Mary Catherine (Schuhmacher) Anschuetz of East Tawas died at home on Aug. 13, 2015, with her husband and daughters at her bedside. She was 86.
Mary was born in Detroit on June 13, 1929, to Walter and Helen (Brown) Schuhmacher, and spent her childhood and youth in both Detroit and Tawas City, where her parents ran the Pine Haven cabins in the summer. She graduated from Tawas City High School in 1947, winning a Regents Scholarship to the University of Michigan. She earned a BA from U-M and later an MA from University of Notre Dame.
During her career as a teacher, Mary taught English, German, and English as a second language to high school and middle school students in East Tawas, South Bend, Ind. and Ann Arbor. She said she never dreaded Mondays or returning to school after summer break. Her high school German students won prestigious scholarships in Indiana. Teaching ESL to Palestinian middle school students in Ann Arbor challenged her but helped integrate them into American society.
Mary touched hundreds of people, young and old, during her life. Husband Norman says, "She was like her father: She never met a stranger." She was intelligent, compassionate, generous, curious, engaged, and engaging. She was a ball of fire, a force of nature, strong, and strong willed-"determined," as she would say.
Children were Mary's greatest joy, especially her own, whom she raised to be responsible and resilient individuals, unique yet connected to one another and to family.
She valued education and welcomed many exchange students from Europe, Southeast Asia and South America into her home to expose her family to other cultures, customs, and beliefs. She loved traveling and spending a few summer weeks in Germany whenever possible. Mary enjoyed nature, most recently watching deer, ducks, and Great Blue Herons though her home's back bay windows as she sat on the couch.
Mary retired in 1988, moving from Ann Arbor first to East Tawas, then to Lehigh Acres, Fla, and in 2005 back to the "happy hunting ground" of Tawas City and East Tawas. During retirement she was active in local chapters of Kiwanis and TOPS and enjoyed baking, knitting, quilting and reading. She baked quick breads and lots of cookies for friends, family and bake sales. The selection of cookies on her Christmas platters was legendary, as was the list of recipients (including the U.S. Coast Guard Station). She knit many stadium scarves for U-M and MSU fans and receiving blankets for new babies; completed quilts for her sons; and was usually reading several books at once.
Retirement also brought grandchildren and time for play, including Uno and Bananagrams, evening rounds of which Mary played with family and visitors until the week before she died. Her love of words, crosswords, word jumbles and literature showed in her Bananagram formulations and taught her daughters a thing or two until the end.
Mary is survived by her husband, Norman; children, Lori of Rochester, N.Y., Kurt (Linda) of Albuquerque, N.M., Leise (David) Ballou of Towson, Md. and Christian (Michelle) of Johnsburg, Ill.; "adopted" daughters, Christa Meixner of Kaiserslautern, Germany and Celia Easton of Rochester, NY; grandchildren, Nathan and Jeffrey, Natalie and Emma, Danielle and Lauren, and Alex and Zach; "adopted" grandson, Marc Fleischmann of Altdorf, Germany; dogs, Muchacho and Amigo; and many dear nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends across the U.S. and in other countries.
Her parents and son, Norman II, preceded her in death.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to one of three charities close to Mary's heart: the Lt. Norman C. Anschuetz Memorial Scholarship at the University of Michigan (gift code 790632), Iosco County Coats for Kids (in care of Grace Lutheran Church) or the Grace Lutheran Church Sanctuary Air Conditioning Fund.
As Mary requested, cremation has taken place. She also requested that family and friends celebrate her life, which we will do on Saturday, Sept. 5, beginning with visitation at 10 a.m. and service at 11 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in East Tawas.
Mary was born in Detroit on June 13, 1929, to Walter and Helen (Brown) Schuhmacher, and spent her childhood and youth in both Detroit and Tawas City, where her parents ran the Pine Haven cabins in the summer. She graduated from Tawas City High School in 1947, winning a Regents Scholarship to the University of Michigan. She earned a BA from U-M and later an MA from University of Notre Dame.
During her career as a teacher, Mary taught English, German, and English as a second language to high school and middle school students in East Tawas, South Bend, Ind. and Ann Arbor. She said she never dreaded Mondays or returning to school after summer break. Her high school German students won prestigious scholarships in Indiana. Teaching ESL to Palestinian middle school students in Ann Arbor challenged her but helped integrate them into American society.
Mary touched hundreds of people, young and old, during her life. Husband Norman says, "She was like her father: She never met a stranger." She was intelligent, compassionate, generous, curious, engaged, and engaging. She was a ball of fire, a force of nature, strong, and strong willed-"determined," as she would say.
Children were Mary's greatest joy, especially her own, whom she raised to be responsible and resilient individuals, unique yet connected to one another and to family.
She valued education and welcomed many exchange students from Europe, Southeast Asia and South America into her home to expose her family to other cultures, customs, and beliefs. She loved traveling and spending a few summer weeks in Germany whenever possible. Mary enjoyed nature, most recently watching deer, ducks, and Great Blue Herons though her home's back bay windows as she sat on the couch.
Mary retired in 1988, moving from Ann Arbor first to East Tawas, then to Lehigh Acres, Fla, and in 2005 back to the "happy hunting ground" of Tawas City and East Tawas. During retirement she was active in local chapters of Kiwanis and TOPS and enjoyed baking, knitting, quilting and reading. She baked quick breads and lots of cookies for friends, family and bake sales. The selection of cookies on her Christmas platters was legendary, as was the list of recipients (including the U.S. Coast Guard Station). She knit many stadium scarves for U-M and MSU fans and receiving blankets for new babies; completed quilts for her sons; and was usually reading several books at once.
Retirement also brought grandchildren and time for play, including Uno and Bananagrams, evening rounds of which Mary played with family and visitors until the week before she died. Her love of words, crosswords, word jumbles and literature showed in her Bananagram formulations and taught her daughters a thing or two until the end.
Mary is survived by her husband, Norman; children, Lori of Rochester, N.Y., Kurt (Linda) of Albuquerque, N.M., Leise (David) Ballou of Towson, Md. and Christian (Michelle) of Johnsburg, Ill.; "adopted" daughters, Christa Meixner of Kaiserslautern, Germany and Celia Easton of Rochester, NY; grandchildren, Nathan and Jeffrey, Natalie and Emma, Danielle and Lauren, and Alex and Zach; "adopted" grandson, Marc Fleischmann of Altdorf, Germany; dogs, Muchacho and Amigo; and many dear nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends across the U.S. and in other countries.
Her parents and son, Norman II, preceded her in death.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to one of three charities close to Mary's heart: the Lt. Norman C. Anschuetz Memorial Scholarship at the University of Michigan (gift code 790632), Iosco County Coats for Kids (in care of Grace Lutheran Church) or the Grace Lutheran Church Sanctuary Air Conditioning Fund.
As Mary requested, cremation has taken place. She also requested that family and friends celebrate her life, which we will do on Saturday, Sept. 5, beginning with visitation at 10 a.m. and service at 11 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in East Tawas.
Mary Catherine (Schuhmacher) Anschuetz of East Tawas died at home on Aug. 13, 2015, with her husband and daughters at her bedside. She was 86.
Mary was born in Detroit on June 13, 1929, to Walter and Helen (Brown) Schuhmacher, and spent her childhood and youth in both Detroit and Tawas City, where her parents ran the Pine Haven cabins in the summer. She graduated from Tawas City High School in 1947, winning a Regents Scholarship to the University of Michigan. She earned a BA from U-M and later an MA from University of Notre Dame.
During her career as a teacher, Mary taught English, German, and English as a second language to high school and middle school students in East Tawas, South Bend, Ind. and Ann Arbor. She said she never dreaded Mondays or returning to school after summer break. Her high school German students won prestigious scholarships in Indiana. Teaching ESL to Palestinian middle school students in Ann Arbor challenged her but helped integrate them into American society.
Mary touched hundreds of people, young and old, during her life. Husband Norman says, "She was like her father: She never met a stranger." She was intelligent, compassionate, generous, curious, engaged, and engaging. She was a ball of fire, a force of nature, strong, and strong willed-"determined," as she would say.
Children were Mary's greatest joy, especially her own, whom she raised to be responsible and resilient individuals, unique yet connected to one another and to family.
She valued education and welcomed many exchange students from Europe, Southeast Asia and South America into her home to expose her family to other cultures, customs, and beliefs. She loved traveling and spending a few summer weeks in Germany whenever possible. Mary enjoyed nature, most recently watching deer, ducks, and Great Blue Herons though her home's back bay windows as she sat on the couch.
Mary retired in 1988, moving from Ann Arbor first to East Tawas, then to Lehigh Acres, Fla, and in 2005 back to the "happy hunting ground" of Tawas City and East Tawas. During retirement she was active in local chapters of Kiwanis and TOPS and enjoyed baking, knitting, quilting and reading. She baked quick breads and lots of cookies for friends, family and bake sales. The selection of cookies on her Christmas platters was legendary, as was the list of recipients (including the U.S. Coast Guard Station). She knit many stadium scarves for U-M and MSU fans and receiving blankets for new babies; completed quilts for her sons; and was usually reading several books at once.
Retirement also brought grandchildren and time for play, including Uno and Bananagrams, evening rounds of which Mary played with family and visitors until the week before she died. Her love of words, crosswords, word jumbles and literature showed in her Bananagram formulations and taught her daughters a thing or two until the end.
Mary is survived by her husband, Norman; children, Lori of Rochester, N.Y., Kurt (Linda) of Albuquerque, N.M., Leise (David) Ballou of Towson, Md. and Christian (Michelle) of Johnsburg, Ill.; "adopted" daughters, Christa Meixner of Kaiserslautern, Germany and Celia Easton of Rochester, NY; grandchildren, Nathan and Jeffrey, Natalie and Emma, Danielle and Lauren, and Alex and Zach; "adopted" grandson, Marc Fleischmann of Altdorf, Germany; dogs, Muchacho and Amigo; and many dear nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends across the U.S. and in other countries.
Her parents and son, Norman II, preceded her in death.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to one of three charities close to Mary's heart: the Lt. Norman C. Anschuetz Memorial Scholarship at the University of Michigan (gift code 790632), Iosco County Coats for Kids (in care of Grace Lutheran Church) or the Grace Lutheran Church Sanctuary Air Conditioning Fund.
As Mary requested, cremation has taken place. She also requested that family and friends celebrate her life, which we will do on Saturday, Sept. 5, beginning with visitation at 10 a.m. and service at 11 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in East Tawas.
Mary was born in Detroit on June 13, 1929, to Walter and Helen (Brown) Schuhmacher, and spent her childhood and youth in both Detroit and Tawas City, where her parents ran the Pine Haven cabins in the summer. She graduated from Tawas City High School in 1947, winning a Regents Scholarship to the University of Michigan. She earned a BA from U-M and later an MA from University of Notre Dame.
During her career as a teacher, Mary taught English, German, and English as a second language to high school and middle school students in East Tawas, South Bend, Ind. and Ann Arbor. She said she never dreaded Mondays or returning to school after summer break. Her high school German students won prestigious scholarships in Indiana. Teaching ESL to Palestinian middle school students in Ann Arbor challenged her but helped integrate them into American society.
Mary touched hundreds of people, young and old, during her life. Husband Norman says, "She was like her father: She never met a stranger." She was intelligent, compassionate, generous, curious, engaged, and engaging. She was a ball of fire, a force of nature, strong, and strong willed-"determined," as she would say.
Children were Mary's greatest joy, especially her own, whom she raised to be responsible and resilient individuals, unique yet connected to one another and to family.
She valued education and welcomed many exchange students from Europe, Southeast Asia and South America into her home to expose her family to other cultures, customs, and beliefs. She loved traveling and spending a few summer weeks in Germany whenever possible. Mary enjoyed nature, most recently watching deer, ducks, and Great Blue Herons though her home's back bay windows as she sat on the couch.
Mary retired in 1988, moving from Ann Arbor first to East Tawas, then to Lehigh Acres, Fla, and in 2005 back to the "happy hunting ground" of Tawas City and East Tawas. During retirement she was active in local chapters of Kiwanis and TOPS and enjoyed baking, knitting, quilting and reading. She baked quick breads and lots of cookies for friends, family and bake sales. The selection of cookies on her Christmas platters was legendary, as was the list of recipients (including the U.S. Coast Guard Station). She knit many stadium scarves for U-M and MSU fans and receiving blankets for new babies; completed quilts for her sons; and was usually reading several books at once.
Retirement also brought grandchildren and time for play, including Uno and Bananagrams, evening rounds of which Mary played with family and visitors until the week before she died. Her love of words, crosswords, word jumbles and literature showed in her Bananagram formulations and taught her daughters a thing or two until the end.
Mary is survived by her husband, Norman; children, Lori of Rochester, N.Y., Kurt (Linda) of Albuquerque, N.M., Leise (David) Ballou of Towson, Md. and Christian (Michelle) of Johnsburg, Ill.; "adopted" daughters, Christa Meixner of Kaiserslautern, Germany and Celia Easton of Rochester, NY; grandchildren, Nathan and Jeffrey, Natalie and Emma, Danielle and Lauren, and Alex and Zach; "adopted" grandson, Marc Fleischmann of Altdorf, Germany; dogs, Muchacho and Amigo; and many dear nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends across the U.S. and in other countries.
Her parents and son, Norman II, preceded her in death.
In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to one of three charities close to Mary's heart: the Lt. Norman C. Anschuetz Memorial Scholarship at the University of Michigan (gift code 790632), Iosco County Coats for Kids (in care of Grace Lutheran Church) or the Grace Lutheran Church Sanctuary Air Conditioning Fund.
As Mary requested, cremation has taken place. She also requested that family and friends celebrate her life, which we will do on Saturday, Sept. 5, beginning with visitation at 10 a.m. and service at 11 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in East Tawas.
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