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Sheila Noreen (Walters) Pihlstrand, 80, passed away peacefully on February 28th in Traverse City, MI.

Sheila was born March 24, 1938 to William and Irene Walters (Mohler) in Baldwin, MI, at Carr Settlement on the Locke Dairy Farm. She grew up in Kalamazoo, MI where she graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School, and received her bachelor’s degree from Western Michigan University.

She began her career as a first-grade teacher at Pershing Elementary School in Portage, MI, while pursuing her master’s degree. She was introduced to her future husband Paul Pihlstrand on a blind date. They married in 1961, moving to the village of Flossmoor in the Chicago suburbs, and later to Traverse City.

Her religious faith remained the mainspring of Sheila’s life, and service to the old, the ailing and the young has been its expression. She was a devoted lifelong member and Sunday School teacher of the Community of Christ Church, attending branches in Kalamazoo, MI, Flossmoor, IL, and later in Traverse City, MI.

She was an active member of the Homewood Junior Women’s Club in Homewood, IL, serving through the years in a progression of roles, including Chairman of the Education, Literature and Veteran’s departments, and later holding the role of President. She maintained the attitude of the more you give, the more you get back, speaking of the intangible rewards of service. She was a dedicated volunteer, working with developmentally disabled children at the Ludeman Center in Park Forest, IL, delivering “Meals on Wheels” to senior citizens, collecting funds for various charities, and was in charge of Promoting and Fund Development for Outreach International at her church. She was an avid collector and voracious reader, and enjoyed sharing her shopping finds, attending church retreats, and the loving company of family and friends.

Preceding her in death were her parents, Bill and Irene Walters, her husband Paul Pihlstrand, Jr., her youngest daughter Kirstin S. Pihlstrand, niece, Mary Yakas, sister-in-law, Violet Yakas, and sister-in-law, Linda Walters.

She is survived by her children Paul W. Pihlstrand III of Traverse City, and Signe K. Pihlstrand (Kurt Monson) of St. Augustine, FL, her siblings Karen Cook, Janeen (Jerry) Emrick, and Bill Walters of Portage, MI and nieces and nephews.

A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held in the spring. Memorial contributions may be made to Outreach International.

Please visit www.lifestorytc.com to sign the guestbook and share your thoughts and memories with the family.