Where Food, Drinks & Stories Are Shared
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Alice Markus

April 29, 1947 - September 24, 2022
Kalamazoo, MI

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Life Story Visitation

Thursday, September 29, 2022
2:00 PM EDT
Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes
Kalamazoo Location
6080 Stadium Drive
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 375-2900
Driving Directions

Life Story Service

Thursday, September 29, 2022
3:00 PM EDT
Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes
Kalamazoo Location
6080 Stadium Drive
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 375-2900

A reception will follow in the Life Story Center.

Driving Directions

Contributions


At the family's request memorial contributions are to be made to those listed below. Please forward payment directly to the memorial of your choice.

First Day Shoe Fund
5416 Meredith
Portage, MI 49002
Web Site

Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kalamazoo
1000 Paterson Street
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Web Site

Toys for Tots
Web Site

Flowers


Below is the contact information for a florist recommended by the funeral home.

Ambati
1830 S. Westnedge
Kalamazoo, MI 49008
(269) 349-4961
Driving Directions
Web Site

Taylor's Florist and Gifts
215 E. Michigan Ave.
Paw Paw, MI 49079
(269) 657-6256
Driving Directions
Web Site

Life Story / Obituary


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With a beautiful smile and a whole heart, Alice Jo Markus lived a life rich in family and friends. Alice greeted each day as a gift and every person as a friend. She effortlessly made people feel at ease, intuitively knowing just what they needed. She listened to others as though they were the most interesting person in the world and generously offered her compassion and support. For those who were blessed to know her, life's hardships were softened, and its joys increased by sharing them with Alice. A devoted mother, grandmother, and friend, Alice will long be remembered and so very missed.

1947 proved a year of continued celebration of the nation's momentous victory in World War II. America's heroes eagerly returned home to a country filled with renewed spirit and hope, ready to claim their share of the American Dream, which they fought so proudly for overseas. As American prosperity grew like no time in our history and hope sprang eternal, the cause for celebration grew even greater for John and Myrtle (Russell) Markus as they welcomed their daughter Alice Jo on April 29th in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

A proud member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians, Alice Jo was named after her Grandma and Grandpa Markus. She always remembered fond childhood memories of times spent with her grandparents at their home and shopping with her grandmother. Strong family values and connections proved the firm foundation upon which Alice consciously built the rest of her life.

A graduate of Grand Rapids South High School, Alice never struggled to make friends. Her outgoing personality and generous heart drew people to her and led to many special friendships. She was active with the Jaycees, becoming president of the local chapter and Treasure of the Sate. As an adult, she settled in Schoolcraft, Michigan, where she worked as a home daycare provider for many years. Children were her world, and many, many kids and their families were lovingly cared for by Aunt Alice over the years. She also worked at Vicksburg Chrysler Jeep for a time, where she made many more friends. However, most will remember Alice for the 20+ years working at Buds Bar in Schoolcraft where her mom worked as a cook.

For all who were lucky to know her, it was abundantly clear that Alice's greatest joy was her family. She married a few times, and by far, the best thing she got out of that was her two daughters, Antoinette and Tasha. When Tasha gave her two granddaughters, Blaikley and Rylee instantly became her world. Any moment shared with her family was a treasure Alice long cherished.

One of Alice's favorite stories to share was when she attended Elvis's concert at Wings Stadium in Kalamazoo on April 26, 1977. She waited for three days outside in the snow to be the second person in line to buy tickets, but to her dismay, the first person in line bought the entire front row. Alice attended the concert (from the second row) with her ten year old daughter, Antoinette. During the concert, Alice had her hand on stage and Elvis unknowingly stepped on and squashed her ring into her hand. When Elvis realized, he felt so bad that he bent down to kiss Alice's hand and put his scarf around her. Antoinette wore the scarf to school the next day.

With a ready "please and thank you," Alice enjoyed many things. She loved dolls, stuffed animals, and especially shopping and holidays. She relished decorating for every holiday and was well known for her signature phrase, "I'm not just another pretty face!" She loved nothing more than family get-togethers and going out to eat with those she loved. Though she wasn't the greatest cook, she definitely had some favorites people loved and asked her to make whenever there was a dish to be passed. Everybody loved her macaroni salad except for her daughter Antoinette.

Without a doubt, the world feels significantly less certain in the absence of Alice's love and care. May we find much comfort in our many treasured memories and in carrying her legacy forward. While her days with us were far too few, in every moment, Alice proved a powerful role model for how to live wholeheartedly. As we choose to live the same way, we celebrate the many ways she touched, moved, and inspired us. In this way, we keep her beautiful spirit alive and blessing others as she so blessed each of us.

Alice Jo Markus of Schoolcraft, MI, passed away in the comfort of her home on Saturday, September 24, 2022, at the age of 75. She is survived by two daughters, Antoinette Rivera of Tampa, Florida, and Tasha (Christian) Werner of Butler, of Pennsylvania; two granddaughters, Blaikley Thompson of Asheville, North Carolina, and Rylee Werner Butler, of Pennsylvania. One sister and one brother, RaeAnn (Ronald) Andrews, of Cadillac, Michigan, and John (Gayle) Markus, of Cedar Springs, Michigan; several nieces and nephews, and many cousins. Alice Jo was preceded in death by one sister, Carol Schmid-Snyder, and one brother Robert Markus.

Life Story Services will be held on at 3 pm on Thursday, September 29, 2022, at the Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service and immediately following at a reception in the Life Story Center. Visit Alice's webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com to archive favorite memories and photos and sign her guestbook. Memorial contributions may be made to The First Day Shoe Fund, Boys & Girls Club of Kalamazoo, or Toys for Tots.

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