Catherine Jean Marquardt

Catherine Jean Marquardt, age 87, passed away January 28, 2021. She was born on Feb. 22, 1933, to PM and Mary Merle Kinney in Benton Harbor, MI. The family moved to Lansing where Jean graduated from Eastern High School in 1951. She married Frederick William Marquardt in 1952 and together, the couple raised five children: Michelle Smith, Linda Marquardt, Mary Gwardzinski (James), all of Delta Township; Fred Marquardt (Rebecca) of Commerce Township, MI and Lori Marquardt of Costa Mesa, CA.

Family was everything to Jean and she spent her life raising her children on their Delta Township farm. When marriage to Fred brought her to the Marquardt farm, she quickly adjusted but always laughed and called herself a city girl at heart. There was no one happier when Lansing Mall was conveniently built only 5 minutes away. Despite being a city girl, she learned to cook delicious meals from food produced on the farm and she served as a 4-H horse club leader for two of her girls.

Jean devoted her life to her husband, her kids and her friends. She loved being actively involved with her grandchildren. She hosted countless family gatherings and started beloved family traditions, including the yearly family vacation to South Haven, the annual Christmas cookie decorating day and the yearly family picture calendar. She loved quilts and everything blue. She also enjoyed being an ambassador to Lansing with her work with the Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Jean and Fred were charter members of St. Gerard Parish, where she was a member of the Mater Dei Circle for more than 40 years. She cherished the friendship of the women in that group, and loved the times when the group held quilting bees to make their annual quilt to be auctioned off as a church fundraiser. Her Catholic faith was strong and because of her example, her husband, Fred, and his parents, Alfred and Katherine Marquardt, joined the Catholic faith.

She leaves behind 8 grandchildren, Jonathan Smith (Renee), Jake Smith (Elizabeth), Caitlin Smith, Chad Ellis (Kristen), Emily Justice (Andy), Kelly Gentile (James) and Grant and Jeana Marquardt. She also leaves behind 6 great grandchildren, Elijah Smith, Ruby Smith, Catherine Ellis, Jacqueline Ellis, Oliver Justice and Samuel Smith.

Her husband, Fred, passed away in 2013. She is also preceded in death by her sister Joan Havens.

A private Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Gerard Catholic Church in Lansing. The family is being served by Tiffany Funeral Home, Lansing.

Memorial contributions in Jean’s memory can be made to Sparrow Foundation, with a notation designated to Hospice Services, 1322 E. Michigan Ave., Suite 204, Lansing, MI 48912.