Joan F Schaefer

DeWitt, MI

Joan Frances (Rademacher) Schaefer, age 77, loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away June 19, 2011 after a brave and long battle with Parkinson’s disease. Joan was a founding member of both the Catholic Community of St. Jude in DeWitt and St. Therese in Lansing. She enjoyed bowling and competed in leagues in the Lansing area for over 25 years. She was well known for her quick wit, smile and love of playing cards. Her pies and sugar cookies were known to put a smile on the faces of all who were fortunate enough to reap the benefits of her baking skills. She was a true disciple of Christ who was always willing to help others in need, whether it was a meal delivered to someone who was ill or a quiet prayer of healing for a stranger, her heart was open to all. She was born February 11, 1934 in Westphalia and married her husband, Paul on February 14, 1953. Surviving are: her husband of 58 years, Paul; daughters, Karen (Donald) Adams and Mary Jo (Tim) Lampton; sons, Terry (Dawn), Jerry (Julie), Tim (Tina), Tom (Marilyn), Doug (Kathy) and Kevin (Amy) Schaefer; 23 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren; brothers, Ted and Donald Rademacher; sisters, Esther Brown and Ginny Simon. She was preceded in death by her parents, Simon and Rose Rademacher; brother Roger Rademacher; sisters Catherine Fedewa, Dorothy Torok and Bernadine Anderson; and grandson Timothy (Timmy) Schaefer. She will be missed by all who knew her but they will be comforted with the knowledge, that they have an additional guardian angel looking over them. Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord and may perpetual light shine upon her. The funeral mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, June 22, 2011, at the Catholic Community of St. Jude Church, 801 N. Bridge Street Dewitt, MI, with Father Dwight Ezop officiating. The rite of Christian Burial will follow in Dewitt Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Tuesday and on Wednesday from 10-11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the National Parkinson Foundation or The Catholic Community of St. Jude Building Fund in memory of Joan Schaefer.

The family is being served by the Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, DeWitt Chapel, 205 E. Washington, DeWitt, MI.

On line condolences may be made at www.gorslineruncimandewitt.com

Arrangements under the direction of Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, Lansing, MI.