Deborah Jane Jenswold, Easling, Elhart, Klotzbach, Miltz passed away on June 1, 2012, at the age of 87 at her home in Leland, Michigan, from liver cancer. She was born on June 14, 1924 to John and Marion (Townsend) Jenswold in Duluth, Minnesota. She is predeceased by her parents and three siblings: her sister Barbara Jenswold Landfield; her brother, John Jenswold, Jr.; and her youngest sister Marion Jenswold Dickerson.
Jane was married to Newton Paul Easling on Oct. 1, 1945, and he died on August 11, 1968. She married Baxter J. Elhart on Dec. 26, 1971, and he passed away in July of 1984. On Dec. 28, 1986, Jane married Winton J. Klotzbach in Ft. Myers, FL. in the presence of their families. They spent their winters in Ft. Myers until moving to Pinehurst, NC in 2001; they spent the remainder of each year in Leland, MI. Win passed away on Dec. 17, 2006. Jane married Roland W. Miltz on March 15, 2009 in Wayne, PA., where he died a few months later.
Jane lived a very full life, and wanted people to know she was blessed by her wonderful family, and by her husbands Paul N. Easling , Baxter J. Elhart, Winton J. Klotzbach, and Bill Miltz. She is survived by her children: David Paul Easling and Gail (Krippaehne) Easling of Puyllup, WA; Martin McClelland Easling of Leland, MI; Roger Alan and Jeanette (Cain) Easling of Sequim, WA; and Martha Marion (Easling, Elhart) and Glenn Moss of Cass City, MI; as well as 12 Easling grandchildren: Sarah (Lee), Benjamin , Jonathan, James, Peter, Andrew, Joel, Alicia ( Lantzer), Heather, Bethany , Erin (Judd),and Alan Easling; 11 great-grandchildren; and two on the way. From her marriage to Baxter Elhart she is survived by stepchildren Craig W. and Michele (Long) Elhart of Traverse City, MI; Lisa Jo (Elhart) and Alan Craker of Omena, MI; and Patricia (Elhart) and Mike Elsner of Vestal, NY; plus six step-grandchildren: Amy, Nathan, Spencer, and Sophie Elhart; Jason Elsner, and Kimberly (Elsner) Nunez; and one great-grandchild Jaxon Elhart. From her marriage to Winton J. Klotzbach, she is survived by stepdaughters Jane (Klotzbach) and William Wood, Jr. of Wilmington, DE; Carolyn (Klotzbach) and E. Lyle Keating, Jr. of San Mateo, CA; Debbie (Klotzbach) and Rich Bardsley of Traverse City, MI; and stepson Gary and Pam Klotzbach of Traverse City, MI, with seven step-grandchildren: William Wood III, Susan (Wood) Waesco , Ashley (Keating) Brunner, Chip Keating, Sarah (Klotzbach) Wood, Thomas Klotzbach, and Alex Bardsley; and five step-great-grandchildren.
Other special persons of interest are Jane's sister-in-law Marilyn Elhart from Zeeland, Michigan, and her sister-in-law Janet Jenswold from Chico, California, as well as her beloved nieces and nephews Katherine Dickerson; Peggy Jenswold Stephens; John and Kathy Jenswold ; Mark and Janet (Jenswold) Duerr ; Tom and Betsy Jenswold; Bob, Scott, and Susan Landfield; and two very special friends: Evon Hartsell Easling of Leland, MI and Niki Bye Elhart of Traverse City, MI.
As a child in Duluth, Minnesota, she attended the State Normal School for grades K-8th, East Junior High School for 9th grade, and for 10th to 12th grades she attended Stanbrook Hall, a Catholic Girls School. Jane was active in Girl Scouts and graduated from Duluth Business University and from Rockford College in Rockford, Ill. before marrying Paul Easling.
Jane was a long time member of the First Congregational Church in Traverse City, Michigan. She also served on the board of directors of the Peninsula Community Library, the Y.M.C.A., and the Michigan Child and Family services, as well as being an Osteopathic Hospital volunteer while living in Traverse City. In Leland, Michigan, she was a library volunteer at the Leland Township Library, and a member of the Country Club of Leland. In recent years, while living in Pinehurst, NC through the winter, Jane was also involved in the P.E.O. organization, Chapter AZ, as well as being an active member of the Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church of Southern Pines, NC and the Midland Country Club.
Her interests were in her family, golfing, antiquing, sewing club, supper club, reading, bridge, needlework, and just being with friends. Jane loved and embraced company and friends through the years. Jane traveled extensively, visiting family and friends throughout the country and traveling worldwide. Her last trip was in August/Sept. of 2011 to Washington State, where she attended two of her granddaughters' weddings and a shared a special time with her family.
Visitation will be held at the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home located at 305 Sixth St, Traverse City, MI 49684 231.947.6347 on Thursday, June 7, 2012 at 4-8 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at The First Congregational Church, 6105 Center Road, Traverse City, MI. on Friday, June 8, 2012 at 11:00 a.m with a visitation held one hour prior. The Rev. Dr. Gary Hogue will serve as celebrant. Burial will take place at Ogdensburg Cemetery.
The family would like to thank Hospice for their excellent care, as well as her caregivers Ebba Raynor, Isabel C. (Rosie) Lara, and Dorothy Sander, and all of the many family and friends whose love and kindness supported Jane and her family through this most difficult and challenging time.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given to the Leelanau Conservancy. Please sign Jane's online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com