Obituaries

Former Hopkins football coach Steve Dragoo dies at 73

Former Hopphoto_20150125_WM0029166_0_steven_d_dragoo_waving_goodbye_20150125kins High School assistant varsity football coach Steve Dragoo died Sunday in Kalamazoo. Steven David Dragoo of Benzonia was 73.

Dragoo was assistant varsity football coach at Hopkins in the fall of 1973 under Jim Newell and then left the following year to become head varsity coach at Johannesburg-Lewiston.

Born in Benzonia to Gaylord and Thelma (Mast) Dragoo, he lived in Benzie County, Michigan, though he had resided and worked in the Grand Rapids area, Battle Creek, Hopkins, Johannesburg and Kalamazoo. Steve was a graduate of WMU, former teacher and welder.

He was a loving father of: Katrina (Jim) Slager of Galesburg,; Steven Brian (Jenny) Dragoo of Marshall,; Ronda Amaya of Cape Coral, FL and Maiya (Tim) Christensen of Alva FL. He is also survived by his sister, Charlotte (Mike) Roth and her husband Mike, of Midland, and his brother Norman Dragoo and wife Ruth of Caledonia, ex-wife Gayle Locke of North Fort Myers, FL; as well as grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at the Bennett-Barz Funeral Home, 1417 US 31 (Beulah Highway) Beulah, Michigan 49617. Flowers may be sent to Bennett-Barz or a memorial gift may be made in Steven’s name to Maiya Christensen (to fund her ongoing battle with cancer). Memorial gifts may be received during the visitation at Bennett-Barz or mailed to 16931 River Estates Ct., Alva FL 33920.

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