Marcia Sizer

Age 78, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on the evening of December 27, 2017. Residing most recently at Park Place Assisted Living in Kalamazoo, Michigan, she faced a prolonged battle with illness and dementia. Marcia was always looking closely at the world. On any given day, chances were that you would find her outside with her hands on the earth: taking a close-up photograph of flowers, planting tomatoes, raking leaves, petting the cat, searching for geodes or petosky stones, tending public gardens, or picking up crinoids and beach glass along the Lake Michigan shore. She recognized every leaf and bird and stone she saw; and welcomed season after season for the beautiful details each on brought. Her love of the outdoors regularly took her hiking up mountains, rock hunting in quarries, camping across the country, and exploring on European travels. She spent time inside too, of course, and then her hands were nearly always in motion, creating something beautiful out of yarn, or colored glass, chair caning, or quilt batting. She crocheted miles of cozy blankets and knitted countless soft baby hats. She refinished and upholstered furniture, and designed dried wreaths with flowers grown from her gardens. A talented photographer of nature, horse shows, and sports, Marcia's pictures became notecards, calendars, and dozens of albums. She shared her creative talents generously with family, friends, and throughout the community. Marcia Lee Sizer (nee Lape), the eldest of four siblings, was born in Hillsdale, Michigan on June 24, 1939 to Eileen and Leon Lape. She found her passion for rock-hounding and exploring nature early on, as well as her penchant for practical jokes, squirt gun battles, and camping on family vacations. She attended South High School in Grand Rapids, graduated from Benton Harbor High School, and earned a bachelor's degree in science from Western Michigan University in 1962. True loves and best friends for sixty years, Marcia and Jack Sizer married in 1961, raising their family in Kalamazoo, Michigan, and later moving to Richland, Michigan. She excelled as a registered medical technologist at Bronson Methodist Hospital, where she worked for 34 years. Marcia was preceded in death by her father Leon Lape (2002) and Eileen Lape (nee Bradish, 2010). She is survived by her loving husband Jack Sizer; son Paul Sizer (Jane Irwin); daughter Nancy Sizer; daughter Karen Lakkides (Brian) and granddaughters Megan, Katie, and Erika; and son David Sizer (Brenda). Marcia is also survived by her sister Linda Keeler; brother Douglas Lape (Betty); brother Steven Lape (Carole); sister-in-law Barbara Maier; sister-in-law Sarah Baca; sister-in-law Christine Sonnemann (Tom); sister-in-law Jennifer Purcell (Larry); and numerous nieces and nephews and their families: Michele Fernandes (Paul), Sherry West (David), Anne Lape, Mary Stauffer (Brian), Matthew Lape (Mandee), Felicia Sovereign (Dan), Doug Maier (Vernie), Valerie Baca, Andrew Sonnemann, Ian Sonnemann, Michael Sonnemann, Heather VanValkenberg, and Joel VanValkenberg-Huff (Wendy). While there will be no visitation or service at this time, her family will announce a gathering for a date in May 2018 to celebrate her life with a service at the Richland First Presbyterian Church in their Memorial Garden. Her family wishes to thank the caring staffs of Friendship Village, Park Place Assisted Living, and Heartland Hospice Care. In honor of her lifelong love of nature, it was her wish that gifts be made to the Blandford Nature Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan (http://blandfordnaturecenter.org/). Please visit Marcia's personalized web page at www.langelands.com to sign the online guest book or leave a message for the family.