Mildred “Mickey” Ethel (Banker) Kallman

Mildred “Mickey” Ethel (Banker) Kallman, age 91, loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, went to be with her Lord and Savior on October 17, 2016.  She was born on January 11, 1925, in Troy, New York, to Frank and Vivian (Morse) Banker.

Surviving are her daughter, Mary (Douglas) Parviainen of Sault Ste. Marie, MI; sons, Theodore (Claudia) Kallman of Wyoming, MI, David (Beth) Kallman of Lansing, MI, Daniel (Deborah, deceased) Kallman of Wyoming, MI, and Andrew (Gunilla) Kallman of Jacobstad, Finland; 14 grandchildren and their spouses; and 30 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, James T. Kallman (married 53 years); her son, Stephen; and all her brothers and sisters.

Mickey was a graduate of Green Mountain College with an Associate Degree and the University of Michigan with a B.S. Degree in Education.  She was very active in many community organizations over the years and in her husband’s political career in which he was elected six times for various judicial offices in Ingham County. She played the cello beautifully and would fill in on occasion for the Lansing Symphony and played often at South Church. She was a long-time member of South Church in Lansing, as well as, a period of time at Williamston First Baptist Church, Okemos Baptist Church, and Faith Bible Church.

She taught Sunday School for years and was a great prayer warrior for her family, friends and others. She served on the Christian Education Council at South Church and in many other ways at church over the years. She was a faithful servant who loved God and loved others. She was the first woman lab researcher in metallurgy hired by the General Electric Corporation in 1946. She was the first president and organizer of the Michigan Chapter of Concerned Women for America, the largest national women’s organization in America. She was the producer and director of the local television program “You and the Law” which ran for a number of years and for which she received many director awards. She was a supporter and frequent volunteer at the Lansing City Rescue Mission.  She was a long-time member of Child Evangelism Fellowship and taught Good News Clubs in homes, county fairs and local schools for almost 60 years.

A celebration of Mickey’s life will be held on Monday, November 7, 2016, at 4:00 p.m. at South Church, 5250 Cornerstone Drive, Lansing, MI, with the Rev. Donald Denyes, senior pastor, and Rev. Douglas Phillips, executive pastor, officiating. The family will receive friends at South Church, prior to the service, from 3:00-3:45 p.m.  They will also enjoy a time of fellowship, immediately following the service, at a meal in Mickey’s honor. Interment will be at Summit Cemetery, Williamstown Township, MI.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Mickey’s memory may be made to Child Evangelism Fellowship or to the Mission Fund at South Church.  The family is graciously being served by the Matthysse Kuiper DeGraaf Funeral Home, 4145 Chicago Drive SW, Grandville, MI.