Submitted by: Dan Rich
Joanne M. Schmalkuche
Jan. 10, 1939 - Oct. 25, 2006
Joanne M. Schmalkuche, 67, of Pokagon
Hwy., Cassopolis, passed away at her daughter's home in Dowagiac
with her family by her side. Joanne was born on January 10, 1939,
in Mishawaka, Indiana, to the late Joseph and Florence (Landuyt)
DeWitte.
On June 14, 1958, Joanne married Terry
Schmalkuche at a ceremony in Mishawaka, IN. Joanne worked as a
machinist for Wittorp-Lawrence for many years. Joanne and her
husband owned and operated T&J Party Hut near Diamond Lake in
Cassopolis for many years before her retirement in 1983. Joanne
was a member of St. Ann's Catholic Church in Cassopolis. Joanne
along with her husband Terry were members of the National Street
Rod Association where they both enjoyed showing cars together.
She also loved gardening, spending time outdoors, being a
homemaker and mostly a grandma. She also spent much time with her
beloved cat “Whiskers”. She was preceded in death by
her parents, and by her husband in 2005.
She is survived by two daughters, Teresa
(Sam) Tone of Battle Creek, MI, and Brenda (David) McCartney
of Dowagiac; three granddaughters, Mindy (Shaun) Kinsey,
Hilary Tone (Scott Kline) and Alyssa Tone, all of Battle
Creek; a great-grandson, Ethan Kline of Battle Creek; and a half
sister, Rita (Carl) DeMaegd of Mishawaka, IN.
Services will be held today, October 27th,
at 3:00 p.m. in Mission Hills Memorial Chapel, 61453 M-51 N. in
Niles, with Pastor Emilio Martino officiating. A time of
visitation and remembrance will be two hours prior to the
services. She will be interred at Mission Hills Memorial Gardens.
Contributions may be made in Joanne's memory
to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan, 2222 N. Kalamazoo Mall,
Suite 100, Kalamazoo, MI 49007-3882. Arrangements have been
entrusted to Brown Funeral Home, Niles.