Mary Kullberg

Mary Elizabeth Kullberg, 85, of Saline, Mich., joined her lord, Jesus Christ, Thursday, May 20, 2010, surrounded by her family at home.

She was formerly of Flint, Mich., and Cape Girardeau.

She was born Aug. 11, 1924, in Flint, daughter of Cloie Gillies and Homer Roswell Whitney. She and Russell Gordon Kullberg were married March 3, 1945, in Flint.

Mary graduated from Flint Central High School, Flint Community College, and the University of Michigan at Flint.

She taught elementary school in the Flint public schools until she and her family moved to East Lansing, Mich., in 1962. After Russell earned a doctorate at MSU, Mary, Russell, and their two daughters moved to Cape Girardeau in 1965.

Mary authored two books for children, "You Can Fly, Why Can't I?" and "Bill's Great Trick." More recently, she authored two collections, "Wood-Notes Wild; Walking with Thoreau" and "Morning Mist; Thoreau and Basho Through the Seasons." Mary published numerous articles and poems for Ranger Rick magazine and Highlights for Children magazine.

Mary was devoted to her husband and family, putting their needs ahead of her own. Mary's other loves and interests included traveling and camping with her family, learning about and enjoying nature, birdwatching and identification, singing and listening to classical music, and the craft of arranging flowers.

As a charter member of St. Mark Lutheran Church in Cape Girardeau, Mary was active in the church, teaching Sunday school, serving as Sunday school superintendent and singing in the choir.

After moving to Saline, Mary became a member of Holy Faith Church. Mary dearly loved her husband of 60 years, Russell, who preceded her in death Nov. 23, 2005. Mary's sister, Elaine (Ken) Dimond, also preceded her in death.

Mary is survived by two daughters, Kristine (Wayne) Determan and Gayle (Willard) Zirk of Saline; five grandchildren, Wendy (Aaron) McGranahan and Paul (April) Determan, Christopher (Kristen) Zirk, Carl (Rachel) Zirk, Calvin Zirk; six great-grandchildren, Olivia, Kandra and Kara McGranahan, Henry Determan, Ava and Paige Zirk; and a sister, Beverly (Joe) Silva of California.

The family will receive friends from noon to service time Monday at Holy Faith Church in Saline.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Monday at the church, with Ian Reed Twiss officiating. Interment will be in Sunset Hills Cemetery in Flint.

Memorials may be made to St. Mark Lutheran Church, 1900 Cape La Croix Road, Cape Girardeau, MO, 63701, or to Holy Faith Church, 6299 Saline-Ann Arbor Road, Saline, MI 48176.

Arrangements entrusted to Robison-Bahnmiller Funeral Home in Saline.

To sign Mary's guest book or to leave a memory, visit obits.mlive.com/obituaries/annarbor/ or for more information, please visit www.rbfhsaline.com.