Marcene Schott

With a lifetime full of laughter, joy, and so much love, Marcene Schott brought a warmth into every room that made the world a little brighter. Her heart of service allowed her to go above and beyond to serve others, her generosity leaving an unforgettable impact on so many. Deeply devoted to her loved ones, Marcene’s family was undoubtedly her greatest treasure. She exemplified what it meant to follow faithfully after the Lord she loved so much, and her legacy will be one of compassion, grace, and integrity. Marcene was dearly loved and will be forever remembered by those who knew her best.

The early 1940s are etched in history as tumultuous years all around the globe. WWII was reaching a raging boiling point overseas, and Americans waited with held breath to see if the United States would enter the war. During such a difficult time, however, there was much to celebrate as Marcene made her entrance into the world. Born on August 21 of 1940 in Volga, South Dakota, Marcene joined her older brother, Ronald, in the Baker family.

Growing up, Marcene was a typical girl of her generation in many ways. Her father worked as a school teacher at the local Christian school while her mother was a nurse aide. Marcene’s earliest years were spent on the family farm. She and her brother, Ron, helped raise the lambs and pigs. When Marcene was five years old, she became an older sister to Cheryl. The family soon moved from the farm and settled down in town.

As a girl, Marcene attended a small one-room schoolhouse, then went to the local Christian school. The Bakers moved again, this time all the way to California. Marcene graduated from Ontario California Christian School. In pursuit of further education, she went to Upland Academy in 1958, where she was active on the basketball team. Marcene spent the next five years working at GTE while waiting for her sister, Cheryl, to finish high school. The two sisters then attended Dort College for one year, eager to see what the future held.

In 1965, Marcene entered into her first marriage. The couple settled down in the state of Washington. They ran a farm and enjoyed riding horses and their Gold Wing motorcycle, traveling, and camping. Some time after this marriage ended in divorce, Marcene was blessed to find the love of her life in Kenneth Schott. He was her boss at the union office at the time, and the two soon began dating. Marcene and Ken were united in marriage in 1982. The newlyweds spent their honeymoon traveling around the beautiful state of Washington for their honeymoon, and they made their home in Evert. Marcene and Ken would travel frequently, often making trips to go down to California to visit Marcene’s parents and sister.

While in Washington, Marcene worked as an aide at an alternative school, commuting 30 minutes every day. In 2000, she suffered a tragedy with the loss of her beloved husband, Ken. That same year, Marcene’s nephew and Cheryl’s son, Jack, moved his family to Michigan. In 2001, Marcene and Cheryl traveled across the country to visit Jack. The sisters made the decision to begin looking for a house, and it wasn’t long before Michigan became home. Marcene and Cheryl settled down together on the Northwest side of Grand Rapids. They worked at the Van Andel Arena, the Delta Plex, and at Jenison Printing for a time.

Marcene was never one to sit still for long, and she and Cheryl both loved to keep busy in their free time. They were members of the Red Hat Society, though they didn’t always follow the rules too closely. Marlene would sometimes travel back to Washington to visit a good friend who owned a local shop. She and Cheryl also traveled to Kentucky to dog sit, and they went up North in Michigan for quick getaways. At home, the sisters hosted family for holiday lunches. Cheryl would cook, and Marcene was in charge of the baking. Always eager to volunteer in service to her community, Marcene was a greeter at her church for 12 years.

Marcene’s health began to decline following an episode of unresponsiveness in December of 2023. She spent some time recovering in the hospital and at Mary Free Bed, but her lungs continued to give her trouble. The following year in December, 2024, Marcene fell sick again and was admitted to Edison Christian Rest Home in order to receive more support. She was given excellent care, and her family was very happy with the staff at Edison.

All who knew and loved Marcene Schott will certainly agree that she embraced her faith in word and deed. She was a constant source of strength, no matter the circumstances, and she faced every challenge with unwavering determination and courage. There was nothing that brought Marcene more joy than surrounding herself with family and friends. Her greatest fulfillment was found in caring for all those around her, and the impact of her kindness and selflessness will be remembered for many years to come. Although she is gone too soon, Marcene leaves behind a precious collection of memories that her loved ones will forever hold close to their hearts.

Marcene J. Schott of Grand Rapids Michigan, entered her heavenly home on Monday, April 6, 2026. Marcene was preceded in death by her husband Kenneth Schott, her brother Ronald (Dena) Baker, and brother in law Jerry Delzell. She is survived by her sister Cheryl Delzell, her nieces and nephews Jack (Ann) Delzell, John (Kathy) Baker, Deb (Doug) Stapley, Beth (Praymoun) Srisomsak. Marcene also leaves behind her great niece and nephews Tyler (Nickie Sheldon) Higgs-Delzell, Trevor (Kendall) Toczydlowski, and Chase Toczydlowski. Cremation has taken place at this time, Marcene’s family will greet friends on Saturday, April 11, 2026 starting at 10:00 AM at Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive, NW Grand Rapids MI, 40504. A service to remember and celebrate Marcene will be held on Saturday April 11, 2026 starting at 11:00 AM Heritage Life Story Funeral Home, Alt & Shawmut Hills Chapel, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive, NW Grand Rapids MI, 40504, a light lunch will be served following this service. Memorial contributions in Marcene’s honor may be directed to Edison Christian Rest Home. To leave a memory or sign her personal guest book, please visit www.heritagelifestory.com