Peggy Rose Arnsman, former Hopkins High School librarian, community activist and girls’ basketball coach, died Sunday, Dec. 1. She was 87.
Born on March 31, 1937, she and her husband, Lee Dale “Pete” Arnsman, lived at 337 Elm St. near the high school for more than 60 years. She and her husband were next door neighbors before they were married.
She was born in Bowling Green, Ohio, on April 3, 1937, to her late parents Richard and Alice (Rose) Thompson. Peggy grew up in Hopkins, attended Western Michigan University achieving a master’s degree in library science. She worked faithfully at Hopkins Public School as the librarian for 23 years.
The Arnsmans opened a community center in downtown Hopkins in the early 1980s and they sponsored a scholarship in the memory of their son, Mark, who died in a car crash in 1975.
As part of a project for the Then & Now Historical & Genealogical Society of Eastern Allegan County, Arnsman researched one-room schoolhouses in Hopkins Township.
Townbroadcast editor David T. Young wrote in a tribute upon Pete’s death in February 2023, “Pete and Peggy Rose are two extremely valuable sources for local history. When these two Hopkins stalwarts pass on, a lot of precious local history and community service will pass with them.”She was preceded in death by her son, Mark Arnsman; daughter-in-law, Ann Marie Arnsman; siblings Jerry Thompson, Hannah Pogodzinski, Richard Paul Thompson II (Junior); great-grand daughter Bryanna Rose Stone.
She is survived by her children, Melanie (John) Richards, Melvin Arnsman and Marcia Arnsman-Stone; siblings Joan (Bill) Riksen, Marjory (Ike) Smith, Kay Ann (Richard) Petterson, Denise L. Thompson; and grandchildren, Harley Stone, Jasmine Stone, Amanda Rose (Devin) Weber, Kimberly Kompier, Kevin Stone, Eric Arnsman, Jody Richards and Bill Richards.
Peggy’s evening visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m.Thursday, Dec. 5, at Gorden Funeral Residence, Hopkins Chapel. Her funeral will be at Gorden Funeral Residence at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 6, with an hour visitation beforehand.
A graveside service will follow at Maplewood Cemetery. Luncheon will follow,
