Marion Johnstone Schmiege

SCHMIEGE Johnstone, Mrs. Marion
Of Kalamazoo February 10, 2012, Marion Frances Johnstone Schmiege accepted the call to eternal life. She was a lifelong resident of Kalamazoo, Michigan. Born August 28, 1923 to Ethyle Hindbaugh and James H. Johnstone of Vaudeville fame, Marion and her brother, James H. Johnstone, Jr., inherited their parents' love of music and interest in travel. Marion graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School 1941 and Kalamazoo College 1945 with a degree in organ and music education. She then taught music in the Kellogg and Kalamazoo Public Schools. She was on the faculty at Interlochen Music Camp, served as teen director at the YWCA, accompanist to her parents' orchestras and as a wedding and guest organist for the downtown churches. She met her future husband, a Kalamazoo attorney, Franklin W. Schmiege, at Wednesday Night Supper Club in the First Presbyterian Church. They married there in 1948, raised four children and became invested in the Kalamazoo community. They were faithful companions for 61 years, until Frank's passing in 2009. Marion was active in every group to which she belonged, a practice that usually led her into leadership positions. Her creative energy impacted the Kalamazoo Area Music Teachers Association, The Gilmore International Keyboard Festival, Bar Association Auxiliary of Kalamazoo County, and Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra League, for which she originated and orchestrated the highly popular and successful Oktoberfest. The Kalamazoo College Alumni Council honored her with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her work on behalf of the college. At the First Presbyterian Church, there was hardly an activity in which she did not have a hand: from paper drives, and church dinners to Martha Circle, John Dunning Guild, Music Committee, weddings, youth mission trips and as a perpetual member of the choir. Music was her mainstay and engagement her mission. She gave piano lessons to over 500 students and recruited hundreds of children and adults to participate in innumerable music, talent and variety shows for fun and fundraising. She took every opportunity to gather people for food and fellowship, be it a special event or potluck in a snowstorm. Marion was open to new relationships, new experiences, and new ways of doing things. She saw the world as it was and tried to make it better. As a parent, her standards and expectations were clear, her discipline fair, and her grace inexhaustible. Honesty, energy, and perseverance imbued her efforts in every arena, and her spirited personality and infectious laughter inspired others to follow. Marion's optimistic enthusiasm, generous spirit and gracious hospitality are not only her hallmarks, but the legacy infused into her four children, Janet-Schmiege Ferguson, Richard Janet Stoner, Charles Cj Barratt and David Schmiege, eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren. Marion's remains will reside in the Columbarium at First Presbyterian Church. A Memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 20th at the First Presbyterian Church, 321 W. South Street. All who attend are invited to join the family for lunch and fellowship, after the service, in the Church Dining Room. In lieu of flowers, those interested in making a contribution in her memory may direct them to the Music and Arts Fund of the First Presbyterian Church or Kalamazoo College.