May Marlene Krager

May Marlene Krager passed away peacefully at home on June 16 with her family by her bedside after a courageous four-year battle with pancreatic cancer. She never gave up the struggle and in her last days was determined to continue serving as pianist/accompanist for the Grosse Pointe Senior Men's Club as long as she could, even when she was in a wheel chair. May was especially proud of her perfect pitch and had a distinguished career as an instrumental music teacher in the elementary schools. She began her career at Trombly and also taught at Richard, Kerby, Monteith, Ferry, and Poupard. Her teaching was especially noteworthy. By midyear beginning students advanced so much that they were able to perform for the school and for parents as a small orchestra and band. She also composed musical plays for which she received standing ovations. May had the special gift of being able to compose original melodies and songs at a moment's notice. On one occasion when she was requested to compose the music for her friend Ernie Harwell's poem about the closing of the old Tiger Stadium, she readily agreed and completed the melody and harmony the same afternoon. May touched so many lives that she was recognized by former students wherever she went in the community. May was the first New Year's Day baby born in Lansing on January 1, 1932 to her parents, Charles and Virginia Van Sickel, now deceased. She was also pre-deceased by her brother Douglas Van Sickel and her son-in-law Gary Driscoll. May is survived by Frank Krager, her son, Franz Krager and his wife Deborah, her two daughters, Krista Driscoll (Krager) and Karla Krager Derkacz and her husband, James Derkacz, her two granddaughters Alix Rourke (Driscoll) and her husband, Michael Rourke and Anie Driscoll, her sisters, June Mills and Dottie Dyer, sister-in-law Susan Van Sickel, her nephew Michael Forman, her nieces Kathryn Forman and Emily Neicko (Van Sickel), and her long-time family friend, Roger McCaig. The visitation and funeral service were held at A. H. Peters Funeral Home on Tuesday, June 21. A Celebration of a Life for May will take place on Tuesday, August 23, 2016 from Noon until 1:30 pm at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial Theater 32 Lakeshore Drive, Grosse Pointe Farms, Michigan 48236-3726. The May Krager, "Celebration of a Life" Memorial Concert will include performances by the Grosse Pointe Senior Men's Club Choral Group, Jean Moorehead Libs (trumpet), Paul Sikorski (vibraphone and drum-set), Mike Fisher (euphonium), Deborah Krager (soprano), and a jazz combo. Master of Ceremonies for the event will be Michael Forman. Friends and colleagues of May Krager, and the general public are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, donations in May Krager's name may be made to the music program in The Grosse Pointe Public School System, 389 St. Clair Ave., Grosse Pointe, MI 48230, or to the Grosse Pointe Senior Men's Club, 32 Lake Shore Dr., Grosse Pointe Farms, MI 48236.

Funeral Home:

A. H. Peters Funeral Home of Grosse Pointe

20705 Mack Avenue

Grosse Pointe Woods, MI

US 48236