Jeannine I Michel

Jeannine Ilo Michel (nee Wright) was born at home on a small farm in Hebron, Indiana on April 13, 1931, during the Great Depression. Like those of her neighbor's, Jeannine's childhood home had no electricity or indoor plumbing. Ninety-one years later, Jeannine died at home on West Baltimore on October 31, 2022, her blog recently refreshed, her smart phone and robot vacuum charging nearby, and her social calendar full of plans with friends of all ages, all colors, and all walks of life. This contrast between where Jeannine's life began and where it ended could not be more stark. But Jeannine's ability to evolve - to change with the times - allowed her to be productive and independent, making the world a better place until her very last moments on earth. We should all be so fortunate.

Farm life involves a lot of hard work and at a young age, Jeannine was expected to help with chores every day -- caring for the farm animals, tending the crops, or working alongside her mother, Margaret, cooking, canning, and gardening. One of her greatest joys in those days was riding her horse, Janey, Jeannine's enjoyment of outdoor activities, her love of plants and animals, and her appreciation for the satisfaction that comes from work, were kindled during These very young years.

Jeannine's birthplace was a sundown town where non-whites were ordered to leave town by dusk of face harassment and violence. Her father, Kenneth, who Jeannine described as progressive and very intelligent, made it know that his house was a refuge for those facing racial injustices. Jeannine inherited this penchant for challenging the norms of the day. This trait, coupled with a generous dollop of inquisitiveness, set Jeannine on a lifelong journey of experiences and ideas that would challenge and change young farmgirl's view of the world.

Jeannine met and married David Michel while attending Valparaiso University, where she was preparing for a teaching career. Dave had returned from serving as a Marine in World War II and swept her of her feet with his blue eyes and kind demeanor. They bought a small farm in Ohio where they had three children - Susan, Rebecca and Jonathan. Dave worked in the advertising industry and enjoyed a salary that allowed Jeannine to stay home to raise the children. Jeannine returned to full-time classroom teaching when the family moved to Springfield< Ohio so that Dave could attend the seminary at Wittenberg University to prepare for a second career in the ministry. Soon, their fourth child, Joan, was born. During these years, the family housed seminary students from around the world, opening their eyes to other cultures, belief systems, and practices.

When Dave's career took the family to Baltimore, Maryland in 1974, Jeannine went back to school for a graduate degree in counseling psychology from Bowie State University. Jeannine worked as a human relations trainer until she and Dave started a nonprofit serving developmentally disabled individuals - Maryland Homes for the Handicapped. For 10 years, Jeannine helped people who had been previously institutionalized learn to work and live independently. When the agency was absorbed by another nonprofit and Dave retired, Jeannine went to work at Community College of Baltimore County as a counselor and trainer. This work had great meaning to her, and she drew satisfaction from helping people overcome barriers to employment. During this time, Jeannine and Dave traveled to Italy, Ireland, England, Hawaii, and other parts of the United States. They also spent days sailing the Chesapeake aboard their boat "Godspeed."

For Jeannine, retirement was just the beginning of several decades of community involvement and activism. She saw education as the pathway to a richly rewarding life and became involved in improving her local elementary school, Thomas Jefferson Elementary School. First, Jeannine helped organize an effort to build a new playground and gardens for the students, then worked to bring new international curriculum to the school, the International Baccalaureate Program. Jeannine also volunteered in the classroom, media center, and tutored individual students.

Jeannine's idea of perfect happiness was being surrounded by her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and many friends. Preferably in her lushey gardened back yard that she maintained until her death. Visitors to Jeannine's house could expect to be fed a hearty meal and enjoy a conversation about politics, the latest season of "The Crown," gun control, technology, or any one of numerous topics going through Jeannine's mind that day, as she was a voracious reader and curator of new ideas. Jeannine was always up for an adventure and anyone who invited her on an activity was going to get an enthusiastic "yes!"

Jeannine was preceded in death by her husband David (2012) and daughter Rebecca Meise (2019). She is survived by her children Susan (Kazem) Ashtianie, Jonathan (Madeline) Michel, and Joan Michel (Jeffrey Hacala). She is also survived by grandchildren John (Holly) Meise, Stephen Ashtianie, Elizabeth (Austin) Dunford, Peter Ashtianie, Jesse (Jillian) Michel, Sarah (Shawn) Powers, Philip Ashtianie, Joshua (Meagen) Meise, Paul (Stephanie Nguyen) Michel, Ella Astin, Rachel Day, Valerie Michel, Ian Michel-Tyler, and Jacob (Angela) Meise. Also Jeannine is survived by six great-grandchildren - Marianne, Heidi, Francis, Patrick, Jerome and Sam.

A Celebration of Life will be held December 11, 2022, at 3:00 p.m. at Irvine Nature Center, 11201 Garrison Forest Road in Owings Mills. In honor of Jeannine, and her husband David, who passed away in 2012, the family is setting up an enduring fund to benefit the care of birds and wildlife at the Irvine Center.Please consider making a donation to that fund in Jeannine's name by visiting https://www.explorenature.org/donate/ to donate.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.sterlingashtonschwabwitzke.com for the Michel family.