Sylvia Schenck

Schenck, Sylvia Darlene (Dar) 8/7/1940 - 1/6/2023 Portage, MI Sylvia Darlene (Dar) Schenck passed away peacefully on January 6, 2023 at Rose Arbor hospice in Kalamazoo, MI. Always a Hoosier at heart, Dar was born in Warsaw, IN on August 7, 1940 to parents Francis Marion (John) Hill and Grace Christine Hill (ne Motts). Dar grew up in Mishawaka, IN. In 1958, she proudly graduated from Mishawaka High School. Dar graduated from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI with a B.A. and M.A. in Education. Dar met Lyle Arthur Schenck in Kalamazoo on a blind date arranged by close friends. This first date in 1966 was the beginning of a beautiful life-long romance which culminated in 56 devoted years of marriage. For their honeymoon, Dar and Lyle spent an entire summer traveling the country in a blue Falcon station wagon. Ultimately, Dar visited 48 states (including Hawaii and Alaska) as well as the Panama Canal twice. Dar cherished her friends from Mishawaka High School, Davis Hall at WMU, Lamplighters, multiple book clubs, canasta groups, Roads Scholars, the Westwood and Oakview neighborhoods, Chuck Jaqua Realtors, and teachers from her years as an educator. Dar was a devoted mother to Laura (Schenck) O'Donnell (Dallas, TX), Linda Schenck Hodgins (Grandville, MI) and Kevin Schenck (St. Clair Shores, MI). She was a proud grandmother to Riley and Connor O'Donnell, Carson and Taylor Hodgins, and Desiree, Abraham, and Levi Schenck, the seven of whom range from 20 years old to 10 months old. The family requests that in lieu of a funeral, Dar's loved ones consider a donation to the First Methodist Church of Kalamazoo, MI; Casco United Methodist Church of South Haven, MI; or Rose Arbor hospice in Kalamazoo, MI. Her family would like to thank all of the wonderful staff at Rose Arbor hospice for their compassionate care. To honor Dar, a celebration of life is being planned on August 3, 2023 in South Haven, MI a place with many special memories for Dar and her family. Avink McCowen Secord (amsfuneralhomes.com)