Eileen Schimp

There are some who view caring for a home and children to be rather mundane work with little reward. Nothing could have been farther from the truth to Eileen Schimp since she viewed her roles as a homemaker and mother to be both her greatest blessing and highest calling. It was plain to see that her faith was of the utmost importance in her life as not simply something she set upon a shelf, but a cornerstone that grounded her every thought, word, and deed. Through her loving ways, Eileen significantly impacted generations to come and her grandchildren were her most treasured source of pride and joy.

The year 1929 is most often remembered as the year in which our country slipped into the Great Depression, but it was also a year in which Ernest Hemingway became a household name and people enjoyed listening to jazz music and doing crossword puzzles. It was also in this same year that in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Leo and Cora (Alman) Morris were pleased to announce the birth of their daughter, Eileen, on July 8th. Eileen, who was often called Ike, was very close to her older sister Virginia and also to her younger sister Leone, remaining close to them both throughout her entire lifetime. The girls were then joined by their younger brother Wayne ten years later and with his birth, the Morris family was complete. Eileen’s father supported his family through his work as a switchman for the New York Central Railroad. Their family had many treasured memories together at their cottage on Gravel Lake near Lawton. Ike graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School and then attended Western Michigan University for two years.

Life became more exciting for Eileen when she was set up on a blind date with the man who would come to hold the key to her heart for nearly 50 years. His name was Lou Schimp and after dating for a time, the couple was married on December 1, 1950. It wasn’t long before Eileen and Lou were blessed with the births of three children: Nancy, Jeff, and Steve. Ike fully immersed herself into caring for her husband and children. She was a very supportive mother who was not only loving, but also taught her children values and proper manners, and also instilled within them a sense of right and wrong along with the importance of trusting others as well as treating them fairly. Eileen also took superb care of her home, always keeping it immaculately clean with everything in its place.

Although taking care of her home and family took much of her time, Eileen also enjoyed a few other things as well. Her faith played an important role in her life and it was instilled within her from her earliest years. Eileen was very active at Lakeland Reformed Church in Vicksburg where she especially enjoyed being part of the women’s circle. She also liked playing golf and was a member of the Kalamazoo Women’s Golf Association. Tennis was another way Eileen enjoyed being active and she also loved spending time on Indian Lake. She also tended to her gardens often and played bridge as often as she was able. After their children were grown, Ike and Lou traveled quite extensively to destinations such as Ireland, Alaska, Hawaii, and particularly Australia which she talked about quite a bit over the years. They also wintered in Florida, but looked forward to returning home in order to be reunited with their family once again.

Nothing could have thrilled Eileen more than becoming a grandmother. She was supportive of her grandchildren and attended many of their sporting events and school activities. Eileen also liked to have her grandchildren come over to spend time together and even taught them how to play poker. At Christmas time she usually went overboard and showered them with plentiful gifts. Family was always so important to Eileen and spending time with her children, grandchildren, and her sisters were the moments that she cherished most. On one occasion, Ike even took the entire family on a Caribbean cruise where precious memories were made that will be treasured for a lifetime. Eileen also remained in contact with some of her dearest friends from her younger years throughout her entire lifetime as well.

Life required a bit of an adjustment for Eileen with the death of her beloved Lou in January of 2000. Although she was deeply saddened, she continued to enjoy life in spite of the health challenges that began to plague her as well.

Eileen Schimp was a delightful woman who brought warmth and joy to those around her simply by being herself. She lived her life to care for others, especially the family that she viewed as her greatest blessing. Eileen enjoyed a diverse palette of interests throughout her life including traveling, golfing, and participating in church activities, but nothing brought her more happiness than spending time with her family. Although her family and friends say goodbye for now, they hold fast to the many precious moments they were given to share with a woman who was so gentle and kind.

Eileen “Ike” Schimp died on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo. Members of Eileen’s family include her 3 children: Nancy Schimp, Jeff (Darci) Schimp, and Steve (Brenda) Schimp, 5 grandchildren: Andrew, Michael, Sarah, Lindsey, Scott, 2 sisters: Virginia Flower and Leone Kneller, and her brother Wayne Morris. Learn more about Ike, visit with her family and friends, and share light refreshments, Sunday from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. at the Life Story Funeral Home, Vicksburg, 409 S. Main (649-1697). Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday , October 26, 2009 at the Lakeland Reformed Church. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com, where you can archive a favorite memory or photo, sign her memory book online before coming to the funeral home, or make a memorial donation to the Lakeland Reformed Church or the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.