A celebration of life was held on May 2 for Dean Margaret Hauck, owner of Michigan News Agency in Kalamazoo, Mich. WOOD-TV reported that dozens of people packed the store to celebrate and remember Hauck, who died in February. During the days after her death, "the bookstore became the site of a makeshift memorial. The store opened its doors again Friday afternoon, inviting customers and community members to take part in food and remembering the local figure."
Hauck's family said her father owned the store back in 1947, and as a child, she helped out, eventually taking over the store's operation in 1988. "For more than seven decades, the bookstore cemented its legacy as a downtown Kalamazoo staple," WOOD TV noted.
Sarah Smith, Hauck's youngest daughter, remembered her as a "force of nature" who was well known in the community and recognized every customer who came in: "She was definitely a community figure and it's been great to see everybody in here keep those memories of her. It's so neat, you know? From the people who were coming in forever, the people coming in for their newspaper, it's really nice. And then the kids. I got to meet one of the kids she met. She loved kids and dogs. We have the doggie treats up there for any dogs that come in."
Hauck's family said that in her memory donations can be made to two organizations Hauck strongly supported: the Kalamazoo Public Library and the Greater Arts Council.