Agnes Hughes

Agnes Jane (Hines) Hughes passed away in her home on April 26, 2025, at the age of 96. She was born in West Salem, Ohio on April 1, 1929. Her parents were Miles Edmund Hines and Ruth Agnes (Kissane) Hines and she was the youngest of three children. She graduated from Homer High School near Homerville, Ohio in 1947.

Agnes lived in Kalamazoo since 1967. She worked in the English Department at Western Michigan University, and later worked for the city of Kalamazoo, where she became the Director of Human Resources and stayed in that position until her retirement at age 65.

Agnes loved the arts and was an avid painter and exhibited in local galleries. She and her husband, Gunther Fonken, who preceded her in death in 2014, were supporters of classical music in the Kalamazoo area.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother J. A. Hines and sister Metta Virginia (Hines) Martin, and three husbands. She is survived by her beloved son, Kevin Hughes (Jeanne Weber) of Pennsylvania, and his two sons, Jackson and Gabriel. Also, her beloved stepchildren, Martha (Ed) Castillo, of Wisconsin, and their children, Zachary and Sarah; Emily Fonken (Mike Roberts) of Kansas; and Peter Fonken (Cristin DeVine) of California.

There will be a celebration of her life at a later date. If you wish to honor her memory, donations may be made to Loaves and Fishes, Ministry with Community, Planned Parenthood, or the Kalamazoo Institute of Art, all in Kalamazoo.