Jeanne Elizabeth (Zemke) Booher

Jeanne Elizabeth (Zemke) Booher of St. Mary's Lake (Battle Creek), MI


The Lord has called an Angel home. Jeanne, age 71, went to be with the Lord, Monday morning, July 25, 2016 after valiant struggle against esophageal cancer. She passed away peacefully at her beloved home at St. Mary's Lake. Jeanne was born May 21, 1945 to Reinhart and Polly (Jones) Zemke in Battle Creek, MI and was a lifetime area resident. She was united in marriage to her husband, Durwood D. "Woody" Booher on August 15, 1964 in Vermontville, MI.

Jeanne was a 1963 graduate of Vermontville High School and Argubright Business College in Lansing, MI. Her early career included secretarial duties at Michigan Carton Company and the former Michigan Education Association facility at St. Mary's Lake.

Jeanne paused her career to raise her two children, Doug and Dee Dee. She resumed her career as the administrator of the Emily Andrus Senior Residence of Battle Creek, a position she held for 22 years until the closing of the facility in 2012.

Jeanne dedicated her life to caring for the elderly and others needing special care. Whether it was family, friends or her "grandmas" at Emily Andrus, she always showed love and compassion for those in her care.

Jeanne was preceded in death by her parents; her parents-in-law, Russell and Mabel (VanBlarcom) Booher; brothers-in-law, Carl Grashuis and Kerwin Booher and sisters-in-law, Ann Booher and Dorothy Booher.

Jeanne is survived by her husband of nearly 52 years; son, Douglas (Michelle) Booher of Middleton, Wisconsin; daughter, Dee Dee (Michael) Michaux of Austin, Texas; grandsons, Charlie Booher and Kirkland Michaux and granddaughter, Gracie Michaux. In addition, she is survived by sisters, Edith Grashuis of Hastings, MI, Margaret Cook of Vermontville and Mary Zemke of Battle Creek and brother-in-law, Vernon Booher of Lake Odessa, MI along with several nieces and nephews.

The Funeral Service to celebrate Jeanne's life will be held on Friday, July 29th at 11:00 a.m. in the Pennfield Presbyterian Church, 7979 St. Marys Lake Road, Battle Creek, MI 49017 with Cathy Schulz, officiating. Interment will follow at Hicks Cemetery, Pennfield Township. Family and friends will continue Jeanne's life celebration with a time of fellowship and a luncheon in the Church Social Hall immediately following the committal. Jeanne's family will greet friends on Thursday, July 28th from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Farley Estes Dowdle Funeral Home & Cremation Care, Battle Creek. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Jeanne's honor may be directed to the Zemke Scholarship Fund, c/o Maple Valley High School, 11090 Nashville Highway, Vermontville, MI 49096 or Oaklawn Hospital Hospice, 122 High Street, Marshall, MI 49068.