Pamela Jean Kish

July 2, 1944 - June 27, 2018

Pamela Jean Kish (nee Vasu), 73, of Traverse City, Michigan, formerly of Mattawan, Michigan and Lorain, Ohio, was holding hands with her family when she peacefully passed away on June 27, 2018 in Traverse City. Born on July 2, 1944 in Pontiac, Michigan, Pam grew up and spent much of her young adult life in Lorain, Ohio, where she graduated from Admiral King High School and met Richard D. “Rick” Kish. They married in 1968 and had one son, Gregory. Pam and her family later moved to Michigan, where she enjoyed gardening, friends, and spending time on and near the water. There, she poured her energies into managing a household and raising Greg. Later in life, Pam moved to Traverse City near Greg’s family, and both she and they enjoyed having her become a part of their everyday lives. They will forever remember the lengths to which their Mom and Grammie would go to show them she loved them, including the fun of a day at the beach or museum, a cookout, a carefully selected gift, chicken soup on a grandchild’s sick day, or a sleepover at Grammie’s house. Pam was a loving, loyal, and devoted person. She worked at the Mattawan Schools for years where she helped special needs students and those needing extra help with reading; she also worked in the school libraries. As a mother and grandmother, she attended and volunteered at soccer and basketball games, band and choir concerts, and awards events. When friends or family were sick or in crisis, Pam helped by traveling to visit, providing assistance and a reassuring word, and by doing whatever else she could. Beyond simply words, Pam showed up and made a difference. Every time, without fail, she was there. We could all count on her to be there for us when we needed her, and for that we are forever grateful. We already miss her smile, her laugh, and her sense of humor; she was fun to be around. Pam was preceded in death by her husband, Richard D. Kish, mother, Millicent J. Vasu (nee Hofmeister), father, Romy N. Vasu, stepmother Alvira Raesler, special cousin and friend Ellen Vasu, and lifelong friend Patricia Nau. She is survived and deeply missed by her son, Gregory (Kristen) Kish of Lake Ann, Michigan, grandchildren, Amelia and David Kish, sister-in-law, Marlene A. (Mark) Mroz, nephews Bret J. (Anita) Kacher and Todd D. (Caitlin) Kacher, of Amherst, Ohio, great nephew and great nieces Noah Cruz, Leah Kacher, and Athena Kacher, lifelong friends Marguerite Daidone, Linda Fyre George, and Corinne “Corky” Carrico, and by her Yorkie, Bella. We will gather at two celebrations of Pam’s life, the first on Saturday, July 21, 2018 at 5PM, with visitation starting at 4PM, at Sunset Terrace at Lakeview Park, 1800 West Erie Avenue, Lorain, Ohio 44052 and the second on Saturday, July 28, 2018 at 11 AM, with visitation starting at 10 AM, in the garden of the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home, 305 Sixth Street, Traverse City, Michigan 49684. Contributions in Pam’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Please feel free to share your thoughts and memories with Pam’s family at her tribute page at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com. The family is being cared for by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.