Margery J. Schnell's Obituary
Margery J. Schnell, age 87, passed away Saturday, April 17, 2021 at Grand Pines Assisted Living Center in Grand Haven. She was born on January 11, 1934 to Malcolm and Hazel (Fry) Milks in Lansing, Michigan. Marge graduated from Lansing’s Sexton High School in 1951. Some of her school activities were Girl Scouting, yearbook staff, library volunteer, working on the senior play, the Latin club, and the school’s harpists club. She spent her childhood summers at her parents’ cottage on Torch Lake, and attended Interlochen Center for the Arts summer camp.
Marge earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from the University of Michigan and on December 29, 1956 she married John “Jack” P. Schnell in Lansing. She taught English and history in Saline, MI and was a librarian at a number of public schools in West Michigan after the family moved to Grand Haven in 1970. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Grand Valley State University in computer science and subsequently worked for Grand Valley’s Computer Services Department, receiving an award for exemplary service in 1987.
One of Marge’s passions was music. She was an accomplished pianist, but was most known for her talent as a harpist. Marge’s junior high school offered harp lessons at that time, and in short order she fell in love with the instrument, eventually using an inheritance from a great uncle to purchase her first harp.
For many years Marge played the harp with the West Michigan Symphony and the Grand Rapids Symphony. She gave individual harp lessons, taught harp at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and Grand Valley, played at weddings, and performed with church choirs and community theatres across the area. Some of these organizations were Central Park Players, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, Holland Community Theatre, and the St. Cecelia Music Society. Two productions she played numerous times were The Nutcracker ballet and the musical “The Fantasticks.” As a by-product of Marge’s musical abilities, her family became extremely adept at moving harps.
Marge had been a former member of First Presbyterian Church and a current member of St. John’s Episcopal Church and sang in the choir. Marge was also a Girl Scout leader, a past president of the local League of Women Voters, and was a member of PEO’s Chapter AG in Lansing and a member and past president of PEO’s Chapter DS in Grand Haven.
Some of her favorite leisure activities were spending time with her family, reading, camping in the Upper Peninsula, doing crossword puzzles in ink, and watching Torch Lake sunsets. Her husband preceded her in death in 2011.
SURVIVORS include her children: Mark (Karen) Schnell of Mebane, NC, Janet (Jon) Koch of Cadillac and Central Lake, MI and Phillip (Robin) Schnell of Lake Forest, CA; and 4 grandchildren: Samantha & Lee Schnell and Adin Schnell & Caleb Schnell. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Malcolm “Mack” Milks.
A MEMORIAL SERVICE will be held Thursday, August 5 at 11 am at St. John’s Episcopal Church (524 Washington Ave., Grand Haven) with Rev. Dr. Jared C. Cramer officiating. Arrangements are being made for the service to be livestreamed. VISITATION with the family will be one hour prior to the service. MEMORIALS can be directed to the Grand Haven Community Foundation or the University of Michigan Alumni Association. Burial will take place at Grand Haven Township’s Historic Cemetery. Share memories with the family at www.sytsemafh.com.
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