In loving memory of
Jeanette Marie Baganz
November 9, 1931 - February 6, 2020
Grosse Pointe Woods resident Jeanette Marie Baganz, 88, passed away peacefully Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020. The longtime Grosse Pointe (City and Park) resident was born Nov. 9, 1931, at home in Detroit, to Frederick and Anna Margaret (nee Kruming) Jacobs.
She graduated from Grosse Pointe High School in January 1951 and attended college for 2 years before marrying Theron Baganz on July 26, 1957.
Jeanette was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side, always a smile on her radiant face. She only had good and positive things to say and was loving and kind to a fault. Jeanette had a strong moral compass and was an early "environmentalist", single handedly keeping trash at bay in her Grosse Pointe Park and Harsen's Island communities. Her children cannot remember a time when garbage wasn't brought home after a walk, bike or boat outing. She was a master of repurposing, as many were who grew up in the depression and war eras.
She was fond of music and was always whistling or singing a tune. Christmas was a favorite and we were often treated to Jingle Bells during the summer. Jeanette was an avid reader with a library full of enticing and varied titles, many about healthy living. She loved a good joke or witty saying and collected many of her favorites. Known for her tremendous green thumb and a menagerie of indoor and outdoor plants, she was always starting new shoots of something and sharing them with neighbors and friends. Jeanette loved animals and taught her children compassion and watch care over all the creatures they encountered. Like the mouse she captured under her kitchen sink in an apple cider jug and kept as a pet for the duration of its life-she couldn't stand killing it.
Jeanette was a wonderful seamstress, making many of her and her children's clothing, including her own wedding dress. She quilted, knitted and crocheted. She was also an excellent artist, drawing horses, not surprisingly, was one of her favorite subjects.
Jeanette was a champion back stroke swimmer and bowler at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club. During high school she had her own horse Topsy, who was kept at the stable where Eastland Mall was built. She spent many happy hours riding the farmland of the Grosse Pointes and surrounding area.
Jeanette is survived by her husband, Theron C. Baganz; daughters, Dina M. Keeler and Celia D. Baganz; grandchildren, Marla Braunberger, Jeanette Keeler, Kristen Mehl and Steven Kliemann; great-grandson, Dante Mehl; and sisters, Margaret Armstrong Criswell and Marie Miller Jones.
She was predeceased by her parents and her brothers, Raymond Jacobs and Frederick Jacobs.
Arrangements entrusted to Chas. Verheyden, Inc.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the charity of your choice.