Where Food, Drinks & Stories Are Shared
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Marcia Schubert

April 22, 1938 - May 21, 2022
Lawton, MI

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Life Story Visitation

Saturday, May 28, 2022
10:00 AM to 11:00 AM EDT
Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes
Kalamazoo Location
6080 Stadium Drive
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 375-2900
Driving Directions

Life Story Services

Saturday, May 28, 2022
11:00 AM EDT
Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes
Kalamazoo Location
6080 Stadium Drive
Kalamazoo, MI 49009
(269) 375-2900
Driving Directions

CELEBRATION OF LIFE GATHERING

Saturday, June 18, 2022
1:00 PM EDT
Pia's Ristorante Italiano
21142 Ecorse Rd.
Taylor, MI 48180
(313) 383-1309
Map
Web Site

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.

Alzheimer's Association - Michigan Great Lakes Chapter
200 Turwill Ln Suite 6
Kalamazoo, MI 49006
(269) 342-1482
Driving Directions
Web Site

Flowers


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

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

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

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

Life Story / Obituary


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Marcia Schubert devoted her life to family and friendship. She was a funny, well-liked social butterfly who possessed an artist's eye that helped her easily see the beauty in the world. Her hair and clothes were always just right and perfectly complimented her warm smile and delight in being in the spotlight. Regardless of life's challenges, she chose to concentrate on its gifts, especially the wonderful relationships she so enjoyed. Her long legacy of unwavering love and persevering spirit inspired all who were blessed to know her.

Despite the obvious gloom of the growing conflict in Europe, 1938 held much to celebrate, including the end of the Great Depression. The power of hope undulated in the hearts of many. And in the face of uncertainty, the nation continued to put one foot in front of the other to build a better future. Nowhere was there more hope for the future than in Madison, Wisconsin, as Alfred and Una May (Jones) Skinner welcomed their daughter Marcia to their family on April 22, 1938.

The younger of the two Skinner girls, Marcia grew up in the good company of her older sister, Mary. Her father worked as a paint salesman. His job moved the family to Milwaukee before they settled in St. Clair Shores when Marcia was young. Marcia attended public schools and played clarinet in the high school band. Her bandmates voted her band sweetheart, which was quite an honor to be given by her peers.

After graduating from South Lake High School in St. Clair Shores with the class of 1956, Marcia attended Hillsdale College for one year. When her dad took a job in Florida, she left college and moved with the family to their new home. Marcia lived in Florida for the next ten years and worked at a savings and loan company.

One fateful day, Marcia met John Schubert, a Michigan school teacher who was on winter break with some fellow teachers. In April she moved to Michigan to live with her sister. John asked her out, and their first date was in June to see John's brother participate in a drum and bugle corps competition. As Marcia was late getting ready, to make up time to get to the competition, John had to speed up, which resulted in a speeding ticket. Despite this misfortune, the pair continued to date and were soon setting their hearts on sharing the future.

After marrying a few months later, on November 23, 1968, in Riverview Michigan, the young couple settled in and in time, the couple was blessed to welcome two sons to their family, John "Geoffrey" and Brein. While John taught school, Marcia ran the house and cared for the boys.

She ran a tight ship around the house and had high expectations. She was an active parent who taught her boys good manners - especially proper British table manners - and encouraged all of their endeavors. She was a terrific cook and delighted in passing her love for the kitchen to her son Brein. One of her special dishes was pork chops and rice. Her sweet dessert, "glorified rice," was the stuff of family legend. It became an expected dish for family and friends at gatherings, and the one time she did not bring it, the dish was sorely missed.

Though Marcia liked her home, she also enjoyed traveling. Before the children arrived, she and John took a memorable trip to Europe. When the boys were young, the family took a couple of long camping trips out west in the family pop-up trailer. In 1984, they adventured for 47 days, and in 1990 their trip spanned 51 days. Over the years, she visited all of the lower 48 states and overall enjoyed five trips to Europe, four with her husband. On two of the trips to Europe, she met her father's relatives in Southwest England and her mother's relatives in North Wales.

In 1997, after John retired and the kids were out of the house, they built a house in Alpena. It was a peaceful place where they made their home for 21 years. During these years, Marcia enjoyed many friendships and the time to explore their interests. She took classes in photography at Alpena Community College and had some of her work published in the college's art magazine. She also enjoyed pottery, crafts, and quilting. Her attention to detail resulted in many beautiful, complex works that were often gifted to those she loved. In quiet times, she enjoyed watching Murder She Wrote, Matlock, and watching reruns of favorite episodes and shows from current and classic television series'. She also enjoyed buying books but had a hard time concentrating long enough to finish them.

As her boys married, Marcia encouraged them to "stay calm and be nice" to their wives. She delighted in becoming a grandmother, and though regular visits were a challenge, she concentrated on the quality of their time together over quantity.

In 2018, as declining health and memory issues resulted in the need for more supportive care, Marcia and John moved to Lawton to be closer to family. Whether holding hands while agitated or affectionately giving John a light slug on the arm in reaction to his famous puns, Marcia faced each moment with determination.

On May 21, 2022, after fighting dementia, heart disease, diabetes, and leukemia for fifteen-plus years, Marcia's body gave out in her 84th year. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred E. Skinner and Una May Skinner neƩ Jones, and her sister Mary Swindell. She leaves behind her husband of 53 years, John, her sons, John G. (Irina) and Brein E. (Jessica), and four grandchildren, Nickolaus, Emily, Alistair, and Amelia.

The only bright side of her death is that she won't have to listen to her husband's puns anymore.

Life Story Services will be held at 11 am on Saturday, May 28, 2022, at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. A Celebration of Life gathering will be held at 1 pm on Saturday, June 18 at Pia's Ristorante Italiano, Taylor, MI. Visit Marcia's webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com to archive favorite memories and photos and sign her guestbook. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.

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