//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/017/110682/110682-life-panel.jpg

DeAnne Vining

May 12, 1943 - January 30, 2016
Vicksburg, MI

//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/017/110682/110682-01.jpg



Service

Saturday, February 6, 2016
10:00 AM EST
Valley Family Church, The Cathederal
2500 Vincent Ave.
Portage, MI 49024
Web Site

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

International Fellowship of Christians and Jews
P.O. Box 96105
Washington, DC 20090-6105
Web Site

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Heirloom Rose
407 S. Grand St.
Schoolcraft, MI 49087
(269) 679-3010
Driving Directions
Web Site

Ambati
1830 S. Westnedge
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
(269) 349-4961
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


//cdn.lifestorynet.com/fh/view-life-story-video.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/017/110682/110682-02.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/017/110682/110682-03.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/017/110682/110682-04.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/017/110682/110682-05.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/fh/download-memory-folder.jpg
Print

With a life that was focused on loving and serving others, DeAnne Vining was a blessing to everyone she met. She was a woman of strength and courage who faced whatever came her way head on. DeAnne was a nurturing mother who always provided for her family no matter what it took. After spending only a few moments with her, it was easy to see that her life was based on something different, something deeper, and that something was her unwavering faith. Generous beyond measure, she was always looking for ways she could help others while expecting nothing in return. Deeply loved, DeAnne will be forever missed.

During the first half of the 1940s, the eyes of our nation was focused overseas as WWII raged on. Countless young American servicemen and women were fighting for the preservation of our freedoms while those who remained stateside became familiar with rationing on common goods like coffee, sugar, paper, and rubber. Amidst this eventful time was the year 1943 when Amos and Isabelle (Little) Reger were pleased to announce the birth of the baby girl they named DeAnne on May 12, 1943. The second of four children in her family, she joined her older brother, Dean, and was followed by her younger sisters, Donna and Deborah in the Reger clan. DeAnne was a young girl of her generation who enjoyed things like playing board games, marbles, and jacks as she was a true competitor at heart. She also played softball and enjoyed going to the Kalamazoo County Fair. As a student DeAnne attended Comstock schools.

New and exciting changes were in store for DeAnne when she met a man named Royal Vining through her friend, Wanda Dunifin. At the time he was home on leave while serving in the Marines. With a desire to establish a life together, DeAnne and Royal were married on May 14, 1960. Together they were blessed with five beautiful daughters: Vicki, Tonya, Jennifer, Jill, and Sarah. Although they later divorced, DeAnne was always so grateful for the girls they shared.

As a mother DeAnne was second to none as her children were first and foremost. She was always there with a listening ear, and her children knew they could always count on her to be on their side no matter what. Through the life she lived, DeAnne instilled a strong work ethic within her girls, and when it came to her family she was very protective, too. She was an amazing cook, which her family greatly appreciated, and among their favorite dishes were her roasts and soups.

In addition to caring for her family, DeAnne kept busy with other things as well. She was very focused on her faith, and she was diligent in reading the Bible and praying. DeAnne wasn’t afraid to share the reason for the joy in her heart as she asked others if they knew Jesus wherever she went. She loved Israel, although she had never been there herself, and she enjoyed visiting South Haven most of all. DeAnne also built her faith by listening to praise and worship music, and part of her nightly routine included listening to Robert Morris every night before she went to sleep. She enjoyed quilting and acquired quite an extensive collection of fabric over the years. DeAnne enjoyed both movies and books, and she shared her love for reading with her girls as well. She got quite skilled in using technology, especially when it came to playing Words With Friends. In fact, DeAnne was known for nudging others if they didn’t take their turn fast enough!

All who knew DeAnne Vining would agree that she was truly beautiful on the inside and out. She was determined and strong with a competitive spirit and a fierce will to protect her family. DeAnne told the best stories, but what others appreciated about her most was her unconditional love and respect. She lived her faith, and DeAnne loved encouraging others with just the perfect words from the Bible. Life will never be the same without her here, but she leaves behind a timeless legacy that her loved ones will proudly carry on in her footsteps.

DeAnne Vining, of Vicksburg, MI, died on January 30, 2016. DeAnne’s family includes her daughters, Vicki Vining Catt and her husband David of Orlando, FL, Tonya Nielsen and her husband Bradley of Vicksburg, MI, Jennifer Decker and her fiancé Steve Snyder of Vicksburg, MI, Jill Donovan and her husband Ric of Kirkwood, MO, and Sarah Opdahl and her husband Matt of New Fairfield, CT; seventeen grandchildren, Natasha (Christopher), Nicholas (Alisa), Erica (Brian), Betsy (Jason), Lindsay (Michael), Brittany (Hans), Adam (Annie), Nathaniel (Lyndsay), Anna, Jordan, Logan, Zachary, Mariah, Liam, John Keegan, Ingrid, and Phoebe; eight great-grandchildren, Sarah, Meghan, Aiden, Adalia, Broden, Isaiah, Arya, and Nolan; brother, Dean Reger, of Bradenton; sisters, Donna Delobel, of Lawton, MI, Deborah Pettit, of Otsego, MI; and numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews along with their families. A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, February 6, 10:00 a.m., Valley Family Church, The Cathedral, 2500 Vincent Avenue, Portage, MI 49024. The family will greet friends at the church starting at 9:30 until the time of the service. Please visit DeAnne’s webpage at www.lifestorynet.com where you can sign the guestbook, share a memory and/or photo. In lieu of flowers please make donations to: International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, P.O. Box 96105, Washington, D. C. 20090-6105. The family is being assisted by the Life Story Funeral Home, 409 S. Main, Vicksburg (269-649-1697).’

//cdn.lifestorynet.com/fh/view-life-story-video.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/017/110682/110682-02.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/017/110682/110682-03.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/017/110682/110682-04.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/obituaries/017/110682/110682-05.jpg//cdn.lifestorynet.com/fh/download-memory-folder.jpg