Leah Schwan

Mrs. Leah Schwan, age 69, of Shelby Township, passed away on Friday morning at Sunrise Senior Living in Rochester, Michigan. Leah Anderson was born on March 11, 1949 in St. Paul, Minnesota, the eldest daughter of the late Russell and Gertrude (nee Dobberfuhl) Anderson. She graduated from Central Lutheran in 1963, St. Paul Lutheran High (now Concordia Academy) in 1967, and Concordia University, St. Paul, in 1971 with a bachelor's degree in elementary education. After graduation, Leah taught first and second grade for a few years at the Lutheran School in Ponca City, Oklahoma before moving to Utica, Michigan. Leah joined Trinity Lutheran Church in Utica and taught first grade at Trinity Lutheran School from 1974 to 1981. In 1979, she obtained a master's degree in reading from Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan. on July 9, 1977 Leah married Keith Gordon Schwan. She is survived by her husband of 40 years, her three daughters, Sarah Schwan of Seattle, Washington, Laura Greenan of Cary, North Carolina, and Gloria Navarro of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She is also survived by her siblings, Jeff Anderson, Jon Anderson, Rachael Reynolds, Mary Heinzman, Martha Dishongh, and Michael Anderson. Beginning in 1972, Leah enjoyed singing with the Sweet Adelines barbershop chorus. Then in 1977 she joined the Detroit Lutheran Singers and sang with them for over 30 years. Leah met Keith through the Metro Detroit Lutheran Young Adults (LYA) in 1975. Together they enjoyed many LYA activities and continued to be active members of the subsequent LYA Couples group through the '80's and '90's. Leah also enjoyed sewing. She made many outfits for herself, innumerable clothes for her children as they grew and even created dolls, beanbag frogs and Nativity figures. Leah also volunteered as a teacher for Trinity's Sunday school and served on the Church Counsel. Once her children were in school full time, Leah derived a sense of fulfillment from tutoring elementary students and adult ESL students who had difficulty reading. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 16, at 11:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 45160 Van Dyke, Utica, Michigan. There will be no services held at the cemetery. Inurnment will be at Cadillac Memorial Gardens East. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Trinity Lutheran Church, designated to the Win Graebner Scholership Fund. Please share a memory at www.SullivanFuneralDirectors.com

Leah Schwan

March 11, 1949 - June 3, 2018