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Jane Geschwendt

September 15, 2021
Vero Beach, FL

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Geschwendt, Jane 6/5/1947 - 9/15/2021 Janie- as she was called by her beloved Vernon (her 'JC Penny' man) is holding hands with him in heaven right now. Up until several weeks ago, Mom lived independently, in a beautiful apartment, had impeccable manners, and charmed everyone she met. Dementia took a turn for the worst and we lost our amazing momma. Jane, or our Divine Ya-Ya as we affectionately referred to her, was forever an educator, and at every appointment we took her to she told everyone, from the front desk to the doctor, how she taught at Battle Creek Central and KVCC for 42 years. She never failed to ask if people had read any good books, and one could find red pens in her purses and kitchen drawers from many, many, essays graded as an English teacher over the years. She made amazing giant pots of soup in the winter time that could feed a family of 24 and banana bread that had the neighbor kids coming to the house. She relished snow days at home with us kids and summers off on Gull Lake. Mom loved to throw a party and could be seen bringing trays of watermelon and beers (when we were old enough) out to us and our friends on the dock. She loved sailboat lunches at Jacobsen's in Kalamazoo and going to the Beacon Club with our Dad. She loved to decorate, and we joked that "thank God" we could all see well, because we never knew when we would come home to a rearranged house. She was a small woman but could move couches and armoires solo if it meant getting the right look. She was silly and extraordinarily generous. She believed in equality and human rights. She adored diving into new cultures and traveled to Japan and Mexico. Jane and Vern were married in 1969 and still did the dishes side by side every night even though we had a dishwasher. They talked endlessly, went for walks, called each other on the phone daily, had many putt-putt rides in the boat, and headed up to Bayview Gardens often together for a nightcap. When our dad died of ALS in 2015, Jane rallied and tried to move on, but there was just no getting over our Daddy-O. She missed him dearly and never recovered from that loss. My mom and dad had beloved long-term, 'lifer' friends with whom we all went camping and to motels in the winter, so all of us kids could go swimming. She loved to dance. She loved her grandkids Maddie, Jaelen, and Jordan, her sisters, her coworkers, chardonnay, and especially her blonde bun. We could fill pages with her accomplishments, but her greatest source of pride was her education, her children, her home, and most of all her husband. Janie will be dearly missed by many but most of all by her three kids and three grandkids- Angela Geschwendt (and Matt) Combs, Jennifer Geschwendt, and Michael Geschwendt. Her late grandson, Colten, was a little angel gone too soon. We imagine her with Dad and Coltie-Pie on a putt-putt boat ride right now. In lieu of flowers, we hope you will do something kind for someone, pay generosity forward, do a good deed. Live a life of purpose, on purpose, and love ferociously. Condolences may be shared online at millenniumcremationservice.com.