WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
Jean E. Schwartz, age 81, of Sturgis, passed away early Saturday morning, June 9, 2012, at Sturgis Hospital in Sturgis.
She was born April 12, 1931, in Kalamazoo, a daughter of Floyd Eugene and Margaret Louise (Boekeloo) Short.
Mrs. Schwartz had resided in Sturgis since the age of 15, coming from Kalamazoo.
She first married to James Palmer on April 12, 1955, in Sturgis. This marriage ended in divorce.
On Aug. 25, 1979, she married Reuban “Pat” Schwartz in Sturgis. He died Oct. 27, 2004.
Most of her working life was with the JCPenney store in Sturgis and she had also worked at Transogram in Sturgis.
She enjoyed traveling and camping along the shores of the Great Lakes to visit lighthouses.
She is survived by three sons, Monty (Connie) Jones of Fort Wayne, Ind., and David (Sherrie) Jones and Rick (Michelle) Palmer, both of Sturgis; eight grandchildren, Melody, Christina, Melanie, Lacey, James, Justina, Scott and Tammy; 17 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild on the way, two stepdaughters, Diana R. (Roger V.) Kamphues of Sturgis and Sandra K. (Lyle W. “Tyke”) Rutter of Limestone; two stepgrandchildren, Luke and Skip; a sister-in-law, Betty Short of Plainwell; and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; a daughter-in-law, Sandy Jones; and a brother-in-law, Jack Short.
The family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday at Hackman Family Funeral Homes — Hackman Chapel, 114 S. Nottawa St., Sturgis.
Funeral services celebrating the life of Jean Schwartz will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Mr. Larry Wallman will officiate. A graveside committal will follow the service at Oak Lawn Cemetery in Sturgis.
The family suggests those wishing to make a memorial donation in Mrs. Schwartz’s memory consider Thurston Woods Village, 307 N. Franks Ave., Sturgis, MI 49091; or the American Cancer Society, 1400 W. Milham, Kalamazoo, MI 49024.
