NellieAnn VanHaaften age 78 of Manistee, Michigan died Saturday morning, April 8, 2017 at Munson Health Care Manistee Hospital. She was born on September 2, 1938 in Kalamazoo, Michigan and was the daughter of the late Dr. Robert J. and Katherine (Gall) Armstrong. She was a graduate of Kalamazoo Central High School with the class of 1956. She received the Outstanding High School Camper Award in 1954 at the National Music Camp in Interlochen, Michigan. NellieAnn received her Bachelor of Science Degrees in Elementary Education and Art Education in 1960 from Western Michigan University. She married John Allen VanHaaften in Kalamazoo, Michigan on August 30, 1958. She later married Howard Morlan Bush on May 28, 1977 in Manistee, Michigan. Howard preceded her in death on March 13, 1991. NellieAnn was then reunited with John Allen VanHaaften in marriage on September 23, 2006 in Brighton, Michigan. During her working career she had been employed with the Brighton Area Schools as both an Arts &Crafts Teacher, and assistant in the Media Center, with the Michigan Dyslexia Institute as a tutor, and as an election worker in both Saginaw and Mason counties. NellieAnn was a devoted grandmother who enjoyed getting together and spending time with her family. She also found time to be a researcher for the Atlas of Breeding Birds of Michigan as well as spending time on her hobbies of scrapbooking, gardening, handcrafts and nature photography. She attended the Providence Presbyterian Church in Manistee, MI, and was a charter member of the Livingston County Arts and Crafts Association, a Board Member of Community Concerts in Saginaw, the Saginaw Choral Society and Hartland Michigan Choral Society, and a member of the Little Manistee Watershed Conservation Council.

She is survived by her husband; John Allen VanHaaften of Manistee, her daughter and son in-law; Diane and Ken Hill of Saginaw, MI, her son and daughter in-law; Garret and Lisa VanHaaften of Howell, MI, two step-sons and daughters in-law; Michael and Kathy Bush of Sarasota, Florida and Robert and Janie Bush of Ovilla, Texas, six grandchildren; Isabella VanHaaften, Claudia VanHaaften, Chloe Hill, Daphne Hill, Mackenzie (Bush) and Logan Hanes, Logan and Haylie Bush, and one great granddaughter, Adeline Hanes. Many cherished nieces and nephews also survive her.

She was also preceded in death by two sisters; Mary Jane Armstrong and Kathleen (Armstrong) Hauke.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 15, 2017 at 4:00 PM at the Herbert Funeral Home in Manistee with Reverend Michael Kooy officiating. Burial will take place at the Mt. Ever Rest Memorial Park – South in Kalamazoo, Michigan at a later date. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Saturday afternoon two hours prior to NellieAnn's funeral service at 4:00 PM.