Jean Kenz

Kenz, Jean
Of Kalamazoo, MI After a full and active life, Jean Kenz peacefully went home to heaven on Sunday, August 19, 2012. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Herb; their six children: Joe, Culver, IN; Bill Sandy, Moorhead, MN; Kathie Jerry Forrest, Thompson's Station, TN; Debbie Steve Herson, Mattawan, MI; Kevin Lisa, Kalamazoo, MI and Kris, Kalamazoo, MI; ten grandchildren: Aubrey Scott Tate; Jeremy Katie Forrest; Amanda Ryan Latreille; Allysa and Alyona Forrest; Zack, Sarah and Jake Kenz and Matt and Mark Kenz; and six great-grandchildren: Aliyah, Clay, Caden, Lilly and Casyn Tate and Edie Forrest. Also surviving are her brother Roland Gray of Maryland, and her sister Beverly George Bangs of Illinois, as well as several nieces and nephews. Jean was also blessed with many friends who supported her during her recent illness. Jean was born April 21, 1930 to Roland and Lillian nee Johannes Gray. She attended the Sacred Heart Academy for high school. She graduated summa cum laude from Barat College in Lake Forest, IL, receiving a degree in theatre and drama. She was the first woman president of the Semiens Club, which did a play every summer. Her love of travel started at that point when her parents gave her a trip to/through Europe as her graduation present. After her return, she taught at Sacred Heart and coached their field hockey team. She continued to play tennis and be active in other sports in addition to working in her father's store, Roland Gray's Racquet and Sports Shop. Jean went back to school for a masters in communication and education at Western Michigan University, graduating in 1969. She met Herb when he followed her home from church when he was stationed in Grosse Pointe, MI. She admitted she had noticed him for a few weeks, but she was flustered when he appeared at her car door and introduced himself. She said the first thing that came to her mind, "Would you like to meet my mother?" and the courtship began. Although Herb was on active duty with the Army and the courting was done long-distance at times, a true love developed and when he asked her to marry him, he sent her engagement ring through the mail. They were married on February 19, 1955 at St. Philomena in East Detroit - the same church where they had first seen each other. While raising their six children, Jean found time to be a substitute teacher in the Otsego School District and she taught Adult Education through the Kalamazoo Public School System. She instilled common sense values in her kids by word and example. She taught herself to cook, sew, and canning and freeze produce from the garden at their house in Alamo, MI. She could make a dollar stretch and there was always room for friends at the table. Although not a big pet person, Jean indulged her kids' wishes for pets including dogs, cats, lab rats, a rabbit and numerous salamanders, garter snakes and other critters. She didn't like the cats in her flower garden, but she usually put up with it with good grace, only, we think, because she was listening to her Detroit Tigers on the transistor radio. Jean had a life-long passion for sports, both as a player and as a spectator. She once won tickets to a Tigers game by calling in the correct answer to a trivia question on WKZO! She played tennis in the Senior Olympics and attended many USTA games in Kalamazoo. She and Herb were on a golf league, she was on a bowling team, and she played backyard sports with her kids: volleyball, badminton and showed them "my best shot" in basketball, which unfortunately caused her to break her ankle - something we teased her about for years. She worked at the pro shop at West Hills Tennis Club in the early 1980's. That was an interesting job, especially the day she met the singer Kenny Rogers when he bought several items from the shop. Jean was a member of the Jaycee Auxiliary and worked her way up to being state president. She's particularly proud that due to hard work, she convinced the male Jaycee president not to dissolve their auxiliary. An active civic volunteer, she served on the board of the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre and the New Vic Theatre in Kalamazoo, as well as on the board of directors for Cumberland County Playhouse in Crossville, TN. She was a lector at her church in Tennessee St. Francis and here at St. Augustine's. Jean went back to the stage in the late 1970's at the New Vic Theatre in Kalamazoo and continued to act at the three theatres mentioned above right through to her last performance, which was in Look Homeward Angel with the All Ears Theatre in Kalamazoo in 2008. Of the many trips they took, Jean particularly enjoyed the 1997 trip to the UK and Ireland. They were able to visit friends, Carol and David Rudd, who live in Manchester, England. They originally met the Rudds on a vacation to Virginia. Other trips included visiting a niece and her family in Europe, Caribbean cruises, a river boat cruise on the Mississippi, and visits to California, Minnesota, Maryland, Illinois, Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, Kentucky and many other places. They lived in Fairfield Glade, TN from 1989 to 2005, when they moved back to Kalamazoo. Above all, Jean loved Herb. Many times she said she was grateful for his love and support in their marriage, especially these last couple years. "Quite a man," is how she put it recently when talking about him. She recalled how they prayed together before they went to bed each night. It was so important to her that they shared their faith. A Memorial Mass for Jean will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, September 17, 2012 at St. Augustine's Cathedral, downtown Kalamazoo. A Celebration of Life Lunch will follow immediately after the Mass at the Carver Center, 426 S. Park St., Kalamazoo. Mom always told us she didn't want "a regular funeral luncheon." She wanted a party with music, good memories, laughs and lots of color. She said we can cry at the Mass, but not at the party. Mom didn't want anyone to wear black. To honor her wishes, we request that you wear bright colors to her Memorial Mass and the lunch. Interment with husband Herb will be held Monday, September 26, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at Ft. Custer National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Rose Arbor Residence. The donation form can be found at http://www.hospiceswmi.org/hospice/donationForm.php . ; If you'd rather send them a check, the mailing address is: Rose Arbor Residence, 5473 Croyden Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49009. Please note In Memory of Jean Kenz on your donation. Arrangements by Langland Family Funeral Homes.