Alta Sivon Lahner

LAHNER, Alta Sivon
Of Kalamazoo, Michigan After a long battle with cancer, Alta Sivon Lahner joined her Lord on Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at 4:25 p.m. Alta's legacy as a wife, mother, teacher and friend will not be forgotten. Her spirit affected all who knew her and her life long love of science is evident in all aspects of her life. Alta Lind Sivon was born on January 1, 1935 in Ravenna, Ohio to Alta and Charles Sivon. She graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1956 and then taught sixth grade at Kensington School in Rocky River, OH. She then left Ohio for Michigan and graduated with a masters degree in Biology from U of M in 1962. Alta noted that there were several people who shaped her teaching career during this time that focused on conservation and the environment. She extended the classroom into the outdoors with many field trips to the bog, forests, and rivers throughout her career. Her projects are many including her biology classes planting of the Pine trees on south side of I-94 as one passes Portage Northern High. She taught Biology in Portage from 1962 to 1967 and gained many good friends from this experience. After staying home to raise her three girls Christine, Julia, and Carolyn from 1967 to 1974, Alta returned to teaching adding Kalamazoo Valley Community College, Nazareth College, Edison Elementary, Northeastern Elementary, South Junior High, and 16 years at Kalamazoo Central High School to her resume. She retired from teaching in 1994, but taught at Western in Teacher's Education for 2 years. She was actively involved in many organizations such as the United Methodist Women at First United Methodist Church of Kalamazoo, Michigan Botanical Society, MI Association of Biology Teachers, Kalamazoo Garden Club and Kalamazoo Association of Retired School Personnel. Several times, Alta noted that her life had been so blessed by all who she came in contact with and used every moment of her life to teach others about the world around them. Alta is preceded in death by her parents Charles and Alta Sivon, in-law's Bela and Sofia Lahner, and son-in-law Mark A. Hays. She is survived by husband Bela Lahner; daughters Christine Webster, Julie Jenkins, Carolyn Betke and their husbands Mark Webster, Ray Jenkins, Tony Betke; grand children Sarah and Jacob Webster, James and Andy Jenkins, Cooper and Spencer Betke; sister Charlotte Kieffer and family; and many friends and students. Services will be held at 1:00 pm Saturday at the First United Methodist Church, 212 S. Park St. The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Alta's memory be made to the United Methodist Church Women, West Michigan Cancer Center or Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan. Please join the family for refreshments at the First Presbyterian Church, 321 W. South immediately following the service. Arrangements by Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Memorial Chapel, 622 S. Burdick St. Please visit www.langelands.com to sign the online register book or leave a condolence to the family.