Leta Schoenhals

Leta Cole Schoenhals, age 95, of Kalamazoo, MI passed away on Saturday, January 30, 2016 at Friendship Village. Leta was born in Jackson, MI on August 31, 1920, the daughter of the late Carl M. Cole and Meda (Stoughton) Cole. She received her Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree from Western Michigan University. She was Past President of Delta Kappa Gamma Honorary. She remained involved with WMU throughout her life and served the university in many ways. In 2006 she received the Golden Apple Award from the WMU College of Education Alumni Society. She retired from Portage Public Schools after twenty-four years of service as a high school counselor. She was involved with the Kalamazoo County Association of Retired School Personnel in many capacities. In 1996, she received the State Distinguished Service Award from the Michigan Association of Retired School Personnel. A partial list of her community activities include: president of the Friends of the Western Michigan University Libraries; member of the Steering Committee of the Excellence in Education Program. Leta was a member of First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo for over 60 years, serving in many capacities. She loved photography and used it as a way to give dozens of programs to nursing homes, churches and other groups throughout the community. She was a world traveler and spent time on all of the continents, except Antarctica. She is survived by two children, Carol Lou Doubblestein of Grand Rapids and Marvin "Skip" (Linda) Schoenhals of Naples, FL; three grandchildren, Andrew (Angela) DeMeester, Jeffrey (Julie) DeMeester and Allison Bell; five great-grandchildren, Makenna, Christian, Nicholas, Carlie and Braden. She was preceded in death by her late husband, Neil L. Schoenhals; her son-in-law, Lynn Doubblestein; and her brother, Carl Howard Cole. A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 6th at the KIVA at Friendship Village, 1400 North Drake Rd at 2:30 p.m. Rev. Steve Charnley will officiate. A reception will follow. A private family graveside service was held at Mt. Ever-Rest Memorial Park, South. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo or to the Neil and Leta Schoenhals Undergraduate Memorial Fund, Western Michigan University. Arrangements by Langeland Family Funeral Homes.