Jean Joyce McKenzie

REDDING, Calif. — Jean McKenzie passed away peacefully at Sierra Oaks Senior Living on Feb. 10, 2015. Jean was born in Escanaba, Mich., to Dan and Delma Gunderman, and moved as an infant to Marenisco, Mich., where she became a lifelong resident until moving to Redding in 1996.

Following high school graduation from Marenisco High School in 1941, she attended Gogebic Community College and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy and spent her time in the military at Great Lakes Naval Station. Upon her honorable discharge, she married the love of her life, Jack McKenzie, in January of 1946 and they remained married until Jack’s death in 1997.

Jean was a career working woman and held positions with Marenisco High School, White Pine Copper Company, and eventually went to work for the Job Corps and U.S. Forest Service, from which she retired a few years prior to moving to Redding.

Jean loved playing both the piano and organ and was the organist at the Marenisco Presbyterian Church for many years. She loved playing Bridge and was active in most civic affairs while living in Marenisco. She also loved and was very involved with and excellent at arts and crafts and needlework.

She was preceded in death by husband, Jack; brothers Dale, Kenneth and Ronald; and sisters Margaret and Bonnie; and son-in-law, Paul Pavlovich. She is survived by daughter, Bonnie (Pavlovich); and son, Richard, and his wife, Joan. She is also survived by granddaughters Teri (Pavlovich), Natalie (Butler); grandsons Daniel McKenzie, Brent Judy, and Nicholas McKenzie. Also by great-grandchildren Paul Butler, McKenzie Butler, Dalton Butler and Kylie Judy. She will be remembered as a good, hard-working woman who loved her family, her friends, and life. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Memorial services will be held Thursday, Feb. 19, at 2 p.m. at McDonald’s Chapel in Redding, and Jean will be laid to eternal rest this summer in Marenisco.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to: The American Legion/Carleton McNicholas Post 523, P.O Box 216, Marenisco, MI 49947. All money will be used for construction of a Veterans Memorial.