Dorothy Schemske

Our dear mother, Dorothy Schemske, passed peacefully in the early morning hours of Sunday, July 3rd, in her Lansing, Michigan apartment, at the age of 91. We were with her much of the week prior to her death, as was Vicki Parker, Mom?s friend and companion, who showed great kindness. The Hospice of Lansing staff are among the most remarkable people we have ever met and also gave incredible comfort at Mom?s bedside. Mom was born on September 16, 1919 on a small farm in central Illinois. At that time, the farm lacked running water, electricity and indoor plumbing. She and her younger brother Bill rode their ponies to a one-room schoolhouse, where they were taught by Dorothy Martin, an extraordinary woman who introduced our mother to the joys of teaching. Her childhood experiences on the farm had lasting influence, from her love of chickens and pigs to her lifelong appreciation for nature and the environment. Mom loved communicating with friends and family, using the Internet to keep in touch. She was writing poems and thoughtful good wishes until her final days. Should you wish to extend Mom?s legacy into the future, you may contribute to the Dorothy Bryan Schemske Scholarship at Illinois State University. This fund provides scholarships to undergraduate students working toward a career in teaching English with preference to a student with interest in creative writing. Please send your donations to: Gail A. Lamb, Director of Development, College of Education, Campus Box 3060, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790-3060, P: 309-438-2903, [email protected] Above all, Mom will be remembered for her love of teaching and as a passionate advocate for poetry. Hardly an occasion passed without an original poem she created. From her 1994 self-published book ?Come See the Lilies?, here is a favorite: THE DAY THE MOON THREW THE EARTH INTO THE SHADE Cardboard telescopes In schoolyards of the young And front yards of the old Mirrored the moon?s cover-up. In broad daylight, For all to see, The moon crept up On the sun, Throwing the Earth Into the shade, Leaving transient footprints In semi-circle Amid the leaf shadows On the grass. Did the learned astronomers In their planetarium domes See as much? --Solar eclipse, May10 1994