Irma M. Schwartz

On August 27, 2014, our much loved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and best friend, Irma Mildred (Ansorge) Schwartz began her new life with G-d. Irma was born September 18, 1918 to Alice Mary (Hoffine) Ansorge and Arthur S. Ansorge and lived in the Traverse City area all her life. Her childhood and growing up years were on the family potato farm in Leelanau County. She loved school and picked 75 pounds of potatoes in half a day to be able to go to school the other half day. She also loved the piano and always remembered how her mother churned extra bricks of butter to sell to afford her lessons. Irma continued her study of music and was awarded a diploma in classical studies from Immaculate Conception Music School in 1936.

The opportunities for fun on the farm were scarce, but when Irma was done driving a team of work horses, she regularly attended the local barn dances where she played the accordion with a stand up band. She loved to dress up in silly outfits and entertain her neighbors with the rest of the band. In the winter months, Irma used her wooden skis together with her older brother, Clarence, who she dearly adored, and skied the hills on the farm. The two of them were inseparable.

Irma completed a course of study in cosmetology in 1940, then known as Beauty Culture, at the Teresa Manion Academy of Beauty in Traverse City and began her career at Leah's Beauty Salon. She also managed the Powder Box Salon. Once there, she recruited four other gals for a bowling team who called themselves Irma's Five. She tried her hand at roller skating too, where she met a handsome, fun loving, city boy from Philadelphia dressed in a navy uniform. His name was Ellis Schwartz. Ellis did his best to keep her on her feet with those roller skates. He later swept her off her feet and they were married in Canute, Oklahoma November 16, 1943.

Irma and Ellis spent most of their married life on what later became the Ansorge Centennial Farm. They became the proud parents of Suzanne Ellis Schwartz (McGhee), Myrna Lou Schwartz (Downer), and their pride and joy baby boy, Dr. David (Karen) Michael Schwartz. Irma became a stay at home mom and homemaker extraordinaire always baking pies and bread, cooking big meals, packing lunches, canning, pickling, sewing, knitting, crocheting, and whatever else she could fit in. As her children grew, she assisted teachers at Norris Elementary, was a 4-H Leader, Cub Scout Leader, Worthy Advisor of Rainbow Girls, Officer of the Eastern Star, Secretary of the Black Silver Martin Club and returned to work at Milliken's Department Store.

For many winters, Irma enjoyed the warm climate of Florida with Ellis as they zigged zagged their way South and North again always returning to the farm. They spent a few years heading West to winter in Texas and Arizona always enjoying their travels. Irma's retirement years were also busy volunteering at Father Fred's, assisting with events at the Ladies Auxiliary VFW Post 2780, performing the duties of historian and chaplain at the American Legion Post 35, crafting with the Cozy Corner gals, and playing Scrabble at the Senior Center. And of all things, at the age of 75, Irma earned her high school diploma along with Ellis, at the local Adult Education Program in 1993.
It was a bittersweet experience when the time came to leave the farm where Irma lived most of her life. Just like rolling skating where Ellis helped her, he took her hand as they started their new experience with condominium living in Traverse City.

Family was all important and the center of Irma's life. She lovingly cared for her oldest grandchild, Benjamin R. (Tammy) Sutton, and was a part of his everyday life as a baby and toddler. She so looked forward to her visits with David's children, Ellesse, Sam, Sean, and Violet; and her grandson, Drew (Allison) Downer with their precious little girl, Lyla, her only great granddaughter.

Irma was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, Ellis Schwartz; her brother Clarence Ansorge, at the young age of 29; and her son-in-law, Gary Lee McGhee, and her sister-in-law, Marion Hadary.

The family wishes to express sincere appreciation for the wonderful medical care given by Ethan VanTil, M.D. and his nurse, Sandy, at Thirlby Clinic as well as numerous staff members at Munson Medical Center through the years. We will be forever grateful to
Nancy Patterson, RN and Heidi Pelnar, RN with Munson Hospice.

Private services have taken place.

The family is being served by Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.