Jean Marie (Miller) Griner passed away peacefully on Friday, February 3rd after a brief stay at Tender Care Westwood. Jean was born March 4, 1929 in Vicksburg, Michigan, to Harold and Mildred (Brockway) Miller and was the second oldest of their seven daughters. She lived most of her life in the Vicksburg area and graduated from Vicksburg High School. In 1947 she married the late Dick Griner, and in 1948 gave birth to their beloved only child Carolyn. Jean retired from the Upjohn Company in 1985 where she worked in fluid packaging and as a department clerk. Following her early retirement, she worked part-time for several years at Wagner's clothing store in Portage, and also volunteered at the Vicksburg Library. She was a past member of the Vicksburg American Legion Auxiliary and for several years volunteered at the Ft. Custer VA Hospital. Jean enjoyed spending time with her family, and spent many happy, fun-filled weekends and vacations camping throughout the Mid-West with friends and family. In recent years she had become involved in genealogy and spent many hours researching her family's ancestry. Jean was preceded in death by her parents, her sister, Sarah Ann; brother-in-law, Robert Nimmo; two nieces, Vickie (Nimmo) Beougher and Diane (Nimmo) Fox; and her husband of 63-years, Richard (Dick) Griner. Her family includes her daughter, Carolyn Hippen, a special son-in-law; Don Hippen, grand-daughter, Amy Hippen, who brought her so much joy, and future grand-son-in-law, Grant Saunders. She is also survived by her sisters, Beverly Nimmo, Janet (Ray) Herschleb, Joyce (Bud) DeYoung, Janie Strome, and Susan Schippers, as well as a niece and several nephews. Jean especially enjoyed spending time with her great-nephew Brody Schippers and was looking forward to the birth of her next great-nephew, Brayden Schippers. Condolences and favorite memories of Jean may be shared at www.avinkcremation.com, and donations may be made to Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan, 222 N Kalamazoo Mall, Kalamazoo, MI, 49007. Cremation arrangements were handled by Avink Funeral Home. A burial service for Jean's family will be held at Fort Custer at a later date.
[Contributor: Efa Reinewald]