, John M. Of Three Rivers Born December 9, 1943 in Hastings, MI, Three Rivers businessman John M. Taffee died at Three Rivers Area Hospital early Sunday morning, December 15, 2002. Mr. Taffee was a long time Three Rivers area insurance agent with Michigan Mutual Insurance Co., Glenn Rifenberg & Assoc., and most recently Cascade Insurance Agency of Grand Rapids. His golden retriever/receptionist "Taffy" was always at the office door to greet friends and customers. Mr. Taffee was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Three Rivers. He was also a past member of the Three Rivers Rotary Club and a Charter member of the Three Rivers Jaycees and B.P.O.E. (Elks) #1248. Additionally, Mr. Taffee served his community as a member of the Three Rivers Community School Board of Education and the Authority Board of the Three Rivers Area Hospital. John was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying golf, but most of all fishing. Sometimes known as "Den Mother," John would take his son and friends on annual fishi! ng excursions to favorite spots near Traverse City and Little Bay De Noc in the Upper Peninsula. These trips were always successful whether the fish catch was good or not. Planning these trips always included a freshly published copy of Mumbles Meandering Muskie Mission. This newsletter preserved the high and low points of the excursions and many of his insights. John was an entertaining person to be around. His quips, stories, jokes, and point-of-view always encouraged discussion, argument and a great deal of laughter for him and those around him. His Irish pride and story telling gifts were well known to the community. On January 8, 1966 John married his high school sweetheart, Diane Spyker, of Hastings. He attended Central Michigan University and Western Michigan University. He is survived by his wife; one son, Bryan and wife, Jenny (Reece); daughter, Katie Taffee-Dopke; and grandchildren, Jordan and Carson Taffee and Connor Dopke. Also surviving John are his mother, Lill! ian of Hastings; brother, Steven (Gloria) Taffee of Menlo Park, CA; sister-in-law, Denis (Jim) Kastner of Centreville, MI; nieces, Sarah Taffee, Carly Gadnis-Vergara and Adam Gadnis. John was preceded in death by his father, Donald Taffee; and brother, Patrick Taffee. No visitation is planned. A guest book will be available at the Hohner Funeral Home, Three Rivers. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated at the Immaculate Conception Church in Three Rivers on Friday, December 20th at 11:00 a.m. A reception will be held following the funeral mass in the church social room. Memorials may be made to the St. Joseph County Animal Rescue Fund (ARF) Published in the Kalamazoo Gazette on 12/17/2002. (posted by a volunteer-no family connection)