Ludmila Ivens

Ludmila "Liddy" Ivens, born August 7, 1932, in Kalamazoo, MI, daughter of Anna (Poulick) and Frank Ptacek passed away peacefully on April 21, 2025. As a child, she grew up playing in the downtown Kalamazoo area and graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School in 1950. She met the love of her life, Alvin (Knobby) Ivens, while he was working as an ice cream peddler. Liddy and Alvin married in 1953 and eventually settled in Portage on Angling Road. She was so proud of the home they built together. They were blessed with four children: Daniel (1956), Debra (1957), David (1959) and Dale (1961). In the seventies, Alvin and Liddy purchased a cottage on Pretty Lake in Texas Corners, where they spent many years enjoying the lake. She especially loved frying up the fresh caught bluegills that Alvin would catch for her there. Liddy loved to draw and was a lovely self-taught artist in her own right. Liddy worked at the UpJohn Company as a call-in, having summers off in those days. She made lifelong friendships with her co-workers. As a homemaker, Liddy was skilled in sewing, knitting, and crocheting, making many treasured items for friends and family throughout her life. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, sitting on her swing outside; she wrote and received endless greeting cards throughout her life and saved each one! Liddy loved playing bunko with her call-in gals and "tunk". Liddy and Alvin deeply loved all of the neighbors they had on Angling Road over the years as many of them became like family. She was always proud of her Czechoslovakian heritage as her mother, Anna, was an immigrant leaving her homeland at the age of eighteen. Liddy and Alvin had a love for travel which included several cruises and international destinations. They also enjoyed going on bus trips to Detroit to watch the Tigers play ball. She was a devout Catholic and attended St. Monica Catholic Church most of her adult life. Liddy was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin Ivens (2016), her parents, Frank and Anna Ptacek; her siblings Joseph (Jean) Ptacek, John (Sharon) Ptacek; infant sister, Anna; grandson Eric Allen; sister-in-law: Cissy (Robert) DeHaan and brothers-in-law: Thomas (Ardis) Ivens, Elmer (Mattie) Ivens. She is survived by her brother, Jerry (Jean) Ptacek; her sister-in-law, Ellen Havens; her children: Daniel (Karen) Ivens, Debbie (Douglas) Allen, David (Renee) Ivens, Dale (Jan) Ivens; grandchildren: DJ (Maureen) Ivens, Lauren (Dorian) Wilson, Lindsay (Justin) Carter, Josh (Jennifer) Ivens, Stacy (Aaron) French, Jesse (Haley) Ivens, Troy Allen; great-grandchildren: Emily, Trent, Dillon, Elijah, Ruth, Luke, Chase, Sadie, and one more on the way; along with numerous nieces and nephews. Her family is grateful for the care received from Bronson Lakeview Hospital staff and for the loving and extraordinary care provided to her by all staff members of the Vineyard Assisted Living in Texas Corners. We wanted to specifically thank the following individuals from the Vineyard for their love and compassion towards Liddy and the rest of her family: Chef Cary, Sous Chef Sophie, Jes, Joe, Katie, Lena, Monica, Seth and the entire Ganton family, Teresa as well as Liddy's special caregivers: Abby, April, Ashley, Arieonna, Ariyanna, Brittany, Bri, Brianna, Ciera, Deanna, Dani, Danielle, Gracie, Helen, Jes, Kayla, Kim, Lindsay, Mackenzie, Michelle, Moriah, Riley, Teanna, and Tracey. A visitation will take place at Joldersma & Klein Funeral Home on Friday, May 2, 2025, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm, with a Rosary Service beginning at 7:00 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial to honor her life will be held at St. Monica Catholic Church, 4408 S. Westnedge Ave. Kalamazoo, MI 49008, on Saturday, May 3, 2025, beginning at 11:00 am. In lieu of memorial donations, Liddy's wish is to have people show a random act of kindness towards others. Family and friends may share a condolence message online at www.joldersma-klein.com.