Jacqueline Lawrence

Jacqueline Lawrence’s personality was as warm and vibrant as the bright red hats she loved to wear. Energetic and generous, Jackie always poured her heart into whatever she was doing, whether it was raising her six children, taking care of her patients as a nurse, or running the local newspaper. Life was an adventure for Jackie, and she lived each day to the fullest.

Jackie was born on June 20, 1936, to proud parents Daniel and Mary (Wilamowski) Kowalski. The family lived in Detroit, Michigan, although Jackie’s ancestors were originally from Poland. As an adult, Jackie would treasure her Polish heritage – especially the Polish food! Jackie was the second oldest child, with sisters Gladys, Mary, and Linda. Daniel supported his family as an independent meat wholesaler, while Mary stayed at home to take care of the children.

From a young age, Jackie felt called to the profession of nursing. As a teenager, she spent her free time working in pre-nursing care and emergency care. After she graduated from MacKenzie High School in 1954, she followed her dream by enrolling at the Borgess School of Nursing. Jackie was a bright student, enthusiastic and motivated, and received her RN in 1957.

During her last year of nursing school, Jackie met a young man named Warren Lawrence on a blind double date. As soon as Jackie met Warren, she knew he was the one – for both of them, it was love at first sight. There was only one problem: Jackie had been set up with Warren’s friend, and Warren with Jackie’s friend! Warren waited for a month, and then gave Jackie a call, asking if she would go out on another date (this time with him). The rest is history, and Jackie and Warren were married on February 1, 1958, in Detroit. Looking back on her life, Jackie would later say that the greatest days of her life were the day she met Warren and the day they were married. Jackie and Warren were a true team, and did everything together.

In the years to come, Jackie worked as a nurse at Detroit Receiving, Borgess, Bronson, and Vicksburg Hospitals. At home, she and Warren were blessed by the births of six children: Christopher, Ward, Andrew, Barbara, Patrick, and Elizabeth. Jackie was a wonderful mother, who always supported her children. She was also community-minded, and played a very active role in their community of Vicksburg, Michigan.

Although Jackie would maintain her nursing certificate, her last year as a professional nurse was in 1968. A few years later, in the 1970’s, Jackie co-purchased the local newspaper, Commercial Express. Later on, she and Warren bought the controlling interest in the paper, and she worked as the publisher from 1985 to 1994.

Jackie was very adventurous, and loved traveling. She was always willing to try new things – once she even held a tiger cub on her lap at the Centreville Fair! Jackie and Warren traveled all over the world, but her favorite place remained their home on Kimble Lake in Vicksburg. She also enjoyed visiting the Grayling area. This became a second home, since Warren was in the National Guard and his training camp was near Grayling.

As the years went by, Jackie was delighted to become the grandmother of eleven grandchildren. She loved spending time with each of them, and looked forward to family events. In her free time, Jackie enjoyed reading and adding to her book collection – she was an avid collector, and may have had more books than the Library of Congress!

Brave and energetic, generous and loving, Jackie Lawrence was a devoted wife, a loving mother and grandmother, and a loyal friend. She will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by her many friends and family members.

Jackie’s family includes her husband of 54 years, Warren; her children, Christopher (Linda) Lawrence of Battle Creek, Ward (Marci) Lawrence of Fulton, Andrew (Janet) Lawrence of Lowell, Barbara (Kenneth) Holmes of Hastings, Patrick Lawrence of DeWitt, and Elizabeth (Brian) Hoffbauer of Horton; eleven grandchildren; and her siblings, Gladys (Graham) Johnson of Mayville, Mary (Gerry) Becker of Canton Twp, and Linda (Jim) Wozniak of Grand Ledge.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, 409 S. Main St., Vicksburg (649-1697). A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday at the Vicksburg United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, those who wish may make donations to the Vicksburg Community Schools Foundation, Vicksburg Historical Society, and/or Rose Arbor Hospice. Please visit Jackie’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can learn more about her life, share a favorite memory or photo, and sign the online guestbook.