Daniel Ross Schmalenberg

Daniel (Dan) Ross Schmalenberg was born in Detroit, MI on March 3, 1946, to Rudolf and Margaret (Forest) Schmalenberg. On Friday, December 30, 2016, he entered into eternal life after five months at the Grand Traverse Pavilions.

Dan grew up in Grosse Pointe, MI with his parents, sister Linda and much extended family. He graduated from Grosse Point South in 1964 and moved on to receive his business degree in 1969 from Central Michigan University where he was president of his fraternity, a chapter of Phi Kappa Tau.

After college graduation, Dan married Judith Leamen and began to work at the family owned business, R&S Engineering in Warren, MI. Around that time he began a four year commitment with the Michigan National Guard where he served as a paymaster. Later, in 1973, he and Judy moved to Gaylord, MI where Dan had been recruited by Marks Management to open one of the first McDonalds restaurants in northern Michigan, the beginning of a long and satisfying career.

In 1975, Dan and Judy began their family with the birth of their daughter, Christa Ann, followed by Jeffrey Ross in 1979. Then, and now, Dan's children were the light of his life. Their names appear repeatedly in his prayer journals over the years. Even after he was severely cognitively impaired with Lewy Body Dementia he would ask "How are the kids doing?" He always went the extra mile for his children, stepchildren and grandchildren.

In 1983, Dan was promoted to Director of Operations for Marks Management Corporation with oversight of numerous McDonalds throughout northern Michigan and he moved his family to Traverse City. Most regrettably his marriage did not survive that move, but he put great effort into being a father to his children.

In 1990, Dan married Sherry Lou (McGinnis) Carlson. During their years together, Dan's 22 year career with Marks Management ended and Dan worked the next five years as Executive Director of Habitat for Humanity- Grand Traverse. Dan was in his element when helping others and he and Habitat flourished during his leadership. When he retired from Habitat for Humanity in 1999, he spent a year helping build a home for one of his four stepsons. Not too long after, in 2001, Dan Jonkhoff recruited him to join the work family at Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home where he remained until 2011. At Reynolds-Jonkhoff, because of his keen technical skills, he was known as "the Wizard" until it became apparent that Lewy Body Dementia was slowly taking his mind.
Throughout his lifetime, Dan was a quiet and efficient leader wherever he served. In Gaylord, he was very active with the Gaylord Jaycees and served on the Alpenfest board. In Traverse City, he was an active leader with Habitat for Humanity, Traverse Bay United Methodist Church, Senior Companions, Northern Michigan Emmaus Community, National Ski Patrol, Leadership Grand Traverse and Parkinson's Network North.
Dan's happiest times were spent helping build, fix or provide whatever was needed for his family. He was often the family photographer and he loved sailing his Catalina 25 and tooling around in his little blue Miata with Sherry Lou and the Tip of the Mitt Miata Club. Despite the progression of his disease, there were many joyful years spent with family, friends, travel, volunteering and helping whoever Dan could find to help. Even when Sherry Lou could no longer care for Dan at home, Dan spent his last five months at the Grand Traverse Pavilions trying to figure out who and how he could help. As Sherry Lou visited him each day he would frequently ask, "who can we help today?"
Dan was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, and numerous aunts and uncles.
Along with his wife Sherry Lou, left to carry on without him are his children, Christa (Aaron) Peoples and Jeffrey (Emily Walter) Schmalenberg; and Sherry Lou's children Gregory, Jeffrey, Dale, and Chris Carlson; his sister, Linda (Rick) Canada and her family; and the mother of his children, Judith Leaman (John Gross). He leaves a legacy of love and generosity of spirit to his seven grandchildren: Keegan, Madeline and Lauren Peoples; Nina Schmalenberg; and Tyler, Ben and Sadie Carlson. He was a kind, generous, faithful, loving, honest husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend. He made the world a better place.

A debt of gratitude is owed the Elm Unit at the Grand Traverse Pavilions who loved and cared for him in his final months.

Friends and family may visit at Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home from 5 to 8 pm on Wednesday January 4, 2017. A service to celebrate Dan's life will be held at Traverse Bay United Methodist Church on Thursday, January 5, 2017 at 10:30 am. Burial will be in Grand Traverse Memorial Gardens.

For those who so choose, memorials may be directed to Parkinsons Network North, P. O. Box 5734, Traverse City, MI 49696 ( www.gtaparkinsonsgroup.org/donations ) or to the local Alzheimers Association, Greater Michigan Chapter, 25200 Telegraph Rd. Ste 100, Southfield, MI 48033 ( www.alz.org/gmc )