Jeanne Farrer

Jeanne Avis Farrer (formerly Jean Lahti) passed away suddenly but peacefully in her home on Sunday, December 10, 2017. Jeanne was born, raised and passed away in Spring Lake, Michigan, but made many, many adventurous stops along the way. She was a teacher all her life and had a heart was for those less fortunate. In the U.S. she taught everything from pre-school to high school, in places like Chapel Hill, NC to Muskegon Heights, MI to the Aleutian Islands in Alaska. She taught overseas in Hungary, Japan, The Gambia, Egypt, Thailand, China and Romania to name a few. Her travels included countless other countries (really, we can't remember all of them) and cities around the world. She had an extreme passion for travel and for helping those in need. She entertained constantly in her home and was an avid card player and lover of the symphony and foreign movies. Jeanne graduated from Western Michigan University where she met her former husband, Robert Lahti. She lived in Kalamazoo and Galesburg, MI for many years, raising her family and enjoying many years as an avid tennis player. She was the youngest of eight children and was preceded in death by her parents, Sidney and Clara Farrer and siblings: Mary Zimmerman, Jack Farrer, Edna Bisacky and Joan Ruiter. She is survived by 3 sisters, Pauline Pravda, Pepsi (Lois) Coston and Bobbi Gleason. She is also survived by her children: Sydney (John) Wallis of Clarksville, OH, Bridget Lahti of Mason, OH, Chris (Michelle) Lahti of Antioch, IL; 28 grandchildren; and 4 great grandchildren. Those who knew and loved Jeanne are invited to join the family for a memorial service and reception to be held in the spring, as well as at a brief graveside service that will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, December 28, 2017, at Spring Lake Cemetery with Rev. Peter Theune officiating. Arrangements are being made by the Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, The VanZantwick Chapel in Grand Haven, Michigan. In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to a charity that Jeanne valued Heifer International http://www.heiferfoundation.org. Share memories with the family at their online guest book at www.sytsemafh.com.