Gerald James Kugel

Gerald James Kugel, DVM, 85, died Thursday, Dec. 6, 2018, at the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor. He resided in Berrien Springs for the past two years after moving from Sacramento, Calif., where he lived for 22 years.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 12, at St. Gabriel Catholic Church in Berrien Springs. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, with military rites by the Baroda American Legion Post 345. Friends may visit from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, at Allred Funeral Home, Berrien Springs, and share memories online at www.allredfuneralhome.com. Memorials may be made to Berrien County Youth Fair or St. Gabriel Catholic Church.

Gerald was born Sept. 3, 1933, in Dowagiac, the son of Grover and Margaret (Brodigan) Kugel. He had a Master’s degree in Public Health, as well as Business, and he earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Michigan State University. He served his country for 30 years as a veterinarian with the U.S. Army, retiring with the rank of Colonel. He was one of the first veterinarians to serve in the Vietnam conflict.

He is survived by his wife, Joan (Masterson), whom he married Sept. 1, 1983, in El Paso, Tex.; a brother, David (Florine) Kugel of Berrien Springs; two sisters, Rosemary Burch and Kathryn (Nick) Tomasi, both of Otsego; seven nieces and nephews; and 16 great-nieces and great-nephews.