Wayne D. Shugars Obituary

A funeral service will be held on Thursday January 22, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Joldersma & Klein Funeral Home, 917 S. Burdick St., Kalamazoo. Friends may call on the family one hour prior to the service beginning at 10:00 a.m. Wayne will be laid to rest at Ft. Custer National Cemetery with full military honors. Contributions in his memory may be made to Kalamazoo Gospel Ministries, in c/o the funeral home.

Age 94 of Kalamazoo passed away Tuesday, January 13, 2026. Wayne was born in Kalamazoo on February 7, 1931, the son of Lester and Mary (Doane) Shugars. On June 13, 1954, he married Margie A. Smith who preceded him in death in 2017. Wayne proudly served his nation in the United States Army. He was the previous owner of Shugars Heating and Sheet Metal Company Inc. He was a charter member of the Portage AMBUCS, a member of the Portage Rotary, Portage Moose and the VFW. He was also a member at Grace Harbor Church. Wayne was an avid sports and outdoorsman. He enjoyed golf, bowling, hunting and fishing. Wayne was the longest season ticket holder for Western Michigan University Sports. He was also a great gardener. He loved growing fresh vegetables which he often donated to the Kalamazoo Gospel Mission. Wayne enjoyed good health right up to the end. He liked to work and keep active. Every Friday he would take his great-grandchildren to Culvers, memories they will carry with them forever. Wayne is survived by a son, Michael (Ramona) Shugars; grandchildren, Christina (Shawn) Matos and Samantha (Travis) Smith; great-grandchildren, Devin Matos, Bristol Smith, Espy Smith and Anya Smith; sister, Ruth Olmsted; sister-in-law, Jan Shugars; nieces and nephews; and countless friends. Besides his wife, Wayne was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Lawrence (Barb) Shugars, John (Donna) Shugars, Glen Shugars; brother-in-law Richard Olmsted.