LifeStoryNet.com

Life Story Funeral Homes®
The exclusive providers of the Life Story Experience

 

Life Story Funeral Homes®
The exclusive providers of the Life Story Experience

Leta Proos

April 25, 2020
Richland, MI

//cdn.lifestorynet.com/fh/obituary-default.jpg

Obituary


Print

Leta, age 77, died unexpectedly Saturday evening, April 25, 2020 at her residence, with her son Jim at her side. Leta, the daughter of Edwin and Fern (Dilling) Grossnickle, was born in Bluffton, IN on February 5, 1943 and moved to the Kalamazoo area in 1957. From an early age, she was talented at music and the arts, especially playing piano. Leta started formal piano training young and became an accomplished pianist, a passion which she enjoyed and shared for over 70 years. Besides the piano, Leta played the bassoon throughout her school years, and some of her music accolades included performing with the Illinois All-State High School Orchestra; singing with the WMU "Varsity Vagabonds;" which was the predecessor to WMU's Gold Company ensemble and winning a song-writing competition for a college women's musical sorority. Leta graduated from University High School in Kalamazoo, then obtained both Bachelor and Masters Degrees from Western Michigan University in Elementary Education and Music Education. After a few years of teaching Elementary school, as well as working as a tutor for students with dyslexia in Kalamazoo, Leta utilized her musical expertise for many years as a piano teacher in the Richland and Kalamazoo area, which she enjoyed immensely. She shared her acumen for teaching music with a passion, which inspired many young piano students, including her two sons, Scott and Jim, both of whom used Leta's piano training as the foundation for life-long performing on piano, drums and percussion and saxophone. Besides music, Leta loved Comedy movies, a good laugh, reading and spending time with her husband, John. Leta was united in marriage to John R. Proos in Kalamazoo on June 13, 1965 and they enjoyed 50 wonderful years together, which included boating, swimming, travel, participating in Arts and Craft fairs during summers and watching many sunsets together. John preceded her in death on August 17, 2016. Surviving are two sons, Scott Michael Proos of Augusta, MI and James Todd Proos of Kalamazoo; her sister, Joy (Rev. Dr. Wayne) Large of Mesa, AZ and two brothers, Dr. Neil E. Grossnickle of Grand Rapids, MI and Dr. Nevin "Ned" (Mary) Grossnickle of Mosinee, WI, as well as many nieces and nephews. Leta was also preceded in death by her parents and a younger sister, Judy. Due to the Health Crisis, the memorial service to celebrate Leta's life and interment with her husband, John in Prairie Home Cemetery, Richland are on hold. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Leta's honor may be directed to the Interlochen Center for the Arts, 4000 M-137, Interlochen, MI 49643 or the First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo, 212 S. Park Street, West, Kalamazoo, MI 49007. The Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, Richland Chapel (269-629-6022) is assisting Leta's family. Personal messages and/or favorite memories of Leta may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle.com