Kent B. Baumkel

Baumkel, Kent B. nee Buesser, age 60 of Plymouth, tragically passed away from a sudden heart attack on Sunday, January 4, 2015. Beloved wife of the late Jan Baumkel. She is survived by her mother Carolyn Pickle, stepfather Bill Bacon, father Tony Buesser, Sr., and stepmother Dolores Buesser. Loving sister of Andy Buesser, and the late Tony. Dear aunt of Maris, and Laurel. Also leaves numerous cousins and relatives. Kent was raised in Detroit's Lafayette Park along with her younger twin brothers, Tony and Andy , by her parents Carolyn Pickle and Anthony C Buesser. She attended Chrysler Elementary, Liggett and Cass Technical High Schools from which she graduated in 1973. Later in life she earned a Bachelor of Arts with distinction in psychology from the University of Michigan. In 1978 she married Jan A. Baumkel and later moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan with him where they set up and ran an alternative family medicine practice together. Kent's pioneering work with the Ann Arbor mayor’s task force on increasing safety for women along with her undying commitment to crisis counseling and survivor advocacy helped change the lives of many. Selfless and affectionate, Kent put her energetic compassion into action and helped everyone with whom she shared these gifts. Cremation has taken place and because of her sudden farewell to us all and her deep love of gardening we will schedule a memorial celebration of her life for this coming spring or summer. A Memorial Service will be held on August 15, 2015 @ 1 PM at the public beach on Russell Island near Algonac, MI. The family is asking that those in attendance please bring a dish to pass and a story to tell. The ferry's return times are 3:30 PM and 5:30 PM same day. Charitable contributions in her memory may be made to a tribute fund for women's studies at the University of Michigan, which will be found online in the next few days at leadersandbest.umich.edu. Or, you may mail a check to University of Michigan Office of University Development, 3003 S. State St., Ste 8000, Ann Arbor, MI 48109. Make check payable to: Regents of U of M, memo line of check: In memory of Kent B. Baumkel. To share memories, please use the Share a Memory tab on this web page.

Kent B. Baumkel

December 15, 1954 - January 4, 2015