Iilene Akerly

Went to be with her Lord Friday, April 28, 2017 at Meadow Woods Nursing Home. Iilene was born October 11, 1924 in Cheshire Township, the daughter of Karl and Fern (Hammer) Ferris. She was a 1942 graduate of Bloomingdale High School. On January 18, 1943 she married Ryar Baker. She resided in Kalamazoo where she worked while her husband served in the Army. In 1960 Iilene married Walter (Bill) Akerly and they lived in Bangor. In 1970 they took the summer and traveled around the United States. Iilene worked for Adams Electronics in Bangor where she served as a foreman. For many years she worked at Montgomery Wards in Kalamazoo until the store closed where she served as the manager of the jewelry department. She loved crocheting, knitting, sewing, reading and loved to bowl. She played on Bowling teams in Bangor and Kalamazoo for many years. She also loved the Detroit Tigers and would never miss a game. Living in many different places around Michigan she spent the most of her years in Kalamazoo before moving to Allegan in August of 2005 to be closer to her daughters and grandchildren. She is survived by her son Pastor Albert (Mary) Baker of South Bend, IN,; daughter Pearl (Bill) Helmboldt of Allegan; a sister Winfried Miller of Holland; sister in law Jeannet Ferris of Allegan; 11 grandchildren; 39 great grandchildren; 8 great great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, daughter Ryna Jacobs, sisters, Fern Ferris, Wanda Ferris, Florence (Ferris) Morris and Virginia Liens, brother Karl Ferris, brother in law Clayton Morris, brother in law Don Miller. The family will meet friends on Tuesday, May 2nd from 11 AM until time of funeral services at 1 PM at the Bloomingdale Chapel, D. L. Miller Funeral Home, www.dlmillerfuneralhome.com, Pastor Alan Carson officiating. Interment will follow in Lindsley Cemetery. The family suggests memorial contributions be made to Meadow Woods Nursing Home of Bloomingdale.