Susanne Schipper

Susanne Louise Schipper, 85, passed away on February 27, 2022. Her Celebration of Life will be held at Unity of Kalamazoo, 1204 Whites Rd, Kalamazoo MI at 1 PM on March 17, 2022. 

Susanne (known to many as Susie) was born on April 18, 1936 in Kalamazoo MI where she lived all of her life.

She retired from the  Kalamazoo State Hospital as an occupational therapy assistant and in later years she worked in the Print Shop.  From an early age and for many years she was employed at Goodwill Industries where she volunteered later in life.

Another of her favorite volunteer jobs was holding babies at Bronson Hospital which she did for over 25 years. She cherished babies and children and they gave her great joy. She also mentored younger people in life skills earlier in her life.

Susanne was a creative seamstress and crafter having a talent for putting color and style together.  She taught sewing from her early 20’s and intermittently until just a few years ago. She was an active member of Unity Church and many clubs in the Kalamazoo area (e.g. quilt club, sewing club, button club, miniature dollhouse club, etc.) as well as the Oshtemo Historical Society where she played an active part.

She was an avid lover of antiques and enjoyed going to auctions far and wide.  She made many Amish friends through the years on those occasions and continued to have frequent interactions with them through her love of quilts.

Susanne was preceded in death by her parents Sander and Evelyn Schipper, brother Jerry Schipper, sister-in-law Joan Schipper and brother-in-law Robert Dekema.

Left to share her story are her brother Russell Schipper (Ilse Gebhard) and her sister Holly Schipper.  Also surviving are her nephews Kevin Schipper, Jeffrey (Callie) Schipper,  Shawn (Gina) Schipper, Kyle (Laurie) Schipper, her great nieces, nephews and numerous beloved cousins.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to https://www.arborday.org