Irene Schultheiss

Irene Ardis Schultheiss, 99, went home to be with her Lord, surrounded by her family, on Saturday, February 16, 2013, at Schnepp's Health Care Center in St. Louis, Michigan. She was born on August 12, 1913, in rural Middleton, Michigan, the daughter of Claude and Lula Howell.

She married Dale Schultheiss on December 2, 1933. They were blessed with 74 years together and four children, Susan (Bob) Wernick, of Riverdale, Carol (Ron) Dow of Wichita, KS, and Jim (Tomi Ann) Schultheiss of St. Johns, and her son Dennis who preceded her in death in 1968. She will be greatly missed by her children and their spouses, 12 grandchildren, 34 great grandchildren, and 11 great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dale in 2008, a brother, Lee Howell, and a sister, Leota Cochran.

During the course of her life she was a beautician, a custodian, a bus driver, and a teacher's aide for disabled children. But her first loves were helping to run the family farm in rural St. Johns, and being a homemaker and mother. Taking an early retirement, she and Dale moved to Zephyrhills, Florida, and lived there many happy years enjoying the sunshine and working in her flower beds. In 2004, they moved back to Michigan to be close to their family. Her favorite pastime was sketching and painting pictures which she lovingly gave to family members. She was a member of the Forest Hill Church of Christ and enjoyed worshiping with the five generations of her family who attended there.

Funeral Services will be held at the Forest Hill Church of Christ, 10015 N. Luce Rd., Alma, MI, on Wednesday, February 20, at 11:00 a.m., with John Robinson officiating. Visitation will be at the Osgood Funeral Home in St. Johns on Tuesday, February 19, from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. There will also be visitation at the Church one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at the Mt. Rest Cemetery in St. Johns with graveside services for the family at a later date.

Memorials may be made to the Forest Hill Church of Christ or the local Cancer Society. To learn more about Irene and view her Life Story film, visit her personal webpage at www.lifestorynet.com/memories/87540 . The family was served by the Osgood Funeral Home.