Imogene (Imy) M. Pence, 81, of Palm Bay, Fla., formerly of Belleville passed away on March 28 at William Childs Hospice House of Palm Bay, after a long battle with congestive heart failure and recently diagnosed with lymphoma. Imogene was born on Feb. 15, 1927 in Alpena, Michigan to Edwin and Daisy Donnan. She graduated from Alpena High School in 1944, received a teaching certificate and worked as a teacher in a one room school house. Married on June 11, 1946 to Art Pence the couple moved to Belleville in 1953.
Imogene became an election worker for Van Buren Township and in 1960 was asked to be Chairman of Government Day during Michigan week. She worked closely with the high school civics classes, electing students to take over the offices of the township for a day. In 1968, Van Buren Township offices moved from Main Street in Belleville to its current location on Tyler Road. That August, Imogene was asked to be deputy clerk. In 1972 she ran for Clerk on the Democratic ticket against Pat Cullen who ran as a Republican. Imogene lost the election but went on to spend 14 more years working at the township.
In 1971, Imogene began a battle with breast cancer, and on Sept. 23, she had a radical mastectomy. She celebrated each year of being cancer free and always made time to counsel others who faced cancer.
In 1986, Imogene retired from Van Buren Township and started a life on the road with Art. They traveled and stayed in all 48 states of the United States. Art's health made them settle down but they never stopped enjoying each other and life. Imogene always told everyone to wake up in the morning, get out of bed, and make wonderful memories to last you a lifetime.
Imogene was an active member of her church; Red Hat Society and TOPS. She traveled back to Michigan for month-long visits each summer to see family and catch up with the happenings at the township offices and all her friends. She loved seeing the changes in Van Buren Township that she so dearly loved.
Imogene was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Irene; brother, Franklin; her husband of more than 55 years, Art; and her only son, Jan.
She is survived by a sister, Shirley (Vern) Smith of Kissimmee, Fla; three daughters; Paula (Jim) Garrett of Charleston, S.C; Karen (Phil) Augustine of Palm Bay, FL; and Jill (Joe) Ferris of Manchester. She also leaves behind three grand-children; four great-grandchildren and many friends.
A celebration of Imogene's life will be at 3 p.m. April 27 at Belleville First United Methodist Church.
Those planning an expression of sympathy may consider making a donation in memory of Imogene M. Pence to: William Childs Hospice House, 381 Medplex, Palm Bay, FL 32907 or Belleville First United Methodist Church, 417 Charles Street, Belleville, MI 48111.
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