Marguerite Schmitzer

Funeral services for Marguerite Jean Schmitzer, 83, will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday, November 2, 2020 at Mount Olive Lutheran Church with interment to follow at Southland Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm at the church.

Marguerite passed away quietly at her home surrounded by family on October 29, 2020. She was born November 19, 1936 in Almont, MI to the late Dorothy Starr Solomonson and Clarence Thomas. Marguerite had a lifelong love for music; she was an accomplished pianist, organist, choir director, inspirational composer and author of hymns and choruses and retired music teacher. Growing up in a rural Michigan farm community, she began diligent piano study as a small child and became her church's pianist at just twelve years old. After graduating from high school, she attended Central Michigan University, where she attained both Bachelors' and Masters' degrees in music. Her musical talent blossomed, and her love for teaching emerged. Soon afterward, as a young music teacher, she met another young teacher who shared her faith and love of teaching, and they decided to share their lives. Gene and Marguerite enjoyed fifty-eight years together.

Marguerite's infectious love for music was passed on to countless students at the elementary, middle, high school and college levels. She thoroughly enjoyed directing cantatas and musicals, including "The Messiah", and she even wrote and directed her own original Christmas and Easter programs.

Even though Marguerite was an accomplished musician, she never failed to give the praise and credit to her Lord and Savior. She saw her talent as not only a gift from God, but a responsibility given to her to share with others. While sharing her creativity, she also shared her contagious laughter and deep love for Jesus Christ with all. Her musical legacy remains as her students spread joy and the faith through their own music. We can now rejoice with Marguerite as she takes her place in the heavenly choir for which her life's work prepared her.

She is survived by her husband Eugene Schmitzer of Cayce; daughter, Miriam Moore (Donald) of Bainbridge, GA; son, Michael Schmitzer (Dena) of Buda, TX; daughters, Catherine Long (Joe) of Cayce; and Caroline Schmitzer (Alisha) of San Antonio, TX; sisters Shirley (Terry) Wallace of Almont, MI; Pam (Tom) Edwards of Almont, MI; Lynn (Mike) Doutry of Almont, MI; brothers Terry (Sandy) Thomas of Capac, MI; Dennis (Marianne) Thomas of Almont, MI; and Jeff Thomas of Almont, MI; sister-in-law, Loretta Starr; 12 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren.

Marguerite was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Beverly Poole; brothers, James Starr and Bill Thomas; and great-grandchildren, Robert Powell and Camden Bouch.

Those planning an expression of sympathy may wish to consider memorials to Mount Olive Lutheran Church's music ministry.

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